Supporting entrepreneurship...

Supporting entrepreneurship...

Tonight I had the wind to my back as I biked home. As I came screaming along the bike path east of 15th Street I was flagged down by Anna, Lydia and Esther. They had a wagon parked by the bike path, and I skidded to a stop, much to their delight. They had tricked out their wagon with little dandelion and creeping charlie bouquets tucked artfully in each corner bracket. The wagon was full of hand made crafts and art work. They had price lists, coupons, drawings... a pretty impressive display.

How could I pass them up? So I bought a hand-knit pouch from Anna and a picture frame from Lydia. Poor Esther - I hope she didn't feel left out.

They each gave me a 50-cent off coupon, so I got everything pictured for three bucks.

They were happy. I was happy. What a deal.

Then I came home and made my first meal out of the garden. My sage bush wintered over nicely, and has lots of new leaves. So I sauteed some up with a little garlic, and served it over pasta with a bunch of Parmesan, and a salad on the side. Yum.

Asparagus...

Asparagus...

Last weekend, while walking through the Kitchener Farmer's Market after stocking up on 6yr old cheddar, I happened onto a Hutterite farmer selling, among other things, a bundle of asparagus crowns for $4. At least I think he was Hutterite. He didn't actually say, and I didn't actually ask. Anyhow, he didn't charge me anything for expert advice on how to plant them, and since they were bare roots I figured it was OK to bring them across the border. Don't tell anyone, OK?

I started preparing a place for them Monday night, and since then it has either been too wet or I've been too busy to finish it so they've been sitting in my fridge all week. I think they're OK.

Tonight just before it got too dark to see, I finished pulling all the weeds from the spot I want to put them in. Tomorrow morning I should be able to get them in the ground. Then I just have to discipline myself not to touch them until 2011.

I love getting my hands dirty.

Home again...

Home again...

Home was about a seven hour drive, given the requisite stops. Cold and gloomy welcome. Chamomile tea is soothing after fast food and fast lanes.

Safe arrival...

Safe arrival...

I arrived safely in Waterloo. The trip would have been under 7 hours, but I was stuck in gridlock behind an accident on the expressway in KW and had to drive the last stretch on clogged city streets.

Patience...

Three quick notes...

Three quick notes...

Kudos to Joe for modeling an antidote to complaining.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm driving up to Waterloo to bring #1 daughter home for a short vacation. Wish us safe travels.

Have you been following the White House garden? Let's hear it for fresh vegetables! Now there is a stink from some pesticide lobby about going organic. I'd like to hear what Uncle Leo would say about that.

PS: (The fourth quick note written Friday morning.) I peeled back my shower curtain this morning, and the new bloom on my Phalaenopsis took my breath away. For weeks this plant has been sending out a spike, with several light green balls growing slowly - oh so slowly - larger and larger. This morning the first had burst open like ... well the only metaphors I can come up with are spiritual and sexual, and it is too early to go either place.

Favorite - er Favourite - new blog...

Favorite - er Favourite - new blog...

This morning I dusted off George Monbiot's Heat - How to stop the planet from burning. Ben gave it to me before he left for PC, and I think Leena gave it to him before that. I started to read it maybe a year ago and found it too depressing, shelved it, and think I might be able to pick it up again now.

Today I stumbled on Monbiot's blog today and I'm really, really impressed. This guy writes well, and documents every claim he makes. He is British (hence the lame joke about British spelling).

I urge you to set up your RSS reader so you can keep up with him. I really appreciate the way he cuts through the crap. Take this post about the real problem with plastic bags, or this one that calculates the (non-existent) carbon benefit behind schemes to stimulate the economy by paying drivers to scrap old cars. Or for a real downer, read this one that makes a compelling case that its already too late, but we have to still try.

Evolution of philosophy...

Evolution of philosophy...

Read this Op-ed and tell me if you agree. Very interesting.

2.91 Earths...

2.91 Earths...

Today I took another one of those carbon footprint calculator tests and it told me that if everyone on the planet lived as I live we would need 2.91 earths to support all of us.


I suppose I should take heart that I'm significantly below the national average, which is 6.53 earths. This graph shows how many acres I need to support me (112.9), compared to the national average (246.4). But that is slim consolation, because where are those other 1.91 earths going to come from?
Many of their suggestions for ways to lower my impact are things I already do. But I could do more. Like improve the insulation in my house. Like get a hybrid car. Like replace all my light bulbs with CFL bulbs. Like eat completely vegetarian. But I wonder if we can get there from here. At least voluntarily.

What is your score?