What Are You Working On?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Julie on March 7, 2008 at 12:47pm

hi kim,
thanks for asking. right now i'm working on several things to enhance my community and my family's daily life. but, one thing i've been thinking hard about lately is what to plant in my garden this year. my second baby is due in mid-july, so i'm trying to plan ahead and think about what would be easy and successful in our high dessert climate (once the baby comes, i won't have a lot of time to sit and pick weeds, thin crops, manage pests, etc).

last year (just after my first baby was born) i had an amazing zucchini and squash turn-out. and my chard did well, too. so, i'll plant those again...but what else? maybe i should just plant a bunch of pumpkins and let them do their thing (by the time their ready, i'll have the energy to make pies and ravioli)?

i'm open to all suggestions.
-julie

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Permalink Reply by beth on August 14, 2008 at 6:31pm

Hi, Julie! I planted a garden again this year here in albuquerque, and i've learned some great things. Don't be too quick to weed and manage pests. Make sure you know which so-called weeds are volunteering in your garden. For instance, a co-worker asked me the other day if i take vitamins, and i said; 'no, i eat weeds!' There are a couple of so-called weeds that grow like, well...weeds here that are incredibly good for your health. Purslane has the highest concentration of omega3 fatty acids of any other plant, even more than fish oil, and it loves albuquerque gardens. Also, you will probably find lambs-quarter coming up as well...another super healty "weed." As for insects, try allowing weeds to have their place in the periphery of your garden just for them. I've found that when i generously let the insects have their share, they leave my vegetables alone! (talk to your bugs. I do. I just make sure the neighbors can't hear. give them love too. you'll be amazed!) I saw a tomato worm on my plant last year and left it alone. I had more than enough tomatoes for myself AND my neighbors, so I figured, why should i begrudge a little tomato worm her share? Remember, they become beautiful sphinx moths, an important pollinator! Also, ants are really good at cleaning nasty garbage cans. Just tip it on it's side next to a big anthill, and forget that gross job. They'll be happy to do it for you!

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Permalink Reply by beth on August 14, 2008 at 6:35pm

An addendum to my last post to Julie...You can add lamb's quarter and purslane to any stir-fry. Yum! Just get a good book for identification, or ask a trustworthy person.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Benjamin on March 7, 2008 at 1:00pm

Kim:
Great question! I hope it spurs more response on bioneers site than previous questions.
I am trying to start better business recycling participation in my community of Jupiter / Palm Beach Gardens. It is difficult because the business are afraid that they will be taken advantage of by people who will abuse the situation by dumping their garbage in the business recycling bins. Florida is backwad in that way. I also am working with two differnet groups trying to start satellite Bioneers conferences in South Florida and the Caribbean. We are having planning meetings and hopefully will have something to anounce later this year.
There is something that I learned to help me keep going: Trust your Higher Power, believe in yourself and help another person!!!

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Permalink Reply by TC on March 9, 2008 at 9:12am

Hey Barry -
Florida is not the only state that is a bit backward. I live in New Mexico, Santa Fe ish, and it took 7 years to get a consistent recycling program for residences! We finally built a MRF (Material Reclaiming Facility) so the Santa Fe community could control their own recycling destiny if you will. We had to haul stuff to Albuquerque for sorting - a 56 mile one way trip - before that. There have been a lot of stutter starts for a commercial recycling program for the City Different - but more and more business' are becoming interested so maybe eventually the pressure will build and change will happen.
Don't give up! It took me asking the question "why can't I recycle" for 8 years to get the buy in from the folks at the city to make it happen - but it did.
Keep in touch and let me know how it goes -
TC

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Permalink Reply by Heather Spence on March 31, 2008 at 12:59pm

Greetings! Having attended the Bioneers conference last year at UMass Dartmouth where I was going to grad school for Marine Biology, I'm excited to join this forum to network with other people with positive attitudes and creative ideas for a sustainable future.

Currently I'm working in Mexico, collaborating with the National Parks office on conservation research and outreach projects. I'd be very interested in finding out/participating in a Caribbean Bioneers conference.

I'm also looking for grants/funding for coastal research and outreach projects, if anyone has any suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by Chantal on March 31, 2008 at 2:46pm

Nice to hear from you, Heather! Glad you found us.

I'd like to invite you to tell us more about your work in a blog post or separate forum post. Share some photos, or tell your stories. And also, feel free to raise separate topics on some of the grants and outreach work you seek.

All the best,
Chantal

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Permalink Reply by Afriendof B on March 7, 2008 at 2:00pm

Kim, I hope this QUESTION can become a regular feature of this site. It is inspiring to hear what others are doing and to know you are not the lone crazy out there trying to change the world.

Here in east central Ohio my family and I are working on living locally. We have our own mini-ecofarm moving along now, so we are branching out and trying to create a local network so we all can meet more of our basic needs from local resources. The spring looks really exciting. We have lots of people interested and should be able to help some of them make a real change.

We also have a rain-catchment system and an eco-cottage in the planning stages at our farm. More on those as they develop.

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Permalink Reply by Deanna on March 17, 2008 at 11:15am

Hi Afriendof,

Right on! To me, you are living the dream. You are not alone in this beautiful world, so many of us want to do just the thing you are doing. Working with mother nature is what she needs right now. Best of luck to you.

Deanna

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Permalink Reply by Luigi - Speak for the Trees on March 17, 2008 at 11:54am

I agree, I think this question should be like a daily commit where folks report on their progress and development, so that others can follow with their examples to bring the eco-revolution to life, and to encourage our community and government to have a sustainable path. Where most of our daily lives is made out of products made locally, with more local farmers markets, local arts, music, local honey, and herbs. Local businesses promoting ecologically sustainable principles toward better clean air, water, organic food, clean energy with solar power, transportation by riding bikes and public trans, waste management, green building materials, and most important: HEALTH. A sick person leaves the greatest negative foot print ;-)

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Permalink Reply by erinely on March 8, 2008 at 12:11pm

Hi Kim,

My passion right now is directed toward creating a year round farmers market here in Eugene where I live.

I posted about this earlier on Bioneers connect as part of a contest that I entered to win $10,000 to get the ball rolling here. I'm still waiting to hear the final results but, even if I don't win, I am still committed to the project and am working with other non-profits, the city and farmers here to help move the idea forward.

I recently started a group on Facebook to network the energy of community support for this project in hopes that we can seriously start to bring the project forward in a real way.

Supporters of year round farmers market for Eugene, Oregon
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8366854266


Thanks for posting this.

Regards,
Erin

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Permalink Reply by erinely on March 17, 2008 at 8:54am

Hi,
Just wanted to give an update. I did not win the ideablob.com contest in Feb, I came in second. I lost by about 20 votes based on my calculations.

The great thing is that it has brought the idea to the fore front for the community and has invigorated the dialog here in Eugene in regards to the idea.

I was out at "Green Drinks" this past Friday, and made some great connections with other groups and people that are interested in seeing this project come forward here. This networking is going to help me bring more interest in making the project happen.

I can resubmit my idea on ideablob.com and I am planning on doing that. I am spending the next week to a month building more support here and creating a coalition of interested community members that will vote on the contest which should increase our chances of winning. I plan to resubmit the idea in April or May, depending on how my networking progresses.

I'm excited about the possibilities. I will keep everyone posted. Anyone in the US can vote on the ideas on the website ideablob.com

All that is needed to vote is to register with a username and password and email. You do not have to give them any more information than that, and they will not send you any spam.

Just so you know this, because that is what kept some people from voting, they did not want to register because they don't want to get spam from the company but they will not spam you.

Rock ON! Power to the Peaceful!

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