Viva Verde!

Here in Boulder, the intensity of the sun's rays has lessened and the slightly tardy summer monsoon season has rolled in with it's 4:00 showers followed by rainbows and mosquitoes. When I think of my place--my centered universe--and my happiness...I think of what life is right now. I have been helping out on a local farm called Abbondonza (www.eatabbo.org) and spending more than half the week with the fine folks of abbo...the property is prisitine. A 93 year old centennial homestead that has never been treated with chemicals, this 80 acre farm is exploding with delicious veg, personifying the amount of passion and love that has been cultivated into this soil. I truly am blessed. I spend my days gardening in wonderful estate gardens and my evenings at the farm weeding, processing and picking. To me, this is bliss. My hands are deep in moist, espresso-hued living goodness for all the edibles that are soaking it all in and stretching their limbs.

Farming and gardening are theraputic for me. It is important for me to remain connected to the natural world as my life becomes more and more hectic. Sometimes I realize that I am so consumed with all the things I need to do, I don't even notice my immediate surroundings--like I am completely removed from my surroundings. When I recognize this, I try to bring myself into the now--the present moment--by connecting with what it surrounding me. What am I smelling, hearing, seeing? In the garden, I can listen to the birds kawing in the cottonwoods or the train that is laying on the horn. Conversation ebbs and flows, but I can still feel the soil and connect with natural world.

It is an important part of my life to have that connection with the natural world because it makes it easier to live an organic, green life. I know the soil that my food was grown in and the hands that picked it. I know the man who made my peanut-butter and the lady who sold me my flowers. I am connected to all these things they are effortless the incorporate into my lifestyle.

Whatever way works for you, I encourage you to have a connection with nature. Take a walk through the open space, pick berries at your local farm or take a picnic somewhere...but find your thing and share it. You'll find yourself more relaxed and conscious.

Be well.

Here is the main idea--the environmental movement has demonstrated that it cannot be ignored and has impacted changed. Unfortunately, much of this movement consists of "ecological segregation." In other words, its the white mid-to-upper class that has carried this movement and for various reasons. Don't get me wrong--there have been many influential minority leaders, but this is generalized as a "white mans" thing. Well, to me, this ecological segregation doesn't make much sense...it isn't very sustainable. The movement will peeter off and never reach its full potential if it does not incorporate the entire community. You know the expression "You're only as strong as your weakest player?" That's kinda what i am getting at.

So here is why this movement needs to diversify into the Brazilian forests, the farms of India and the deserts of Africa...the developing world constitutes the majority of the global population, therefore without their participation we are lacking a majority. Plus, they are the ones greatest effected because they don't have teh finances to prepare their country or individual communities. Farms in India are experiencing their worst flooding ever as the temperature there rises...a bad flood can be just as devestating as a drought. They are estimating a loss of 20% of annual cereal production. Hurricane Katrina--urban New Orleans, large minority population--devestated. Hurricane Katrina's strength was proven to be affected by the warming oceans. Everywhere you look, everyone you meet....needs to be involved because this is a global fight. Remember that.
"Love of one's country is a beautiful thing, but why must it stop at the borders?"

Peace.

Here ya go

#1: PET: (polyethylene terephthalate): RECYCLABLE
-Soda bottles, beer bottles, food bottles, trays.
-recycled into carpet, fiberfill for jackets (fleece jackets), TShirt material and shopping bags.
-manufacturers buy it up! High recycled value

#2: HDPE: (high-density polyethylene): RECYCLABLE
-Shampoo bottles and laundry detergent are examples of colored HDPE which has recycled value in plastic lumber.
-Clear containers like milk and water jugs can easily be made into new containers. -Tyvek mailing envelopes and white HAZMAT suits are also made from HDPE but cannot be recycled.

#3: V: (vinyl or polyvinyl chloride):
-clear food packaging and plumbing pipe
-not enough items made from that recycled material to make it have any recycled value. Generally a one-time-use good

#4: LDPE: (Low-density polyethylene): RECYCLABLE
-bags for bread, frozen food and grocery sacks.
-recycled into new bags or plastic lumber (ie Trex)
-if no recycling facility nearby, then it uses more energy to transport the recycled plastic than to produce virgin plastic material, BUT still recycle them because that way you are reducing the amount of plastic produced

#5: PP: (polypropylene):
-yogurt, margarine and other food containers
-Not enough products from recycled PP to financially justify recycling it. Sometimes big business will buy it in bulk

#6: PS: (polystyrene)
-In the solid state: compact disc jackets, one-time-use goods such as disposable silverware and take-out containers
-Styrofoam: an expanded form of polystyrene which includes packing material, coffee cups
-The cost of transporting it to a recycling facility is more expensive than producing virgin material

#7: Other
-Lids, imported containers, ketchup bottles all contain a combination of plastic resins