Homesteading

It's not what I thought it was.

I've been reading quite a bit lately about the idea of homesteading- in particular urban homesteading. Bedmates with green living. I feel like everything I read is an attempt to live the ideal set out in early editions of "The Mother Earth News". Things I've been trying to do, things I hope to do.

side note: we've really got to finish that TMEN documentary... I was reminded at the new years' eve collage party.

side notes' side note: the new years' eve collage party was great- and we've published our own little hand-bound book featuring our work. You can purchase a copy at the bookstore down town.

more notes: I finished two pieces I'm particularly proud of. One is silly- "all the single ladies" with two TMEN "positions and situations" ads and a few old articles from the Port Hope Evening Guide- articles from the 1890's... and another that I shouldn't call finished.

Today I was reading an article about taking stock of the things you're currently doing in your own way, and things that are on your wish list (to do list?) that take you steps closer to a homesteading way of life. I think I'm going to take some time this week to make those lists.

Making music must count.

Community building- I'm putting that on the list.

hm. maybe my list isn't going to look so homesteady after all.

Do the worms count?

roadtrips with Persia

I just spent a lovely day in the city visiting some of the favourites, and catching up with some old friends... it was so good to see those faces.

I feel like each part of the day was it's own day... too many stories jumbling together, starting with Muffins in Farsi and ending with a tiny smiling elf playing the drums beside spinning speakers.
no.
really.


-yogurt and sitars
-roomie visit (how to get lost in the mall)
-catching up
-Roots Music Canada's woodshed
-polka roo debunked
-knitting in the pub with (the) rats
-"I was a smoker dating a smoker" ... "how'd you like to date another smoker?"...."admit it, that was really funny".
-the Nylons (baby, are you busy tonight?)
-dinner and music a la Cleave Anderson and John T. Davis

In with the new

And so, what shall I do for 2009?

1) be more intentional, more present
2) eat more garlic
3) sign up for a 5km run
4) watch people smile

5) listen, not just hear- good music.

there are other things I'd like to do/see/be this year, but I learned to not stress myself with expectations this past year....

6) um... let's try it again.. why not? Blog every day.

under the trees, I felt my heart happy

I went camping.

And now I wish that I didn't have to be home.

In fact.... all I want is to be back out there... not that I'm the best camper... it was noted that I've become increasingly skittish around campsite critters... I was willing to jump up on the picnic table when Mr.Coon made his arrival- and the single appearance of a june bug had me jittering for quite awhile (hoodie fully drawn!). But, it was more the whole group of people I was with.

I went with some friends from university- people that I've stayed in touch with over the years, and who were very important to me while I was at school.

I was hit by something big (well, not as big as the BMW that hit Frase- but that's another story) this weekend.
I haven't been able to shake the feeling of it

I'd forgotten how good it felt to be with friends that had a similar world view- friends from a similar set of experiences- friends with similar tastes- friends with similar interests... Friends that I could relate to on several levels, and who could challenge/stimulate me ...
I need to make it clear... I LOVE my friends/peers that I have here at home... but there's something to be said about the relationships that are built in the nurturing environment found in similarities... vs. the friendships that grow out of proximity.

I read this.. and it sounds horrible. Like I'm unhappy with the friends I'm with here in the 'Burg... not the case..
I just remembered this weekend what it means to be in relationship.

I don't really want to settle for less.

cotton, blue to green

ok, so I wear my jeans till there's nothing left of them.
errr.. remember that time my jeans finally gave out and ripped from knee to crotch at the grocery store? yeah. That was... uncool.

BUT here's something super cool I found, and I don't think it's available here in Ontario (yet). (hint hint.. someone get on this).

There's a group down state-side that collects old jeans and processes them back into cotton fibre- and then makes them into housing insulation! Such a great idea! I have a sweater that's made from the same material (recycled cotton fibres) I love it... it's so warm, and they left the colours in it, they didn't bleach out what was already there.... Mandamanda calls it "the f'n poncho". I get the feeling she doesn't like it so much.

travel in a not so lonely planet

I love Ian Wright. We've gone over this before.
He is the standard to which I judge all other travel hosts by (and trust- I am extremely judgemental when it comes to television).
Last night I landed on the discovery network while I hemmed and hawed over weather to have a shower or a bubble bath. (the shower won out in the end)... anyway, while I sat there, this show came on. Fabulous premise. Really. Two guys and a camera man, one year, travelling all over the place, meeting up with their various contacts around the globe. How cool is that?
UN COOL.
Because... these boys were... well... boys! One, a dumb college boy, who acted like an overly privileged brat the whole show... the other... you could see maturing (a bit), but it was still painful (it was the first episode) but... ug, I was so upset watching it... insanely jealous that these guys had the money handed to them... so they could drink their way around the world one frat party at a time!
BAH!

OK, I am unfair.

I could NOT look away. The redeeming quality? The part that made it actually... really... really good?

The camera guy. He was a genius.
I felt like I was watching an art project.
I will watch again.
With the sound off.
"Departures"

little green friends

I have a few new friends... I'll be checking in on them on occasion. Just to see if they need anything.

In celebration of Earth Day this year my house group decided they were fed up with the garbage picking up that generally accounts for the participation of their peer group. They wanted something a little different, soooo the suggestion was to see if we could plant some trees.
GI Nette called up the town to search out some options and low and behold! The town was in need of a few good men (and women) armed with shovels!

So, an army of tree planters was formed, and we marched together to fight global warming (and soil erosion). By the time the rain came pouring down we'd planted a little over 125 trees and had decided that perhaps tree planting was a new way of life.. at least for a few of us....

I'll be stopping in every once in awhile to encourage my little trees to grow... everyone needs some lovin'.

So many ideas.. am I willing to make those changes?

I've been doing a lot of reading lately on the changes I can be making to have a little less of an impact on this tiny planet we're living on.
And while they are all such fantastic ideas, and will make for some huge changes, I wonder, just how committed am I to this process?
I worry mostly that I'm going to feel like a hypocrite if I don't keep it up, or that I'll be to vain? self-centred? to let go of some things that I use on a day to day basis. I worry that I won't be able to afford it.
Those things keep me from some of the bigger changes... and even some of the small...

Here's a great site to read, Rob the Lurker sent an article my way that he found, it was about a couple living in New York making some HUGE changes in their lifestyles... their blog is entertaining and informative with some really interesting links, I'm working up the courage to try some of their ideas out.

it's not nice but...

I know it's not nice to laugh at a crisis... but when you wake up in the morning and you're laying there.. listening to the news, it's hard not to laugh when you hear there's an airline by the name of "Nip-on".....