Thoreau (or Henry D. if you're down)

Inspired last night, I opened Walden to read an excerpt and then do some writing on that excerpt. One of the first things I read was a sentence containing Thoreau's observations on a winter's night. He hears geese landing on the pond as he is walking back "from the village at ten or eleven o'clock at night" (211, Thoreau).

Immediately debates on Thoreau and his experiment came to mind and were thwarted with this sentence. Oh wait, you're not familiar with the debate on Thoreau surrounding his two years at Walden pond? Let me fill you in.

Thoreau went to Walden pond to live off the land and to "live deliberately" (101, Thoreau). It is from this one word - deliberate - that the whole debate sprang. People not completely Thoreau-ifites (aka. readers of ALL of Walden, and many other of his works) heard tell of his adventures of giving up society and heading to the woods to make his life and instantly ran wild with the idea. A man who gave up everything to scratch a living from nothing?!?! Thoreau became the instant Green Movement Hero. Thoreau-ifites knew better and probably saw his fall from grace coming years before it did, but could do nothing to stop it.

Sooner rather than later, it came out that Thoreau did not completely shun society. He may have *gasp* visited his mother where he ate dinner with her and did his LAUNDRY! And, oh horror, partook in a brewed beverage now and then admist the company of others! Non-Thoreau-ifites immediately went up in arms about this subject and began denouncing their so-called hero. How could he have lied to them thus? Misled them with nary a mention of any of his public traipsings in any of his journals, or Walden, or in The Maine Woods? He was supposed to be ALONE with NOTHING and making it work, DAMN IT!

With that very first sentence I read, "upon returning from the village at ten or eleven o'clock at night," I was reminded that Thoreau did not lie or mislead anyone. If people really read Walden, THOREAUHLY (ha!), there are moments like this one that show he was never far from Concord and civilization and he was not shunning either's company. Thoreau went to the woods not to start from scratch to live, nor to build everything from only what was available on hand in those woods (check out the whole FIRST chapter entitled Economy). Instead, Thoreau tried to "live deep and suck out all the marrow of life," to "live so sturidly and Spartan-like" that he would shed "all that was not life" and get to life's fundamentals - in today's terms, he was simplifying.

Thoreau "reduced [life] to its lowest terms" to see "if [life] proved mean" or sublime (101, Thoreau). Then, either way, he would revel and get "the whole and genuine[ness]" of that experience, and "publish it...to the world" (101, Thoreau).

So, all you Thoreau haters and slanderers, get your Walden out and re-read that bit on "What I Lived For" and then with a microscopic intent, read the WHOLE THING and you will see that Henry D. is still the same man he always was...a leader in voluntary simplicity, his works a study of his effects on his world and the effects of his world on him. Everything the green movement touts and celebrates and embraces.

You've still got it, Thoreau. Rock on with your greeeen self.


(me and henry D. @ Walden Pond, 2008)

Just One More - Rhizome Collective

A few months back I attended a community discussion on urban sustainability. The discussion featured a group from Texas who have done some pretty innovative thinking and designing in an urban setting. One man came from the group and did a brief over view of what the group has done in their community through their organization called the Rhizome Collective. One aspect of their mission is to hold trainings and one they've developed is R.U.S.T or Radical Urban Sustainability Training.

The man talked about some ideas I've heard of (aquaculture farming, grey water) and some ideas I had not thought of (recycled fridge solar power water heater, natural home water cleaning system, duckweed as food). But also of interest to me were a few additional factors - 1) the CROWD of people my age there aka other people who care about the same issues,
2) networking, and 3) meeting the Heartbeat Collective group, based in my community.

There was also one crucial point I left this discussion considering - the time issue. The time to act, try new methods of alternative energy sources, to create new ways of living is not later, it is NOW. Why? Because right now we still have back up - we still have some of those almost gone un-renewable resources. We still have time to try and fail. But soon that luxury, the "safety net," will be gone. This was an inspiring (yes, a little daunting too) message to take away from this meeting. Especially knowing that there are groups like the two I mentioned above and many more trying out these "radical" and "alternative" ways of living and producing means of survival. Oh! There was also a partnership who had bought an old store in a neighboring town and were turning it into a totally green and eco-model home to be used as a community learning and gathering center. Check out more about it here.

Hope is not a Four Letter Word

This book and this author have helped me to discover that I and my ideas are indeed American, political, and PATRIOTIC. Why has it taken me this long to realize it? Why have I felt like a social minority most of the time, unable to feel like most of the country would even care about the same things? Oh, I don't know, maybe because there was a nut in office for eight years who made monumental decisions reflecting the exact opposite of anything I would hope or dream of for this country...yeah, that could most likely be a factor. But now...the end is in sight and the time has come for a new person to step in that role and hold the future of America in his hands (it will be nice one day when I can REALLY say his or her hands...next time Hilary, next time).

America stands on the brink of a new era and a new chance for change. I feel vulnerable, naive, and even a bit mushy for placing so much hope on this election, on one man, because the last time I did, my hopes were dashed along with most other Americans and their ideas of the American dream, justice and democracy. Some how, out of the ashes and ruin of the past two election processes my hope rose again and I cast my fears aside to try to change the future fate of this country. My NH absentee ballot arrived at my door last week and I practiced my right to elect the head of this government.

Barack Obama, crazy illegal aunt and all, you got my vote. Joe Biden, you'd be a good stand in so I have full confidence in you as the second in command of this country. Please fellas, PLEASE show this country the possibilities we can achieve when we are UNITED. Please show other countries the hope, the innovation, and the forward thinking that America can have once again. Unlike the goon and his entourage that are leaving office, who took 9.11. and used it to drive our company so far into fear that we have nothing else left, please PLEASE use this critical point in time to show the world just how wonderful America can be. We are on the verge of disaster and either we can keep heading for it or we can start to try something new.

I am tired of being part of a fear campaign. I am tired of feeling disconnected from the rest of the world. And most of all, I am tired of feeling apathetic, hopeless, and like there is NOTHING we can do to fix the mess we are in. I want to hear messages that inspire me and others to think of NEW WAYS of trying even harder to fix this planet and to fix this country. As Friedman says, it is not about Homeland Security and it's rainbow color alerts, we need more than the focus on "the war on terrorism." America, let's shift to


CODE GREEN.

By taking the lead, by living the example of how to begin solving this generations' biggest challenge, America would be "creating the tools, systems, energy sources, and ethics that will allow the planet to grow in cleaner and more sustainable ways" for the world to see and follow. America has set the example thus far and look what it has gotten us - a world full of other countries attempting to reach a middle class American lifestyle, but with no regard to the costs to the planet. Just. Like. Us. But this does NOT have to be the legacy America leaves. There is time and a chance to START NOW so that what happened on 9.11. and in all the days between can be leading us somewhere and not leaving us at a stand still...as other countries move on and forward and ahead. I want our country to matter to us and to the world again, to part of "restoring and revitalizing something [I] cherish but feel is being degraded" (Friedman, 9).

No matter who steps into the white house after tomorrow, the job on their desk blotter is one of enormous proportions. The new president, full of new ideas and new methods for change, will be faced with a MESS to fix before any new ideas can even happen. Let this not defeat him, or defeat the American people and their support of him, or lead everyone into apathy once more. Instead, we need to continue the momentum and hope and enthusiasm that has brought us to tomorrow's election day and keep it going to support our new President and to bring new life to this country. We need to hold him accountable as we have not held others in the past, and we need to be a part of creating this new change in every way we can.

The World Is So Small

If only every life could be viewed like a movie in fast forward, maybe then we'd see how each and every decision we make ripples slowly outward from us to spread around the planet. I'm not sure if signing petitions is enough, but if Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore is promoting it, sure, sign me up (that's what is called "tongue in cheek"). Joking aside, I went to the We Can Solve It Campaign website, and sent an email to my congress people asking them to support clean energy initiatives and support creating clean energy jobs.

No easing of my conscious like, yup, I saved the world in my way today, but it's something. In actuality, signing these things usually lacks satisfaction or a sense of accomplishment for me. To me, if I'm going to write, I need to actively write, which to me is a continuous effort that is published. I've been trying to lobby my local paper into letting me start some sort of weekly column devoted to sustainability efforts, but I have to "prove" myself first. I'm fortunate that I convinced the lady to let me cover the local farmer's market as a first step. My article is due June 4th and I have YET to get in touch with the farmer who runs and sets up the market. Egads! We'll see if I earn my street cred with this one.

The writing of blogs, articles, letters, etc... as a piece of the effort to create change may seem insignificant and sometimes feels futile to me. When I think too big, too globally, I may not sense the smallness of the Earth, but I sense the smallness of me and my efforts. So I try remembering that every effort needs witnesses, to reach a broader audience, and can be captured forever through the written word as countless authors have attempted to do throughout history. I try to narrow my focus to writing letters to the editor for my local paper instead of just signing these huge and anonymous petitions. Because to me, through writing, I can be an active and efficient modem for change, more so than in any other forum.

This is why I read. This is why I write. This is why I sign petitions.

What's your way?

Here's today's funny -

©Nataliedee.com

Revolutionary Green

Dear Bostonians,

There is a site called, Five Limes. The site is meant to help people locate "green" restaurants, stores, whatever! in walking distance of their homes. The site started in Canada, so don't feel intimidated by how AWESOME and green the Canada sections are if you look at them.

However, taking a look at Boston proper, there's not much. In fact, there's nada. Yeah, there are some farms listed, but heck I can't walk to western MA to reach any of them. Here's a call to arms Bostonians! Let's get on the job and help fill in the "green" ins and outs of Boston.

What do I mean by "Green?" You can check out my two examples - one a product, one a restaurant - to get a brief idea, but I'll try to explain what Being Green means to me. Being Green is about being as mindful of your actions and their impact as possible. This could mean turning off lights when you leave a room, using LED light bulbs, composting, gardening, living off the grid, building your own solar panels, buying those carbon off-set share thingies, any number of actions that show acknowledgment to a connection between what you do and this world we live in. For me, this is a constantly evolving cycle. I'm not always rigid in my routines and I'm still learning what works and what doesn't work for my current lifestyle. Through this blog, I've tried to share a few things I've done and to me, a big part of Being Green is simply Doing-It-Myself a lot more than my lifestyle and circumstances demand. I didn't have to make my own curtains, I choose to make them. Jason didn't have to make our bed, but he choose to make it. (for those interested, the actual 10 steps mentioned on that poster are here)

Each of us is confronted with so many choices every day, it can be overwhelming. Maybe not every choice seems earth shattering or world changing, but when it comes to those choices that are, that's when whatever most influences your decision making counts. For me, the most influence I want to make and think about is Being Green.


Take care, and I hope to see some of y'all on the Five Limes site, filling other Bostonians in on the cool places to Be Green.


Now go hug somebody...or maybe a tree.

Fondly,
A Wanna Be Green Lady

ps. while searching for some images to include, I came across last year's Green Build Intl. Conference, which was held in Boston. I really dug the slogan, hence the post's title.

Bye Bye Bike

Dear Ghanaian resident,

I hope whoever you are that you enjoy the bike I donated to you yesterday. There's this really cool organization, Bikes Not Bombs, who have been bringing bikes like mine to youth who need them. They started here in Boston, spread to Southern towns, and are now coming to you in Africa. It's a pretty exciting and new idea - teach people to ride, build, and share bikes as transportation, business, and recreation.

My bike is a Schwinn Caliente. There's a bike rack on the rear. I picture you, Ghanaian resident, riding around with a crate tied there, the crate filled with things you need for home or school or work. I hope it rides smoothly for you for many years to come. Enjoy.

Peace,
Bike Donor

The Ride Continues

Hello family and friends -

Do you know that I am riding 150 miles this summer in hopes of raising money for research to cure MS? If you didn't, now you do! Jason and I have formed a team, The Rusty Chains, and we are riding from Quincy to P'town on June 28th and 29th. We each have a goal of $550 to raise, which for me, currently rests at $180. (just as an indicator, our newest team mate Sean joined Friday and already has $225!!! These two are making me look bad) All I am asking is for at least a $10 donation, that's right, the low price of $10! Your $10 could go toward helping someone with MS join a support group or even finance temporary care or respite for an individual with MS or their family.

To see what Jason and I are up to in our training blog, to donate, or to learn more, visit My Personal MS Ride Fund-raising Page or send me an email and we can chat.

Cheers,
Erikka

Working in a Coal Mine, Whoop! About to Slip doooown

My mother has worked in some fashion since she was about ten years old (back in the day 10 was ok to baby-sit for your family's little ones. Yikes!). Throughout her working life she has held jobs in approximately three...or four fields - service, administrative, industry (a factory), and office management. She's worked for a lot of different places, especially when she was a waitress. But overall, she's been pretty steadfast in her working habits and never been unemployed. Her longest career was as an office manager with the State, where she worked for about 12 years.

Currently my mom is again an office manager. Unfortunately, she's the office manager of a dying office. Her boss is cutting costs and saving money, which could mean my mom loses her job. My mother is 56 years old and going back on the job market probably isn't the first thing she'd opt to do at this age. This irritates me, pains me, and adds to my disappointment in our system of work. No one who is over the age of 50 should have to start all over again. They've done their time. They've worked. They've contributed to social security and to the unemployment fund. Shouldn't we start paying THEM and congratulating them for a job well done? I'm not talking about forced retirement and no options to work again. No. I am talking about a system with healthy supports in place for people over 50 if they lose their jobs. A system where there are jobs for people over 50 who want to work, and not just the crappiest jobs no one else wants to do (this sounds so familiar...). Old people, immigrant peoples, any one who is not young, virile and otherwise PERFECT in every way on some checklist only available to the elite, are all marginalized in our country. Shoved out of sight, working at night, and given little to no support. Here's a scenario -

Last summer, I stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts in Quincy. The day was Saturday, around 9:00am. The parking lot was full with a line of cars waiting and there was a crowded waiting area inside. Behind the counter was either a woman who looked to be about 80 years old from years of abusing her body or a real 80 year old woman. I believed the latter to be true and it pained me to be there, watching her fill orders for breakfast sandwiches. The woman was 80 years old! No one who is 80 years old should be working in a Dunkin' Donuts. Later, when I shared these sentiments with a friend, they challenged my assumptions by asking me how I knew she didn't want to be there? How did I know? How did I know that an 80 year old woman might not want to be up at 9 serving teenagers with hangovers their breakfast sandwiches? My retort was not based on fact, "Do you know ANYONE who wants to be working at Dunkin' Donuts if they don't HAVE to work there?"

This is the fate I would like to be avoided by my mother and other women and men like her, people over the age of 50 forced back into the work force to compete against fresh faced 20 somethings with a competitive edge that could be lethal.

end rant.


* * * For anyone interested, my beau and I biked our first twenty miles and you can read about it here. * * *

Ride Ride Ride, Hitchin' A Ride

In September, Jason is going on an amazing bike adventure sans me. I must admit to being a little put out by this, a little jealous, and not because I can't go...not exactly. More because I can't go to MO-AB-FREAKIN'-UTAH on this little bike ride. If anyone recalls the post when we first planned a trip to Arizona where I mentioned my desert fascination , here's a recap. It all started from my first reading of Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. The book is about Abbey's time as a park ranger in Arches National Park conveniently located in the coolest looking desert and outdoor space in the US - Moab, Utah. Since then I have longed to go out into the desert and camp, write, bike, and hike. We did do some of these things on our trip to AZ, and not knowing if and when I'd make it Utah, seeing AZ desert would suffice. Little did I know that a brush with Moab would come so close, but leave me aside.

Enough with the mellow drama because this post ain't about poor me and how I can't go on a great outdoor trip with someone I love. Nooooooo! This post is about what that event is a catalyst for - OTHER BIKE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME! Jason, needing to get in shape to ride about 35 miles of mtn bike trails a day, got the great idea of looking into other long rides he could do before to train and in which I can participate (though they will be a far cry from Moab, Utah). So far we have found two opportunities and here's where you, my blog readers and friends, can join the picture as well.


OPT #1 - Cape Cod Ride for the Cure - MS Ride June 28, 29th

We have signed up as The Rusty Chains to ride this 150 mile biking fund-raiser. On the 28th we leave from Quincy MA and bike our little asses off to Provincetown, RI where we get a ferry and food back to Boston. There were a few options to split up the miles and we will be doing 75 miles each day. There were also housing options such as glorious accommodations in local school gymnasiums, but we opted for tenting it on our own outside. Cheaper and we won't have to listen to anyone else snore. This will be my first long ride and we are both in the process of finding appropriate new bikes for the different undertakings of each ride. Training will include us riding to work every possible day when each of us deems the weather to our liking (Jason has already begun, but it is too damn cold for me still), going on looooong rides on week-ends, which two of our local friends are going to do with us since they are planning to ride across the ENTIRE state of MA this summer, and weights and other aerobic exercises too.

Here's your part - to do the MS Ride and raise money, each rider has a goal of $500 to reach. My team, myself, and Jason all have a web page for collecting donations, tracking progress, and updating people on what we are doing. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit my page and give to your hearts content. I'm blogging there too as a way to chronicle the whole process of my first long ride and my efforts at fund-raising, so if nothing else, it is one more place you can read more of my writing. Honestly, even a $1 is one step toward my goal and the team's goal, so do not feel embarassed or like you don't have enough to give - every little contribution counts. And if you're even more daring, we're looking for team mates!

OPT #2 - Biking in and around Nova Scotia

When we went to Arizona, we stayed with Jason's Aunt and Uncle, who also conveniently have a house in St. John's, New Brunswick Canada. They extended an invitation to us to come up in the summer to visit as we all thoroughly enjoyed our time together in AZ. We definitely want to go and are already planning to see Nova Scotia while we're there because it's actually easier for us to leave from Portland, ME on the CAT to get to Nova Scotia than it is to get to New Brunswick. We'll be taking a scenic bike tour of the area that we'll plan ourselves from the Lonely Planet guide Jason ordered last night from Amazon.

Planning something so active as a 150 mile bike ride really sets a goal for me to be in good shape from now until then. I'm trying to stay on a twice or three times a week swim schedule I've sort of started, but coordinating with Jason on getting to the YMCA is sometimes difficult. I go with him as a guest and pay $5. If I go about eight times a month that adds up to be about $40 per month, which is cheaper than any membership option they offer. Seeing also that I do not want to use any other programs or facilities, my going with Jason is the best fit. Sometimes Jason goes at lunch, or leaves from Somerville to go, so it is just tricky to get there together when it is not the week-end. So far I've gone for two weeks and I really enjoy swimming! It feels like such a complete body work out unlike a lot of other exercise options. For real results and staying power, only time will tell so check in at the Bike Blog to see if I really hold true. I'll probably mention updates a few times here too.


There you have it blog world. Exciting events are in the future and I hope in your own small way, you will be a part of them! Otherwise, I'm lost in the fund-raising department without your aide!