down and dirty again

at the age of five, i plundered our garden of rocks and stones, enlisting help to lift extra large ones.  i loaded them into my wagon and proceeded to canvas the neighbors, regaling them with the benefits of my selections as natural art for their front or backyards.  if i encountered reluctance, i brought to their attention, the added feature of my wares being great doorstops or paper weights.  i sold out of inventory.

while enrolled in a master gardeners course, i was introduced to a multitude of seed catalogues.  i purchased from many of them.  
i found one that expanded my garden and landscape, both inner and outer.  

my acre was home to grape vines, raspberries, blackberries, apple trees, oaks, russian olives, scotch pines, pinons, cottonwoods and 48 rosebushes.  my tables, culinary, decorative and therapeutic, include varietals in lavenders, manzanitas, japanese honeysuckles, soapworts, fennels, sorrels, alliums, basils, yerba de la negritas, thistles, flaxes, melons, tomatoes, gentians, borages, salvias, morning glories, mallows, edible flowers, native grains, scarlet pimpernel, peppers, zucchinis and all manner of vegetables, common and rare. 

in the beginning, for herbs, i bought the most from a grower in canada.  i attest to the quality of their products.

www.richters.com

here are some others i grew:


lion's tail for hypertension, headaches and digestive imbalances
lovage is early spring bloomer and has celery flavour
silver queen wormwood stimulates appetite
witch hazel is anti-imflammatory
mongolian yarrow reduces stomach acidity 


the sagest suggestions i make towards cultivating your own garden of eden are these: become a sponge at the feet of the elders in your area, soaking up experiential wisdom.  volunteer in a community garden.  make friends with your neighbors, asking for cuttings.  visit your local library or independent bookstore for a good reference primer.  notice, log or take photos of your micro climate (sunlight movement, compass directions).  dream and draw.

windowsills, patio containers or planter box gardens can deliver a hearty yield of color, fragrance and tastiness just as much as an acre.  apartment farming is easy.  do a little prep work and reap the bounty. 

animal planet

6 Ways You Can Help Animals In Japan

03/16/2011

Watching the tragedy unfold in Japan this week has been absolutely devastating and many of us may feel helpless as we sit in the comfort of our homes as tsunami victims are dealing with unimaginable challenges. While the focus in Japan is on helping people affected by the divesting earthquake and Tsunami, many people are also concerned about animals affected by the disaster. Here are six ways you can help, courtesy of The Pet Dish.
1) Donate to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support. A coalition of three groups - HEART-Tokushima, Animal Garden Niigata and Japan Cat Network, their intention is to keep animal rescue on the agenda, provide shelter space and coordinate some earthquake/tsunami animal rescues.
2) Animal Refuge Kansai is also accepting donations. The organization says they have facilities in place and a team of experienced staff able to deal with traumatized animals.
3) The Search Dog Foundation has deployed teams to Japan to help search for victims.
4) Donate to Humane Society International. They have deployed disaster response staff to the region and reached out to Japanese partner organizations involved with animal care and rescue to identify where and how best to provide emergency support and veterinary attention.
5) World Vets are preparing the deployment of a first-responder team to carry out an "on the ground" assessment and provide initial aid. 
6) Join the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support Facebook page to support animal rescue efforts. 

私達間、分離無し

march 11th.     311: aka, citizen contact number.  

upon leaving in the morning, i glanced up as i always do, to espy a chem trail "X" stretched sky wide.  this occurred at every errand stop i made.  different "x" at every turn.  a continual reminder that no matter how you looked at it, that this day, this moment, made a mark. 

 
friday, march 11.  a day that beckoned I merge my breath with local lake, where an increasing number of cormorants, ranged themselves in a covered-wagon circle, perhaps to fend off the four seagulls gliding in to drop and stand.  


sharing a fishing pier with courting mallards, i was roused from sitting meditation by a peckish resident coot, needing to examine what might be underfoot.  he, on eternal snack time quest.


i set off walking.  at a curve on the path, i hear call of dear friend. 

while a never before witnessed white hawk, spiraled close above,  an elfin-eyed gamine of about three years, stopped to chat and share smile.   

in shamrock green hoodie with the words, "super hero" stamped on it, she confided her name was, "danica."  together we watched a white dove cross underneath hawk orbit. soon she skipped off, only to return, presenting me with fist gripped stems of yellow clover. 

this happened at 3:11pm.




* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

danica means morning star.
clover is the flower of Miyagi Prefecture

hearty cup liquid love

i awake to rain. 

i awake to rain with hummingbird outside my window. 
she's busy busy busy, focused on nest building at oak branch edge.  
above her a laggard crow caws, "wait up," to early rising buddies.

i love to walk in rain. 

returning from school, the house wore a favorite and well loved fragrance.  savory, bay, nutmeg, oregano and garlic mingled in the hissing song of pressure cooker.  inside it garden veggies, chicken broth and conchigliette were slowly reaching desired softness.  the oven warm, was waiting to welcome poppy seed muffins destined to drip fresh butter.

i love rainy days.

billet deux

from my father's side, one stream of ancestral lineage.

how delicious must have been the dreams, of those who a century or two later, slept in rooms infused with energetic imprints of  giacomo, giustiniana or veronica franco.