A thought for living in the New Year:
The Roman philosopher Tacitus rightly observed that “the desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.” If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity.-Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution via Flickr
Forgiveness, a virtue that is fundamental to Christianity, is poignantly displayed in a true story that is told by a Muslim.
After 9/11, a white supremacist in Texas wanted revenge. He took his gun and shot three people he believed were Arab. One of the men he shot survived. That man, Rais Bhuiyan, worked to understand and forgive his shooter and then took a surprising step to prevent the man from being executed.-The Story
After completing a Muslim pilgrimage and talking with Dr. Rick Halprin, Director of the Human Rights Education Program at the Southern Methodist University, Rais Bhuiyan decided to do three things: try to save his shooter’s life, help the families of the deceased victims in the same shooting spree–both financially and emotionally, and help the daughter of his shooter.
Please listen to this poignant story that is so pertinent to the Christmas season.
Hate is going on in this world, and it has to stop. Hate causes a lifetime of pain.-statement by Mark Stroman, the shooter, while on death row
Photo “The Children’s Memorial at Lidice, Czech Republic commemorating the 82 children murdered by the Nazis in vans adapted to kill with exhaust gas and buried at Chelmno”–SMU Human Rights Education Program
Some background on Dr. Rick Halprin:
Since 1996, I have been visiting, photographing, and videotaping Holocaust and other World War II sites across Europe. I am also conducting oral history interviews with Holocaust survivors, World War II participants, and the descendants of both groups. I bring this research and documentation into my classrooms as part of my on-going efforts to humanize, personalize, and raise awareness of that tragic era.”–Dr. Rick Halprin
Abundance--Southern California style
Here is what I seek this Thanksgiving Day and all days:
Empower me
To be a bold participant,
Rather than a timid saint in waiting,
In the difficult ordinariness of now;
To exercise the authority of honesty,
Rather than to defer to power,
Or deceive to get it;
To influence someone for justice,
Rather than impress anyone for gain;
And, by grace, to find treasures
Of joy, friendship, of peace
Hidden in the fields of the daily
You give me to plow.–Ted Loder
Photo courtesy Weekend Sherpa
Not all gardening has to be in the ground, horizontal, or take up much space. Vertical gardening is what I am talking about. The Phytopod is one example, but numerous other possibilities exist. (However, I do particularly like the way the Phytopod looks.)
According to one of the ads for the Phytopod:
Your can have 20 square feet of planting area on a 2′ x 2′ footprint! Plant lettuce, basil, tomatoes, radishes, spinach, herbs, flowers–anything you would want in a garden patch…!
The example in the picture seems to be planted with some greens–great for a fall garden.
I like it! Renters, apartment dwellers, all who have limited space, rise up. Start your own garden.
Click here to see a video of how it works. (I suggest that you ignore the big bug at the beginning of the video, but that’s just me.)
Photo courtesy Vertical Home Gardens
To educate the world about the power of gourmet living foods!–118 Degrees Mission Statement
Here is an update to yesterday’s post: At noon, (after the Salad Bowl gardening lecture), you can watch a salad-making demonstration called Salad-Making 101 at the Great Park. Executive chef and owner of the Costa Mesa restaurant 118 Degrees, Jenni Ross, will give the presentation.
Here is more information as provided on the Great Park website:
Check out Chef Jenny Ross, owner of restaurant 118 Degrees, as she demonstrates a dressing recipe and talks about ways that you can use greens to create fresh, homemade salads. The demonstration will begin at noon at the Farm + Food Lab, immediately after the Salad Bowl Garden workshop.
Photo courtesy 118 Degrees
The Orange County Great Park fall garden lecture series continues. Last week we had those wicked bugs. This week it’s all about growing your own garden greens. Here is the skinny on this upcoming event:
The Orange County Great Park is hosting a fall garden lecture series. The lectures, which are held at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab, are now though November 5. All lectures are free. The next lecture is on Saturday, October 15 at 10 am.
Here is a description of the upcoming free talk that is straight from the Great Park’s website:
Master Gardener Kay Havens will demonstrate how to make beautiful salad blends. Her seminar will include Asian greens as well as how to make garden additions for flavor and color.
Note: The Great Park uses sustainable practices (The 2009 APA award given to the Great Park and comments from The Sustainable Sites Initiative are examples of this.) but recently accepted a donation from a company that is associated with Monsanto. This company will be the “exclusive lawn and garden products sponsor of the Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab and Community Gardens Program.”
If you follow these matters, you will know that Monsanto receives a lot of criticism from the sustainable-practices community. I am not sure what to think of this partnership right now, but maybe that is a discussion for another time.
Photo courtesy Seeds of Change
The Orange County Great Park is hosting a fall garden lecture series. The lectures, which are held at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab, are now though November 5. All lectures are free. The next lecture is on Saturday, October 8 at 10 am.
Here is a description of the upcoming free talk that is straight from the Great Park’s website:
Author Amy Stewart (Wicked Bugs) will discuss bugs gone wild. It’s an A - Z of insect enemies, interspersed with stories that explore bugs’ sometimes odd behavior and our sometimes irrational responses to bugs.
Note: The Great Park uses sustainable practices. The 2009 American Planning Award given to the Great Park and comments from The Sustainable Sites Initiative are examples of this. However, the Great Park board accepted a donation from ScottsMiracle-Gro, a company that is associated with Monsanto, and ScottsMiracle-Gro will be the “exclusive lawn and garden products sponsor of the Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab and Community Gardens Program.”
If you follow these matters, you know that Monsanto receives a lot of criticism from the sustainable-practices community. I am not sure what to think of this partnership right now, but maybe that is a discussion for another time.
Photo courtesy Seeds of Change, an organic gardening and food company
According to Cindy McNatt, a columnist with the Orange County Register, Orange County’s first frost date is “sometimes never, but occasionally around Dec. 1.” Based on this date, Peaceful Valley, an organic gardening company, recommends the following general fall planting schedule for the Orange County.
When you scan down the list, you will see that according to the guide if you live in Orange County (at least most O.C. locations) and haven’t already planted, you missed most direct-sow and start-in-tray dates. However, these things are not written in stone, so you can always give it a try anyway. Or tuck the information away for next year and plant from seedlings that you buy locally or online. I like the list because it gives you an idea of what is possible for a fall produce garden.
For more detailed information on the planting dates, the various plant varieties, and growing conditions for each plant, click on the Peaceful Valley Fall Planting Guide Calculator. Also, if you don’t live in Orange County, you can find the planting guide that is suitable for your area by entering the anticipated first-frost date for your location.
Graphic courtesy Peaceful Valley
Summer is over and summer garden produce is mostly a thing of the past. For many, fall is a time to let the garden go fallow. Not a bad idea, but a fall garden is entirely possible.
Look forward to peak flavor and performance of many crops that do not prosper in summer heat. Lower temperatures are ideal for producing crisp lettuces, without the bitterness or bolting that can occur in hot weather. Frost-kissed kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage have a special sweetness. Carrots, beets and turnips also thrive in the fall garden and, after harvest, can be kept in a pantry or root cellar so you can enjoy their goodness well into winter. Collards, mustard and other greens also like cool weather.–Vicki Mattern, “Top Tips for Great Fall Gardens,” Mother Earth News
Note: In a few days, I will post some fall planting guide information that is specific to Orange County. Also, the Orange County Great Park is currently offering free fall gardening workshops, now through November 5.
Photo courtesy Seeds of Change, a company that specializes in many things organic
Fed and Be Feed–the motto for St. Paul’s Sunday Supper program
Sunday Supper is an outgrowth of the AngelFood ministry. It now provides a free meal to anyone who wants one [as well as take-home provisions for the coming week], every Sunday evening at 5:30 pm in our Parish Hall. This ministry started in July 2010 and now is both ecumenical and inter-faith with support from our neighbors, Aldersgate Methodist Church and Congregation B’nai Israel [as well as Trinity Episcopal Church and Tree of Life].–St. Paul’s Episcopal Church website
In my last post, I wrote about AmpleHarvest.org’s attempt to help gardeners share their surplus produce. I could not leave the subject without mentioning one of my favorite programs, St. Paul’s Sunday Supper in Tustin. The video tells the story. (Click here to view the video by Jeremy Stebens on Vimeo.)
Currently, St. Paul’s, located at 1221 Wass Street in Tustin, can accept your produce on Fridays and Sundays. For any questions on donating your surplus garden fruits and vegetables (or other supplies) to the Sunday Supper program, send an email to lesiriani@gmail.com, or call Wayne Kemp at 714-544-3141.
Additional information: “Church groups gather to serve Sunday dinners: Five congregations come together to provide free weekly dinners at a church in Tustin.”–Elysse James, The Orange County Register
Photo courtesy The Orange County Register