Are you trying to get your gardens planned for this year? But like me, you're not sure what to plant, because the past couple growing seasons haven't been great. Here is my take on that, for me anyhow. I, the past couple gardening seasons, to preserve heritage, did heirloom planting. However, being a Scorpio I hate to admit... without much success. Especially because I've always had good luck gardening.
I believe, my so-so gardens are in part of the so-so WNY's growing weather, but I also believe it has something to do with the heirlooms I was planting. Why? The heirloom seeds we purchase are not cultivated and 'raised' in this area. Thus they are not tolerant of our soils and unpredictable weather changes. Many of the heirloom varieties are from areas that are use to longer growing seasons, and looser soils, not our well known temperature fluctuations, shorter growing season and often the clay-loom soils of WNY. Thus, seeds less resistant to, diseases, cold, heat, damp, and dry. Not hardy to this area:)
So this year, and this might cause a few gasps, I'm going Hybrid again. Organic mind you, but hybrid. Hybrids are noted for being diseases resistant and weather change tolerant. After all hybrids are a mix of the best growing and weather tolerant plant lives of the plant world. The way my mind works, I think maybe hybrids do well in this area, because isn't WNY and the surrounding areas, historically a community of Hybrids? Because back in the depression era and before, dreams were to come to this area for work and proposer. Ultimately growing a population of hardy, 'weather' resistant people. So I say...yea for the hybrids...they are a mix of the best of the old and new, no matter what the situation, whether it be gardening, cooking, community or churches. When all thrown into the pot, makes the best and hardiest 'stew'.
But here's an idea that came to me, and I might try it. If you plant heirlooms because you like the idea you can save Heirloom seeds year and after year. Maybe its possible to get the seeds acclimated to growing here, by setting aside a piece of garden to plant a couple each of heirlooms you like, and if they don't do well, you can still save the seeds and try them again next year, in hopes they will become accustomed to this area and it's quirky growing patterns and eventually thrive and grow.
I find it ironic as I am sure many others do, that now...after...the fact with the nuclear disaster in Japan, we are hearing more about the countries who have nuclear plants and that governments and companies are searching ways of implementing better safeguards, so no other disasters like this can happen.
One thing I personally feel sad about beyond the sadness I feel for those of Japan, and I'm probably not alone, but its my lack of realization of the vast number of nuclear plants around the world. I just did not know.
Also living in the land of Oz that is called Colden, knowing full well we have a nuclear waste facility only 20 miles from here, I realized how I've accepted it was there and hardly ever think about it, expect when my husband takes his semi in there, and comes home with a radiation detector cord (minus the radiation tag) hanging around his neck and then, even though he and his truck have been scanned before he leaves, the wait for the letter to come in mail a few days later, stating he's not (hopefully) been exposed to radiation. I would say even Japan, though on a bigger scale, are so use to those nuclear plants being there, that the plants merely became part of the scenery too...
I do believe Japan is a country equipped to handle most earthquakes, and they were prepared, and they would have been OK, if it weren't for the Tsunami...BUT...and this is a big but...this shows, that no matter how prepared we are, how highly technological we are, how smart we think we are.... we still can not understand the forces of Mother Nature, and ultimately....We...are no match for Her.
Though we'd like to believe we are the superior race, we are not superior to Mother Nature, and as prepared as Japan was, Mother Nature showed the vulnerability of all us humans or really, life on earth. We, who live on Turtle Island, (what the Native Americans call Mother Earth) must understand that even a turtle with its hard shell has a vulnerable spot.
The way I see it, according to Mother Natures standards, a tsunami, is only a sneeze at what she is capable of, and us humans thinking we are so intelligent that we can outsmart Mother Nature is not a good or safe mind set.
It's time we listen to Mother Nature, and heed her warnings. If you look back, she's been warning us for a while, to clean up our room, and just like any Mother who tells her child many times to clean up their room and they do not, she goes in and does the job. And when 'She' does the job, many things are tossed, and this cleansing is painful. So yes its time to listen to Mother Nature and clean up our room and have respect for its space...and that space, our room...is the Earth we live on.
Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way
Kellie
+
Herbs & Things
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Part of March 8th emailing from Herbs & Things
Hello from Herbs & Things:)
"Deep doubts, deep wisdom; small doubts, little wisdom."
Chinese Proverb
Sometimes, I...as many of you, don't take the time to give myself the treat of meditation or a calming, healing form of standing meditation, such as Tai Chi. (benefits and more info about Tai Chi.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi_chuan )
because somewhere in the course of the day, I've convinced myself, I don't feel like it, it won't make me feel better, or I don't have time, forgetting the benefits even a mere 15 mins let alone an hour will give, and decide to Veg out. Then, if you are like me, as you sit there vegging out, you beat yourself up because you are not doing.....Something.
As we all know, there are times, we need to Veg, but then there are the times, we need to push ourselves past feeling yucky, to tired, don't want to do it, don't feel like doing another thing today, feelings and make ourselves go to that Tai Chi or meditation class.
That's what happened to me last Thursday. All day, I did not feel sick....just blah, thus convincing my tired, icky, so so, part of me, that I was to tired and achy, to go to Tai Chi and yoga. It wasn't until 10 minutes before Tai Chi Class, I yelled at Myself, "Kellie, its only an hour, get your butt moving. Once you get there you'll be glad you did"!
Guess what, 'Myself' was right.
Ok...but I must be honest, I compromised with Myself, saying... "Ok self, I'll go to Tai Chi, but no Yoga tonight, my body really does not feel like doing that....OK"?
Self said, "Ok, but you must go to the Wheel when you get home and meditate there".
Sigh..." OK Deal"...(sad when you start making deals with yourself, or was it 'The Voice':)
I went to Tai Chi, and as I warmed up, breathed deep, did the moves, I could feel the stiffness ease from my joints, and back. My mind was not so...agitated and I didn't feel as tired. That was in the first 20 mins. Still, I did not stay for yoga, it didn't feel right this night... BUT...I did keep up the bargain I made with 'Myself' to go to the Wheel when I got home.
It was very cold Thursday night. I bundled up, and as per instructions, took sage, tobacco, Rattle, walking stick Owly, and headed to the Wheel. When I reached the lane leading to the meditation garden, I got the impression I should take my time and feel each step, that 'they' would not let me fall.
I concentrated and set each foot down soft and deliberate, testing for solidness of the ice covered ground beneath that step. By doing this, I felt energy enter my body with each mindful on the earth step and the quiet made my inward thoughts calm.
I reached the bridge going to the meditation garden, and stood there for a while in the silence breathing in the cold air, and listening to and feeling the energy of the creek running under the bridge.
After about 10 minutes of quiet time on the bridge, I was told, "spend time with the Ancestors. Enter the Wheel through the Ancestors path, rather than the South".
I again, going through the Ancestors, went slow and deliberate. It felt like I was wearing moccasins instead of heavy winter boots. Eerily, though the night was fairly bright, I had the feeling someone or something was following me, hearing 'their' foot falls on the hard covered snow and ice. A little nervously, I'd look behind me and around, nope nothing. Did I feel and hear a presence, or was it my imagination?
I reached the Wheel's circle and stood on the edge of the Ancestors spoke and the Circle, gazing at the bright stars towards the North, wondering to Myself, what constellation I'm looking at?
When in the quiet I heard,
"you know what constellation that is".
"uh, no I don't. I didn't even know it was a constellation"
"Yes you do, be still and think".
Oh yeah, there's the be still and think, thing again. Sigh...how can I be quiet and meditate when I must be still and THINK, isn't that the point of mediation, NOT to THINK?.Ok...blah, blah blah, its just my mind going around in circles again.
Myself, "Orion?".
"Now you know better, be serious, just think".
"Do I?...I know better?"
"Yes...stop it, be still and think".
I stood there for about five minutes.
Bear constellation?
I heard nothing, of whether I was right or wrong. I shrugged my shoulders and dismissed it as my thoughts merely rambling. So I entered the Wheel's circle, and did what I came for, to relax, be in nature and meditate. I burned sage, offered Tobacco, played a beat with the Rattle, hummed a tune and tried to clear my mind. For about 30 minutes, not really feeling the cold, I just was and felt better for it.That night, I slept well and the next day, I felt better. I'd forgotten about the Bear constellation thing until I was reminded Saturday morning, so I searched.
Some of you may already know what stars etc are in the night sky, but I only know a little astronomy, such as common things, like where Polaris and Venus are, when some of the 'star shows are' and though I know of Ursa Major, I was excited to find...there is a Bear constellation...actually two, Big and Little Bear...and different histories with different cultures. I found it exceptionally ironic my eyes were drawn (unknowingly) to the Owl Nebula that night, while I was suppose to be still and thinking, because oddly for the past few months, I get the impression I have been directed towards Owl Medicine and need to learn more. Thus making what I found in my research beyond the Ursa Major constellation, mind boggling, which I will share at a later date...to much again for an email:)
So anyhow, I guess this is just another little heads up about writing down things you think you think and think you hear, even within a quiet time of meditation. You might be surprised at what you've learned or know! :)
Read more here...about Ursa Major, Latin for the Larger Bear, constellation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursa_Major
and
Thank you to some new people on Herbs & Thing emailing for signing up and if you'd like to be on Herbs & Things weekly emailing...please email Kellie and type subscribe in subjet line.
"Deep doubts, deep wisdom; small doubts, little wisdom."
Chinese Proverb
Sometimes, I...as many of you, don't take the time to give myself the treat of meditation or a calming, healing form of standing meditation, such as Tai Chi. (benefits and more info about Tai Chi.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi_chuan )
because somewhere in the course of the day, I've convinced myself, I don't feel like it, it won't make me feel better, or I don't have time, forgetting the benefits even a mere 15 mins let alone an hour will give, and decide to Veg out. Then, if you are like me, as you sit there vegging out, you beat yourself up because you are not doing.....Something.
As we all know, there are times, we need to Veg, but then there are the times, we need to push ourselves past feeling yucky, to tired, don't want to do it, don't feel like doing another thing today, feelings and make ourselves go to that Tai Chi or meditation class.
That's what happened to me last Thursday. All day, I did not feel sick....just blah, thus convincing my tired, icky, so so, part of me, that I was to tired and achy, to go to Tai Chi and yoga. It wasn't until 10 minutes before Tai Chi Class, I yelled at Myself, "Kellie, its only an hour, get your butt moving. Once you get there you'll be glad you did"!
Guess what, 'Myself' was right.
Ok...but I must be honest, I compromised with Myself, saying... "Ok self, I'll go to Tai Chi, but no Yoga tonight, my body really does not feel like doing that....OK"?
Self said, "Ok, but you must go to the Wheel when you get home and meditate there".
Sigh..." OK Deal"...(sad when you start making deals with yourself, or was it 'The Voice':)
I went to Tai Chi, and as I warmed up, breathed deep, did the moves, I could feel the stiffness ease from my joints, and back. My mind was not so...agitated and I didn't feel as tired. That was in the first 20 mins. Still, I did not stay for yoga, it didn't feel right this night... BUT...I did keep up the bargain I made with 'Myself' to go to the Wheel when I got home.
It was very cold Thursday night. I bundled up, and as per instructions, took sage, tobacco, Rattle, walking stick Owly, and headed to the Wheel. When I reached the lane leading to the meditation garden, I got the impression I should take my time and feel each step, that 'they' would not let me fall.
I concentrated and set each foot down soft and deliberate, testing for solidness of the ice covered ground beneath that step. By doing this, I felt energy enter my body with each mindful on the earth step and the quiet made my inward thoughts calm.
I reached the bridge going to the meditation garden, and stood there for a while in the silence breathing in the cold air, and listening to and feeling the energy of the creek running under the bridge.
After about 10 minutes of quiet time on the bridge, I was told, "spend time with the Ancestors. Enter the Wheel through the Ancestors path, rather than the South".
I again, going through the Ancestors, went slow and deliberate. It felt like I was wearing moccasins instead of heavy winter boots. Eerily, though the night was fairly bright, I had the feeling someone or something was following me, hearing 'their' foot falls on the hard covered snow and ice. A little nervously, I'd look behind me and around, nope nothing. Did I feel and hear a presence, or was it my imagination?
I reached the Wheel's circle and stood on the edge of the Ancestors spoke and the Circle, gazing at the bright stars towards the North, wondering to Myself, what constellation I'm looking at?
When in the quiet I heard,
"you know what constellation that is".
"uh, no I don't. I didn't even know it was a constellation"
"Yes you do, be still and think".
Oh yeah, there's the be still and think, thing again. Sigh...how can I be quiet and meditate when I must be still and THINK, isn't that the point of mediation, NOT to THINK?.Ok...blah, blah blah, its just my mind going around in circles again.
Myself, "Orion?".
"Now you know better, be serious, just think".
"Do I?...I know better?"
"Yes...stop it, be still and think".
I stood there for about five minutes.
Bear constellation?
I heard nothing, of whether I was right or wrong. I shrugged my shoulders and dismissed it as my thoughts merely rambling. So I entered the Wheel's circle, and did what I came for, to relax, be in nature and meditate. I burned sage, offered Tobacco, played a beat with the Rattle, hummed a tune and tried to clear my mind. For about 30 minutes, not really feeling the cold, I just was and felt better for it.That night, I slept well and the next day, I felt better. I'd forgotten about the Bear constellation thing until I was reminded Saturday morning, so I searched.
Some of you may already know what stars etc are in the night sky, but I only know a little astronomy, such as common things, like where Polaris and Venus are, when some of the 'star shows are' and though I know of Ursa Major, I was excited to find...there is a Bear constellation...actually two, Big and Little Bear...and different histories with different cultures. I found it exceptionally ironic my eyes were drawn (unknowingly) to the Owl Nebula that night, while I was suppose to be still and thinking, because oddly for the past few months, I get the impression I have been directed towards Owl Medicine and need to learn more. Thus making what I found in my research beyond the Ursa Major constellation, mind boggling, which I will share at a later date...to much again for an email:)
So anyhow, I guess this is just another little heads up about writing down things you think you think and think you hear, even within a quiet time of meditation. You might be surprised at what you've learned or know! :)
Read more here...about Ursa Major, Latin for the Larger Bear, constellation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursa_Major
and
Thank you to some new people on Herbs & Thing emailing for signing up and if you'd like to be on Herbs & Things weekly emailing...please email Kellie and type subscribe in subjet line.