Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Andeanfx" <andeanfx@midrivers.com>]

His mother apparently did not abort him and if he is practicing what he 
preaches he doesn't have to worry about his children emphasizing him so he 
might have time to figure out the people he is "preaching" to are not the 
ones overpopulating the world but are the ones who have traditionally fed 
and evangelized it.

Dean

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices. -- Benjamin Franklin


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
To: <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 10:03 AM
Subject: [Livingontheland] Easing the transition, simply stated for we with 
limited means


> Easing the transition, simply stated for we with limited means
> http://survivingpeakoil.com/?p=16#more-16
> Posted on April 27, 2009
> by Robert J. Gregory
>
> People of limited means, and that includes me, can shift from today's
> world into the future by taking a few steps that will lead, almost
> inevitably, further along the track towards self-sustainability, 
> happiness,
> and meaningfulness. Although we can't be sure about how our future will
> turn out, we can be certain that we must try our very best to act in the
> most appropriate ways. Otherwise, catastrophe will occur. Some simple 
> steps
> are outlined below.
>
> 1) Begin a garden. Gardens are places where you can grow some of your own
> food and, at the same time, provide yourself and your family with enormous
> opportunities to appreciate nature and the environment, participate in the
> processes of growth and harvest, gain real tangible skills and abilities,
> build up supplies and resources, provide fresh produce for gifts or trade
> with others, and much more. Gardens, if you think about it, help a person
> or family withdraw their allegiance and dependence on the food stores and
> global corporations that control food by creating local, home-grown, and
> better tasting food at far lower costs. Gardens can benefit the soil and
> preserve local seed stock, create wildlife havens, and add to the 
> diversity
> and interest in our communities. Local gardens mean transportation costs
> are minimized, and therefore precious gas and oil use is reduced. Best of
> all, gardening provides a living model about how to withdraw yourself and
> your family from unnecessary and unneeded dependence on "the system",
> whether food, other products and services, and/or emotional links and ties
> created by habits.
>
> 2) Do away with non-essentials that do not contribute to happiness and
> well-being. We can do without expensive lawns that have to be mowed every
> week or so, SUV's and fancy automobiles that use enormous amounts of gas
> and oil, junk food that costs a lot, tastes bad and contributes to ill
> health, television that blots out or distorts our minds and takes away 
> time
> and energy and health, expensive church or other buildings that are used
> for only an hour or two per week, tobacco that destroys lungs and lives,
> and alcohol that poisons and wastes brain power, sensibility, precious
> time, energy, money and relationships.
>
> 3) Learn skills and get "really" educated. Skills such as growing and
> drying food, making soap, fixing things and carrying out home repairs,
> simple plumbing, creating your own clothes, and similar skills are always
> valuable, for all people. With the local library, the Internet, and local
> discussion groups, it is possible to learn about history, literature,
> philosophy, science, alternative ways to live, different languages,
> financial self-management, and much more. The opportunities are present,
> the challenges are many, and the time is here and now.
>
> 4) Call on leaders-or so-called leaders-to be honest, responsible and
> accountable to the needs and wishes of all the people they represent.
> Monitor, track, and study what local and global leaders say, look at the
> decisions they make, and then examine what they actually do. Inform and
> discuss their decisions and actions with your relatives, friends, work
> mates, neighborhood and other groups, and give wholehearted, enthusiastic
> support to those leaders who do the right things. Withdraw your support
> from those who are not acting in the best interests of all, and the 
> future.
> Further, publicize exactly why you support or oppose particular leaders 
> and
> their decisions, to inform as many people as you can.
>
> 5) Enjoy safe sex for relationships, recreation, affection, and love. 
> Avoid
> sex for procreation, as we have way too many people on Planet Earth now.
> Intelligent and aware scientists and researchers tell us that the Earth 
> can
> support, in a sustainable and reasonable manner, perhaps one billion
> people. Right now, we have well over six billion, which is five billion 
> too
> many. We do not need more people, we do need more quality of life for the
> people we have.
>
> 6) Appreciate, or at the least acknowledge and accept, death and 
> mortality.
> Yes, we feel sad, bad, and angry when a loved one dies, or when famine,
> war, and poverty kill off large numbers of humans anywhere in the world.
> But, let us recognize that death is natural, and further, let us recognize
> that we have well over six billion people on a planet that can sustain
> probably only one billion. Our attitudes toward death should remain
> sensitive, caring and loving, but we also need to become more realistic 
> and
> mature about death, whether by abortion, euthanasia, accidents, illness,
> old age or the many other causes.
>
> 7) Know that these steps are a small but important beginning, and the
> opportunities are many for social entrepreneurs, innovations, and plenty 
> of
> hard work. Changing lifestyles, enriching lives, making a positive
> difference, working with neighbors and friends, helping your own family,
> reorienting corporations and businesses, building new and better
> communities, engaging with the politicians and political systems; why,
> think about it! The possibilities of what can be are virtually endless.
> Now, get out there and get started!
>
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