The governor in my state, Virginia, has now issued a total stay at home order. We've gone from social distancing, travel advisements, and schools being shut down through the academic year to straight out "do not leave home unless absolutely necessary." The governor says to expect this through May. In one way the final order is good news. It's clarifying to have a leader who's not … [Read more...] about Coronavirus, Quarantine, and the Meaning of American Life
DIY
New Name: Lady Virginia Vintage
Many of my long-time readers, friends, and supporters know that over the years I've combined my values for clean energy, conservation, and consumer re-use, and the many essays I've written about these topics, with also running both an online and bricks-and-mortar vintage shop. This is where I also share my broadsides, poster art, and fiber arts. Adding to the stew are my passions for history, … [Read more...] about New Name: Lady Virginia Vintage
When ‘frugal’ became a bad word in America
Two incidents recently got me to thinking about how what was once an essential American value — frugality — morphed into a cultural pariah. The first was when I posted on my Facebook page that my hubby and I had made a New Year's resolution to not buy any new clothing during all of 2015. We both enjoy nice clothes, and we purchase worthy stuff — quality over quantitiy — but it's not like we … [Read more...] about When ‘frugal’ became a bad word in America
Food not lawns
The Food: Not Lawns Movement may be one of the most perfect storms in addressing how we can simultaneously cut back on destructive practices in lawn care and centralized food production while increasing healthy and productive ones at the hyper-local level. Between fossil-fuel powered mowers and leaf blowers, heavy water use, application of synthetic — and too often toxic — herbicides and … [Read more...] about Food not lawns
Many faces of Urban Agriculture
Over the past month perhaps you've seen my Kickstarter campaign to fund the poster art show called 31 Days of Urban Agriculture. During the time I've been on the fundraising mission I've continued to do the art for the show and, behind the scenes, to continue researching the issue and writing the essays that will be in the show chapbook. One of the things that's been most … [Read more...] about Many faces of Urban Agriculture
Greenhorns to the rescue!
Slightly blurry on the Web but clear in person — this piece is in celebration of the many Greenhorn people in various training and development programs whose aim is to build the farmers, farms, and food systems of the future. The folks depicted — Trevor Piersol, Emily Melvin, Ben Samuelson — just happen to be former Senior Fellows from the Allegheny Mountain Institute. Their training ground was … [Read more...] about Greenhorns to the rescue!
