"Traveling makes men wiser, but less happy." Thus spake Thomas Jefferson, third American president, aka "most blessed of patriarchs," and the "American sphynx." I can hear you now. "Aw, what does that old guy know when there's Mayan ruins to see, the Himalayas to climb, cafes and intrigue in Bruges, and weekends that stay forever in Vegas?" But I confess, I'm with TJ, and not just … [Read more...] about Why I don’t Fly and Why You Shouldn’t Either
happiness
Gardens Build Community
It's been a while since I added a piece to this website as I work my way through all 31 pieces in this show. But as I began to work on a couple of recent pieces on urban farms proper, container gardening, and rooftop farms, I discovered that I hadn't yet posted my latest piece on community gardens. Having run a community garden myself for four years, I know first hand the value of utilizing … [Read more...] about Gardens Build Community
Whole30 wrap-up
I just finished doing the Whole30 at the beginning of April (and in fact immediately began again after a one-week hiatus) and have wanted to share my experience, as so many bloggers do, to offer insight for others wanting to try the program. For those who don't know what the Whole30 is, in short it's a total whole foods approach to eating. Some people call it an extreme form of Paleo … [Read more...] about Whole30 wrap-up
Seeds that heal
This piece is on the role of urban agriculture in what is variously called anti-recidivism programs or restorative justice programs depending on the nature of the group providing the service. The point to it is that there are ways to help offenders and ex-offenders (and even those in personal prisons created by bad decisions but not necessarily incarcerated, or prisons of troubling situations … [Read more...] about Seeds that heal
Junk thought
Human life is messy, and human beings even more so. Working out our "stuff" together is no easy feat. And it's made no easier by the flood of all kinds of information into our minds, too much of which pollutes our internal lives rather than edifying our personal existence. The powerful tsunami of junk info we face daily comes in the forms of advertisements, which are pervasive, continual, and … [Read more...] about Junk thought
Our local eco swap
I've written before about the merits of swapping clothes and accessories you no longer want for "new-to-you" items instead. The three top benefits are: Saving money — one of the the keys to prosperity is spending less/saving more. Eco-friendly — reusing stuff helps avoid adding to the landfill. Fun! — getting together with others for a good time beats solo shopping zombiedom. But … [Read more...] about Our local eco swap
