Poetry : Mary Oliver

Photo by www.etsy.com/shop/lookforfiddleheads

Climbing The Chagrin River
by Mary Oliver

We enter
the green river,
heron harbor,
mud-basin lined
with snagheaps, where turtles
sun themselves--we push
through the falling
silky weight
striped warm and cold
bounding down
through the black flanks
of wet rocks--we wade
under hemlock
and white pine--climb
stone steps into
the timeless castles
of emerald eddies,
swirls, channels
cold as ice tumbling
out of a white flow--
sheer sheets
flying off rocks,
frivolous and lustrous,
skirting the secret pools--
cradles
full of the yellow hair
of last year's leaves
where grizzled fish
hang halfway down,
like tarnished swords,
while around them
fingerlings sparkle
and descend,
nails of light
in the loose
racing waters.


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Poetry : Mary Oliver

Photo by www.etsy.com/shop/lookforfiddleheads

At Blackwater Pond
by Mary Oliver


At Blackwater Pond the tossed waters have settled
after a night of rain.
I dip my cupped hands. I drink
a long time. It tastes
like stone, leaves, fire. It falls cold
into my body, waking the bones. I hear them
deep inside me, whispering
oh what is that beautiful thing
that just happened?

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Book Corner : Members Suggest

Members recommend good reads, either fiction or non-fiction and for adults or young readers.

I'm currently reading The Control of Nature by John McPhee, http://www.amazon.com/The-Control-Nature-John-McPhee/dp/0374522596/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334593162&sr=8-1 which is a fascinating book. McPhee details three stories in which man is engaged in a struggle to control nature - the construction and maintenance of levees along the Mississippi, the response to a volcano eruption in Iceland, and the prevention of mudslides in southern California. Rather than making judgments, McPhee tells the stories and lets the readers form their own opinions.
Suggested by www.etsy.com/shop/EarthenKnit

I love reading historic novels and series, and Bernard Cornwell is one of my favorites for this kind of reading. The last series I read by him was The Saxon Stories (that should be telling on what period, and location setting, the stories are from). It's fascinating reading, and at times all consuming. The series consists of 5 books. I buy from Amazon, and here is a link to the first book in the series "The Last Kingdom" http://www.amazon.com/Last-Kingdom-Saxon-Chronicles-Series/dp/0060887184/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335366406&sr=1-3

You can also get them in Kindle version. Suggested by www.etsy.com/shop/Friggjasetr

I think I have a great book in the context of the theme of the month. It is a book of Masaru Emoto and it is called 'The hidden messages in water'. He wrote several books but this was the first one I read and I was so surprised by it. The book is about water and what happens to water when it comes in contact with positive or negative thoughts or emotions. It is a fascinating theory, I think. Maybe you already know his books but this book came into my mind while reading the question. Suggested by www.etsy.com/shop/Ishild

Members Dish : Fruit Cobbler

Berry Sweet-Tart Slow-Cookin' Cobbler

From Hungry Girl

This fruity dessert is so easy, it practically makes itself! Feel free to experiment with whatever berries you find in the freezer aisle.

Filling
30 oz. frozen unsweetened strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries (about 7 cups)
1/2 cup Bisquick Heart Smart baking mix
1/4 cup granulated white sugar

Topping
2 cups Bisquick Heart Smart baking mix
1/4 cup granulated white sugar, divided
1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk
3 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
Spray the inside of a crock pot with nonstick spray. Place all filling ingredients into the crock pot and mix well.

To make the topping, in a large bowl, combine baking mix, 2 tbsp. sugar, and soymilk. Set aside.

Place butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until just melted, about 15 seconds. Add melted butter to the large bowl and mix thoroughly with a sturdy spoon, until mixture is doughy and smooth. (It will be sticky!)

Using your hands and/or a spoon, place doughy topping over the contents of the crock pot in 10 evenly sized dollops.

 In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tbsp. sugar with the cinnamon. Mix well and sprinkle evenly over the doughy topping.

 Cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours, until the fruit is hot and bubbly and the topping has puffed up.

 Turn off crock pot and remove the lid. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes, until thickened to your preference.

Serve and enjoy!
MAKES 10 SERVINGS


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Poetry : Unknown and for a mother

Photo by www.etsy.com/shop/lookforfiddleheads

This poem helped me when I was grieving for me mother:

Now that I am gone,
remember me with smiles and laughter.
And if you need to cry,
cry with your brother or sister
who walks in grief beside you.
And when you need me,
put your arms around anyone
and give to them what you need to give to me.
There are so many who need so much.
I want to leave you something --
something much better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known
or helped in some special way.
Let me live in your heart
as well as in your mind.
You can love me most
by letting your love reach out to our loved ones,
by embracing them and living in their love.
Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love,
give me away as best you can.

~ Author unknown
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Garden Notes : Member Updates

Each month team members offer personal gardening updates that captures the work of the seasons; prepping, planting, and harvesting.

We just added new plants in our tiny garden and it looks like snails are thrilled about it. They like them so much that every morning we find a new plant left with only stems. As much as we love snails, we can't leave them eat all our plants one after the other. A friend advised me to place some beer in saucer next to the plants to attract them. I'm going to give it a try and hopefully this will give enough time for the plants to grow and become stronger! :)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/purepixie

Chives blooming in my garden.
Update by www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlesAndKims

Blooming Mamou Plant
www.etsy.com/shop/gabriellesgarden

As I had mentioned earlier, I seeded and planted early again this year, with survival of the fittest in mind. I had just about given up on the potatoes, and some of the other seeds, and voila, they appeared. I really like my little greenhouse. It's perfect! I got some more grow boxes and hoping to do some transplanting this weekend, if there's time and weather allows for it. The one thing I'm most curious about now is how the garlic will come out. It's growing and thriving it seems. I know I'm gonna have to dig down around one bulb, just to see what's there. :-)
Update by www.etsy.com/shop/Friggjasetr

This is a flower growing in our garden. The name of the flower is sleutelbloem (dutch name), in latin Primula Veris and in English Primrose. The bloom of the primrose indicates that spring is awakening. As a medicinal plant, primrose is known as a mucolytic and expectorant remedy against coldsand bronchial catarrh.
Update by www.etsy.com/shop/Ishild

Herbs, flowers and bushes are our goal this Spring. We are cutting back the invasive plants and giving more room to the native plants of New England.
Update by www.etsy.com/shop/SarahWinterClothwork

Progress Report : Members News

Each month members share news of their business, craft, art, and projects and plans!

A) In May, I will be vending at the DC Craft Mafia's Spring Thing (http://www.craftmafiadc.com/?ai1ec_event=the-spring-thing&instance_id=) and Ballston Arts & Crafts Market (http://ballstonarts-craftsmarket.blogspot.com/)
B) Also, in collaboration with Karen Lee of EcoKaren, and team leader of Eco Etsy, I am launching Herban Crafts, a social enterprise offering earth-friendly craft kits. The inaugural set will be organic bath and body product kits. Profits from sales of the kits will fund a job skills/social skills training program for unemployed women living in transitional housing. I am launching a Indiegogo Campaign to raise funds for the initial set of kits. http://igg.me/p/99189?a=571127
I presented the idea on April 22 at the Global Health and Innovation Conference at Yale University. There many interesting presentations by social entrepreneurs in many different areas.
http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/
http://herbancrafts.com
www.etsy.com/shop/herbanlifestyle

I have bee enjoying creating for my baby boy and falling in love with the softness of my undyed hemp fleece all over again. For him I made a hooded towel based on a pattern I had but the project ended up being way too big for his size. The picture was so cute though that I kept it as my new avatar!
www.etsy.com/shop/curlymonkey

Etsy Earth Team sponsored an Earth Day Giveaway.  We did not get as many entries as I had hoped but a few member’s reported more traffic to their sites, so that was a bonus. Three winners were chosen and packages will be shipped Monday, April 30.   I’m working on a few new products that will add a facial care line to my store and hope to have that available mid-May. Simply Rustic participated in the Sustainable Living Fair that was held Saturday, April 21st at the Northwoods Community Secondary School in Rhinelander, WI.  Met many wonderful people and made great contacts with other local sustainable businesses.
www.etsy.com/shop/simplyrustic2011

I was so looking forward to share with you a report and pics from my first market on Earth Day. Unfortunately it was canceled due to rain. I could have gone on Saturday, but had already promised a friend to babysit her pregnant due goats. She was attending the same market, and from what I understand it had been great. The weather was beautiful, and there had been a lot of people attending. I'm still working on trying to see if it makes sense to ship some of the items I had made for the show. Some of them are already up, others still in the works. I now have a liquid version of my Organic Eco Beans!! More to come on that. This weekend I'm hoping to start milking my Trinity (goat). By now the milk should be nice and sweet. Will use for own consumption, cheeses, yogurt, kefir, soaps etc. I only have one milker this time, so will be limited amount of milk. In regards to what to make it into, still haven't decided what's on top of the list. It's either going to be kefir (I'm a sucker for good kefir), yogurt or cheese.
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Question of the Month : Members Share

Each month members are asked a question concerning our theme, news, or current events.
Members were asked:  What do you think of the American Spring and the Occupy Movement? Do you have hope for change and are you witnessing more and more people realizing their power or are you seeing that many are not engaged in the times?

A few days ago Monsanto was threatening to sue Vermont state if the bill for mandatory GMO labeling passed. It didn't scare the people and the bill was voted. It shows that consumers are fighting hard for their right to make an informed choice.
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I do have hope for change, and think these organizations are very important in getting more people involved with the changes they want. However, looking around, people seem to be mostly occupied trying to stay afloat these days. I do think there will be a gradual change though, but it will take time. It feels like the pendulum have started swinging the other way, it's just having a little bit of a hard time getting the momentum. Once it get's going though, nothing will stop it. :-)
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The American Spring is a good opportunity for people of good will to join together and let their voices be heard. After the long Winter it has been difficult to re-invigorate the movement, but I hope we are able to. So many of us are silenced by laws and circumstance. The discussion of our National Agenda has to include all of us, not just the rich and financially powerful.
www.etsy.com/shop/SarahWinterClothwork

On May 1 2012 I participated here:
http://www.occupyashland.org/community-forum/topic/may-day-general-strike/
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Poetry : Mary Oliver

Photo by www.etsy.com/shop/lookforfiddleheads

Freshen the Flowers, She Said
by Mary Oliver

So I put them in the sink, for the cool porcelain
        was tender,
and took out the tattered and cut each stem
        on a slant,
trimmed the black and raggy leaves, and set them all–
        roses, delphiniums, daisies, iris, lilies,
and more whose names I don't know, in bright new water–
        gave them

a bounce upward at the end to let them take
        their own choice of position, the wheels, the spurs,
the little sheds of the buds. It took, to do this,
        perhaps fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes of music
        with nothing playing.


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Eco-Spotting : Members Report

Each month members observe their surroundings in to highlight good news, discoveries, beauty and progress!

photo by www.etsy.com/shop/earthenknit

This cute little marmot was spotted in Rocky Mountain Park near a scenic pullout. It was awesome to see her or him so close up! Bainbridge Island has just become the fifth city in WA state to ban the use of plastic bags.  Local businesses will be allowed to charge 5 cents per recyclable paper bag - incentive to help us remember to bring our cloth bags into the store!   I appreciate that my community has taken the initiative to help reduce pollution in this way. 
www.etsy.com/shop/sageandkai 

Not too long ago we received a hand-out from the land use committee in the town I live, in regards to removal of Barberry. I was so happy to see it, as it is such an invasive plant. I have a fair share on certain parts of the property, and in full swing getting rid of them. The following links might be useful for others as well.
http://www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_BBoard/I03628A8A.1/Barberry%20Removal%20Hand-Out-1.pdf
http://www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_BBoard/I03628A8A.0/Barberry%20Blitz%20in%20Newtown-3.pdf

I'm trying to go with native plants as much as possible. Awaiting a order for some Northeast pasture seeds to put down on lawn and pasture.
Reported by www.etsy.com/shop/Friggjasetr 

News from Jefferson Memorial Forest, one of my favorite local hiking spots. Metro Parks’ Louisville ECHO (Louisville is Engaging Children Outdoors) initiative is in its fourth year and has allowed nearly 1,000 students to explore the outdoors since its inception. Currently the program serves fourth-grade students from five elementary schools, providing multiple field experiences.
Reported by www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlesAndKims


On April 24, 2012.Mayor Vincent Gray released his draft Sustainable DC Vision Plan, as part of his initiative to lay out a vision and strategy for making the District the cleanest, greenest, most sustainable city in the nation. This initiative is the product of robust public participation, input from working groups, and feedback from business, institutions and governmental agency leaders.
During the press event and ribbon cutting, the Mayor discussed the draft Sustainable DC Vision Plan’s top priorities and highlighted a package of associated legislation. Located west of the Anacostia River just north of the John Philip Sousa Bridge, this portion of the trail is a much-anticipated connection over the CSX railroad tracks between S. Capitol Street and Benning Road. The Riverwalk is a key component of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative’s efforts to create a world class waterfront in our Nation’s Capitol and provide 20 miles of trails along both sides of the river. http://sustainable.dc.gov/
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