Just because the spill is slowing down, doesn't mean it's over. There is no end in sight.
5.29.2010
5.27.2010
End the Addiction
There is a war being waged against nature and the fact is, it isn't necessary. Think for a moment about what is going on in the Gulf of Mexico. This large body of water that is home to an innumerable amount of marine life including fish, dolphins, whales, all kinds of microscopic organisms necessary to keep everything else alive. By BP's estimates there are 5000 barrels, or 210,000 gallons, of oil leaking into the gulf each day and by that low estimate that means at least 7.77 million gallons have leaked to date. BP has resisted any efforts to accurately measure the spill because in their words it is "not relevant to the response effort," stated in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/us/16oil.html). In other words, the corporate goliaths at BP want to keep the average American in the dark so we won't care as much since this could clearly be a huge blow to Big Oil who heavily funds the people running the American government. The amount of oil that is scientifically thought to be leaking from the well is over 1 million gallons every day totaling over 37 millions gallons to date, three times more than was spilled from the Exxon Valdez accident which killed 100,000 sea birds, 22 orcas, 2,800 sea otters, and the list goes on. So three times the amount of oil and it's not stopping anytime soon. This is a crime against nature, it's ecological genocide if you think about it. Why is BP investigating their own crime? We don't let murderers do that in a court of law so this doesn't make any sense to me. The newest effort to stop flow has just begun not even 24 hours ago and we won't know if it is working for a day at least. BP calls it "Top Kill" and what they are doing is trying to plug the leak with 50,000 barrels of mud. We'll see how that works out... and you can watch the progress unfold here: Top Kill.
Dear American People,
We can stop being such massive oil consumers in simple ways that will only enhance our way of life. Oil is dirty to extract, poisonous to inhale, and dirtying the planet which we need to survive. We must rid ourselves of habits like plastic, junk food, and most of the things we buy at the grocery store and get back to basics. Boycotting oil is the most important way to end this ecological genocide and it is easy to do from your own home. Most people need to drive their cars to get from A to B and I understand that, because I'm in the same boat. We aren't given the options that exist, to power our cars with little to know damage to the environment with water or wind. But while there are a few things that will be hard to change, there are many things that are super easy and realistic:
1. 10% of oil consumption in the USA goes toward making plastic, a non-renewable resource that is creating massive dumps in our oceans called gyres. Quit using plastic bags, bottled water, and buying single use containers. Instead use a sturdy reusable bag (not the kind you get from a grocery store, but a well-made cloth one). Buy a filter for your tap which even without the filter is regulated FAR more than bottled water is and most bottled water comes straight from a tap anyways. Instead of buying single use containers, make meals at home which saves money and saves your health. Fast food is killing Americans by giving them heart disease, diabetes, and cancer to name a few. It's cheap and easy to eat healthy, which brings me to my next point -
2. Food in this country on average travels 1,500 miles from "farm" to plate and I use the word farm lightly. That's halfway across the country and for what reason do we do this? You can grow food anywhere in the country very easilly, farming is not a difficult task. Buying food locally offsets an incredible amount of oil consumption and once you start doing it, you'll realize all of the amazing benefits that living, healthy foods have to offer. The cure to most illnesses that are challenging so many people can be found in their diet and fresh (meaning picked days before eaten) fruits and vegetables are the key to success. It's not rocket science. Humans need food like every other living thing on this planet and if that food has traveled over a thousand miles and been processed for you time and time again, the food is dead and does not contain the same things had it been picked from the vine, tree, ground, etc. a few days before eaten. Try it for a week and feel the difference.
3. Buy things locally, supporting local business, and much of the time you won't even need to drive. Ride a bike if you're only going a couple miles, carpool to work or if you're going out somewhere with friends, take public transportation if it's available.
A change needs to happen in this country and now is the time for revolutionaries to rise up!
How you can help:
To report oiled wildlife, please call 1-866-557-1401
To discuss spill related damage, please call 1-800-440-0858.
To report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information, please call 1-866-448-5816.
5.22.2010
5.21.2010
5.17.2010
Oil spill could be among worst ever - Americas, World - The Independent
Oil spill could be among worst ever - Americas, World - The Independent
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could already have leaked 8 times the amount of oil as the Exxon Valdez spill. Oiled animals and chunks of oil are STILL washed up on the shores of Prince William Sound in Alaska to this very day. The oil spill has no end in site and the most viable solution, a relief well, will take 3 months to complete. The only solution to this problem is to get rid of oil drilling altogether. I love my car just as much as the next person does. My 1980 VW Rabbit is my pride and joy, one of my most prized possessions and yes of course I use oil to drive her. Why do I use oil? Because I have no other option! There is public transit and my bike and walking... I do all of these things, but sometimes I have to use my car and even public transit uses oil. The problem is that remedies for oil are out there and the technology is there and has been used before, but the government won't give it to us because it just wouldn't be good for big corporations and it wouldn't be good for the ever important, FAILING monatery system. People have invented AIR powered cars that take air into the engine from outside and the only emission is cold air, which can actually be used to air condition the car itself. There are solar powered cars, ammonia powered cars that emit nothing but nitrogen that are already being used in Canada, hydrogen powered cars that work in almost the same way as gasoline, and many other options like ethanol and battery operated which would in the end cause other problems... My point is that the alternatives already exist but they are being withheld from us. It's absolutely disgusting that we keep mining and drilling for these outrageously horrendous world altering substances that are causing so much damage that we are basically fucking up the ENTIRE PLANET!!!
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could already have leaked 8 times the amount of oil as the Exxon Valdez spill. Oiled animals and chunks of oil are STILL washed up on the shores of Prince William Sound in Alaska to this very day. The oil spill has no end in site and the most viable solution, a relief well, will take 3 months to complete. The only solution to this problem is to get rid of oil drilling altogether. I love my car just as much as the next person does. My 1980 VW Rabbit is my pride and joy, one of my most prized possessions and yes of course I use oil to drive her. Why do I use oil? Because I have no other option! There is public transit and my bike and walking... I do all of these things, but sometimes I have to use my car and even public transit uses oil. The problem is that remedies for oil are out there and the technology is there and has been used before, but the government won't give it to us because it just wouldn't be good for big corporations and it wouldn't be good for the ever important, FAILING monatery system. People have invented AIR powered cars that take air into the engine from outside and the only emission is cold air, which can actually be used to air condition the car itself. There are solar powered cars, ammonia powered cars that emit nothing but nitrogen that are already being used in Canada, hydrogen powered cars that work in almost the same way as gasoline, and many other options like ethanol and battery operated which would in the end cause other problems... My point is that the alternatives already exist but they are being withheld from us. It's absolutely disgusting that we keep mining and drilling for these outrageously horrendous world altering substances that are causing so much damage that we are basically fucking up the ENTIRE PLANET!!!
5.13.2010
Todo frodo.
(I heard bats today. I love bats.)
1. Finish pomegranate tree painting... add words or no? "Harvest your fruit before it's too late." Thinking thoughts of wonder.
2. NORMAL HEIGHTS TOMORROW - bring paintings before 4pm - Under the Sun
3. Print Harvesting San Diego signs and put them up around O-side and C-bad
4. Has mama E sent off for the CSA? Suzie's Farm rules! We'll get some CSA experience before we start our own.
5. Pack bag of jewelry TOMORROW so I don't forget to bring shit Saturday.
6. FIND PLANNER
7. Make food Saturday to bring to potluck. Easily transportable and perhaps be able to eat cold. Our harvestables - broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, green onions, basil, oregano, summer savory, rosemary, lavender, lemon thyme, creeping thyme, sage... MMM something with lemon and herbs, yes please.
9. Make more earrings before Sunday!
5.05.2010
Yam Patties
Yam (or Sweet Potato) Patties
serves 3-4 people
Ingredients:
2 large yams or sweet potatoes - I used yams [from the only potato grower in San Diego county]
Bunch of green onions [from our backyard]
Lemon thyme [note to self: prune a bit more, getting a little woody]
1/3 cup Coconut Milk
Large fresh lemon [from a guy in Ramona who sells rad veggie starter plants from his backyard and gave us a bag of lemons from his tree]
Cheese [Tillamook because they're a co-op of small dairy farmers who take care of their cows]
Olive oil
Sea salt n Pepper
Cooking instructions:
1. Bring water to a boil with some sea salt
2. While you're waiting for the water, rinse your yams and cut the smooshy end bits off, peal the skin off if you prefer but it is very nutritious so I prefer it left on, and slice into thinnish pieces
3. Throw them in the boiling water for 10-15 minutes, til they get soft enough mash
4. Drain them, then mash with coconut milk and...
5. Cut off the roots of the green onions and the end part of the long green whispy leafers that are limpy.. leave the rest, it's all good. Dice them up small and mix about 2/3 of them into the yam mash
6. Add salt, pepper, lemon thyme, a slice of lemon juice
7. Form into patties, fry in a skillet with a lot of olive oil so they don't stick
8. Flip in about 7-10 minutes and on the new face up side, sprinkle remaining green onions, some lemon zest (use a potato peeler), and cheese
FIN.
Badass Gardening Ideas
Succulent Art [take it to the next level]
step one: Build frames!
step two: soil
step three: cuttings, let callus
step four: create!
remember - don't hang til well rooted
Save space by growing up! Squash, melons, cucurbits, peppers, grapes!
Gardening is my favourite thing. When I get a job or my jewelry/art takes off, I'm going to invest in getting all the certifications I need to sell our food to people through CSA membership and farmers markets or stores or even small restaurants. It would be a dream to make a living from farming and art. I would still have so much time to volunteer, set my own hours, take trips, constantly delve deeper into permaculture... I'm going to make this happen.
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