See Saturday’s post.
Yesterday’s daytime screen fast was mostly successful, though I did have to check twice on emails. In fact, almost immediately I felt freed up, to read two books that had been lying in wait for me, both the one I mentioned in the last post, and one culled from Dani Henderson’s life story, Angels, Demons, and Aliens: True Documented Paranormal Investigations.
But, first and foremost, I was able to join our little Green Acres Permaculture Farm crew in our Sunday morning work parties, ending with lunch. FINALLY. Ever since Elisha and Dave joined us, by buying the third house, on August 12, Elisha, with lots of interest and experience in growing food, and a life passion for community (her Jupiter in Aquarius on the Ascendant!), has taken charge of our work parties, and everybody is eagerly participating. All except me, forced by an internal directive, to join a small neighborhood committee that unsuccessfully attempted, it turns out, to preserve the the best of the past by turning the entire Green Acres Neighborhood (247 properties, mostly small, modest homes from the 1950’s and ’60s, which have gradually turned from owner-occupied (thanks to G.I. Bill) into 80% rentals) — into a Conservation District. The bureaucratic maze we needed to negotiate in our attempt was mind-boggling, not to mention soul-devouring, and though the Bloomington Historic Commission initially cheered us on, we all knew that a majority on the newly elected City Council would likely ax the effort. Which they did. (For now.)
After three months of this herculean absurdity, this group exercise in recognizing, on a deeply local level, how the forces of individualism where “money” is involved, derail the push for community. One paradoxical dynamic — individualism vs. community — deeply disturbed during this era, knocked our little idealistic group to our knees.
On the hyper local front however, and by this I mean, in our tiny, three home, six people Green Acres Permaculture Village, this dynamic is functioning beautifully!
What follows is a photo essay, with Marita taking the photos on my ipad at our work party, since, remember, I was off screen yesterday.
Here’s yours truly, walking out to join the crew on the corner of DeKist and Overhill, with the goal of readying that corner for spring with weeding and mulching. Elisha wants to plant things out there, but not sure what. They need to be plants that don’t require much care. The corner will eventually also have a sign.
Geez! I look depressed! Not true. Just old. Nearly 82. When old, one’s face falls, unless and until expression lights it up.
Asking how can I help? Elisha said, you can get the vines out! Oh good! I love to “de-vine;” it’s my specialty, I joked. Then somebody else joked, “the divine de-viner.” That’s me.
Okay, now, concentrate.
Geez! Poor vines! I’d be scared of me if I were them!
All six of us were out there today, the first time ever on this brand new Sunday morning with lunch scheduled. Great fun.
Me, Dave (behind pole in back), Elisha, Emerson. Joseph with wheelbarrow below. Marita behind camera.
Lunch was fun, too, the frequency very much that of community!
Looking back on our hours together the next day, I realize that as far as our little realm is concerned, it was good that I couldn’t join everybody for work parties since Elisha arrived. That way, they could move into resonance with each other and invite me in, rather than, as in the past, me being the one who focused the group energy. It’s time! Time for me to begin to “retire” — and it’s happening in a more graceful way than I could ever have imagined! Grateful.
Today I went out to the corner to check out the finished product. Looking good!
Thanks, in part, to the massive chip drop we received only a few days ago.
One more: two views of the wonderful arugula bed that just keeps on giving, one crop after another.
Yes, though the whole world may be scheduled to fall into chaos during this Red October, we, here at home, balance the scales,
people and plants.
