Climate Crisis: A roadmap to a new culture

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday June 22, 2024 · 9:41 AM PDT

2024/06/22 · 09:41

Building habitat, our most important work

It was recently suggested to me that we need Artificial Intelligence to figure out how to solve the climate crisis. I reject this proposition. We do not need AI to devise a solution to the Climate Crisis because we already have the solutions. It was also suggested that we need to come up with a plan to solve the Climate Crisis, and coming up with the plan will require conferences among all environmental leaders. I also reject this proposition. There is already a plan available and it has been available for decades and is being implemented worldwide.

We don’t need to invent anything new, or have any big conferences discussing what we could do. We simply need to implement the solutions we already have and that we know work because they are being demonstrated around the world.

The plan which has existed since 1988 is Permaculture A Designers Manual by Bill Mollison. It gives detailed instructions on how to design human habitation in concert with nature. It’s not “subsistence farming” or “living in caves” or any other of the nonsense people toss at me when I offer this information.

“Permaculture integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Permaculture studies and applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts at any scale. It is a multidisciplinary toolbox including agriculture, water harvesting and hydrology, energy, natural building, forestry, waste management, animal systems, aquaculture, appropriate technology, economics and community development.” www.permaculturenews.org/...

Why we need to do it

Detailed discussion video

How to do it

Reconnect with Earth

Permaculture A Designers Manual

Discover Permaculture

Learn Permaculture

Examples

Urban permaculture

What is a Food Forest?

Greening the Desert Project

Spanish Reef Cleanup

Restoring Scotland's Ancient Forests

India's Paani Foundation

San Antonio, TX

Climate Crisis: Heat-tolerant food crops

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 17, 2024 · 11:55 AM PDT

2024/06/17 · 11:55

As the Climate Crisis unfolds around us, we need to be thinking about what we might eat in the future. I expect my region, Central Texas, to transition from a warm/hot temperate climate to a dry subtropical climate, possibly even during my lifetime. It already gets too hot and dry here for a lot of normal food crops to grow easily. I’m looking at various subtropical and heat-tolerant food crops to see if I can learn to grow them here and incorporate them into our diet.

The Plants

Opuntia ficus-indica “Burbank Spineless” Prickly Pear Cactus, Nopal

This has been by far the most successful subtropical food plant I’m growing. I got my starts from a planting beside the road over a decade ago. Extremely easy to grow from cuttings in well-drained soil. It won’t produce tender pads unless irrigated in this climate but it doesn’t need much water. At this latitude it enjoys a little shade and will even grow in dense shade even though information claims it to be “shade intolerant.” It can survive hard freezes if somewhat protected. Flavor is like a slightly sour green bean, but extremely slimy like okra. I’ve been using it as a substitute for green bell pepper in various recipes. Blanch to destroy the tiny spine-like hairs called glochids, chop into half inch chunks, and saute’ to decrease the slime.

Alternanthera sissoo Brazilian Spinach, Sissoo

This plant also grows easily and abundantly but does require water. It is a mild-tasting green that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is not frost-hardy but may survive a warm winter by going dormant. I lost all of mine in last winter’s hard freeze, so had to repurchase. This fall I will pot some up and bring them inside.

Canna edulis Edible Canna, Achira, Queensland Arrowroot

I’ve been growing this for years but not actually eaten it yet. My garden soil is a little too heavy for it to develop large tubers but I’m hopeful that eventually I may do better with it. Can be used as a potato substitute. It is quite drought-tolerant but prefers more water. It freezes to the ground in winter.

Colocasia esculenta Taro, Dasheen, Eddo

A staple crop in many warm areas of the planet. Roots and leaves are edible but must be cooked thoroughly to denature toxic oxalic acid crystals in the plant tissues. I made traditional poi from it for my Dad, who was born in Hawaii, but we didn’t like it. I grow mine in tubs because it likes a lot of water.

Moringa oleifera Moringa, Drumstick Tree

A very fast-growing tree which makes edible leaves and seed-pods which smell and taste of horseradish. The flavor is not strong, and the leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Easy to grow from seed, does not require much water, and loves extremely hot weather. It will freeze to the ground in winter and the young trees must be protected.

Carica papaya Papaya

I’m excited to be growing several Papaya plants from seed. I don’t know if I can get them to bearing age before it freezes, and I don’t know if I will be able to protect them sufficiently to get them over the winter. They need some shade and extra water, but seem to love the hot temperatures.

Allium tuberosum Garlic Chives, Chinese Chives

This onion relative is absolutely unkillable in my climate. Utterly drought tolerant, heat and cold tolerant. It is neither a chives nor a garlic substitute, but has its own unique flavor and odor. I should probably cook with it more often because we have loads of it.

Manihot esculenta Cassava, Yuca

I’ve been growing Cassava for a couple years. I think this plant has good potential in my climate. Our soil is a bit heavy for it, but with a little improvement we should be able to get decent harvests. This is another of those toxic staple plants that must be cooked to denature the toxic property, in this case cyanide. The roots contain tremendous amounts of calories but little other nutrients. A good potato substitute.

Ipomoea batatas Sweet Potato, Yam

Easy to grow in fluffy rich soil with a little water. Drought tolerant once established. Both leaves and tubers are edible. My soil is heavy so we get more leaves than tubers. May survive a freezing winter and return when temperatures warm. So far my biggest challenge has been incorporating more of the easier to grow crops into our diet. I’m doing much better this year than previously. It’s just a matter of experimentation.

Sources

Green Dreams Florida nursery with an online store. Papaya, Cassava, Brazilian Spinach, and other fascinating subtropical and tropical plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Moringa seeds

Ernest Thesiger, My Only Weakness

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday June 06, 2024 · 7:46 AM PDT

2024/06/06 · 07:46

Ernest Thesiger by John Singer Sargent c. 1912

For Pride Month I would like to share a bit about my favorite historical personage, Ernest Thesiger. I became enamored of Ernest while reading his 1927 memoir, Practically True. I wanted to learn more about him, but found there was not much information readily available, so I began researching and eventually created a website dedicated to him. The more I learned about this fascinating person the more I was impressed by him as a uniquely creative and courageous individual.

Ernest is now primarily known for the two films he made with director James Whale, “The Old Dark House” (1932) and “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), but in his time he was a tremendously popular and successful figure on the London stage. A notorious eccentric, he was as interesting as the characters he portrayed on stage and screen.

On his mother’s side Ernest was descended from King Henry VII, and on his father’s side from a family of achievers in law, public affairs, and the military.

Breaking tradition with his family, Ernest chose a career as an artist and enrolled at the Slade School of Art, London.

William Ranken c. 1907. Photo by Baron Adolph de Meyer

While at the Slade he began a relationship with fellow student William Bruce Ellis Ranken which would last the rest of Ranken’s life. In 1908 Ernest performed in a charity production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” with William’s eldest sister, Janette Mary Fernie (b.1877 - d.1970), who pursued a brief stage career under the name Juliet Hardinge.

Ajaccio, 1906. Collection of the author.

In the early 1900s, Ernest traveled through Europe and as far as North Africa, producing landscapes in watercolor from locations in France, Italy, Corsica, Madeira, and Morocco. He was not successful enough to make a living as a painter, so decided to try acting as a career. However, he continued to paint throughout his life, working primarily in watercolor.

During the next decade he became active in the women's suffrage movement with his friends the Moore sisters, Eva and Hilda, both actresses. He played the Mad Hatter opposite Eva's Alice in a pro-suffrage play, “Alice in Ganderland.” He carried a banner for the Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage in the Women’s Coronation Procession through London on June 17, 1911.

At the beginning of the First World War, Ernest rushed off to enlist in the army.

Private Ernest Thesiger, Service #2546, of the Queen Victoria’s Rifles, 9th Battalion, London Regiment. Photo: The University of Bristol Theatre Collection/ArenaPAL

“I thought a kilt would suit me, so I applied at the London Scottish Headquarters, but my Scottish accent, assumed for the occasion, was apparently not convincing, and I was referred to another London regiment. Getting into a taxi, I consulted the list of recruiting stations and found myself in a queue outside the Headquarters of the Queen Victoria Rifles in Davies Street. I came away a few hours later a private in His Majesty’s Army.”

Ernest Thesiger, Practically True

After cursory training during which all members of his battalion fired their rifles exactly twice, Ernest traveled to Le Havre and from there to the Front, where his division was stationed near the town of Bailleul. On the 31st of December, 1914, the soldiers were digging trenches in the mud. They found shelter from the cold in a deserted barn, but the next morning the barn was hit by a shell. Ernest was knocked unconscious and later woke to find most of his companions wounded or dead. His right arm was broken and both hands mutilated.

“An officer outside told me to find my way to the dressing-station, and holding my hands above my head for fear that if I stumbled they would get more damaged, I walked back to a farm where I could get bandaged up. I looked at my hands from time to time to assure myself that all my fingers were still there - I could feel nothing - but was convinced that I would never be able to use them again. At the dressing-station a liberal application of iodine effectually did away with the numbness that had so far come to my rescue, and I fainted with the pain. Forty-eight hours afterwards I was in hospital at Le Treport, and three weeks later in England.”

Ernest Thesiger, Practically True

During his convalescence, Ernest devised a scheme for teaching other wounded veterans needlework, which eventually became the Disabled Soldiers’ Embroidery Industry. After healing sufficiently, he went back on the stage and immediately became a star, playing the lead in a hugely popular farce entitled “A Little Bit of Fluff,” which ran for 1241 performances. While this was going on he married his friend Janette Ranken and finally moved out of his father’s house.

“Mr. Ernest Thesiger, son of the Hon. Sir Edward Thesiger, and cousin of Lord Chelmsford, was married yesterday afternoon at Holy Trinity, Sloane Street, to Miss Janette Ranken, daughter of the late Mr. W.B. Ranken, of Edinburgh. The bridegroom has made a great name for himself for his splendid acting in ‘A Little Bit of Fluff,’ now past its 700th performance. Miss Ranken, who was given away by her brother, Major Ranken, wore pale putty-colored crepe de chine with fine dull silver lace, and carried a sheaf of multi-colored roses. The Hon. Stephen Powys was best man, and there were no attendants. As both bride and bridegroom belong to the artistic circle in London, there was a gathering of interesting people at the ceremony, including Miss Eva Moore, Miss Hilda Moore, Mrs John Beith (wife of ‘Ian Hay’), Lady Strachie, Lady Dunedin, Lady Wodehouse, Lady Charnwood, Lady Mary Shelley, the Dowager Lady Henley, Sir Edward Thesiger, and Mrs. Paris Singer.”

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, May 30, 1917

Though Ernest doesn’t mention Janette in his published memoir, Practically True, they did share a public life together, attending exhibitions of William’s paintings, friends’ weddings, and some parties.

Ernest remained primarily a stage actor, performing until just weeks before his death. He was one of the favorite actors of the playwright Bernard Shaw, who wrote the roles of The Dauphin in “Saint Joan” , The Microbe Monster in “Too True to be Good,” and Sir Orpheus Midlander in “Geneva” for him.

“It would be impossible to deny Ernest Thesiger’s versatility. It is astonishing what, with his so pronounced personality, he is able to do. He made his name after returning wounded from the front in the early years of the war, in a ridiculous and imbecile farce, ‘A Little Bit of Fluff.’ He played this, I believe, for more than two years, which would have been quite enough, one would fancy, to destroy anybody’s talent, and then he startled us with his admirable tenderness in the part of the Scotchman in Barrie’s ‘Mary Rose.’ He was less well suited in Maugham’s ‘Circle.’ He again becomes most notable in Galsworthy’s ‘Pigeon’ at the Court Theatre. He had there a most difficult part, not quite realized, I think, by the author, certainly not quite given to us completely in earlier representations of it, and he put that final touch to it, as the artist should, and made it a convincing thing. His appearance is bizarre, and there are, of course, many parts in which he could not be well suited, but his intelligence is acute and he has an astonishing gift of adding poetry to all that he has to do. Even the most futile farce becomes something a little better when he touches it. I should like to see him play Iago and Richard the Third and the Fool in ‘King Lear’ and many other things. He is old enough and wise enough to know just what he is about; he is talented in all sorts of ways; a painter of no mean repute, an admirable musician, one of the best mimics London has ever seen, and finally, he is unlike anyone else at all. He has certainly a great future.”

“The Versatile Thesiger” Hugh Walpole, Vanity Fair, August 1922

To fill time between stage productions, Ernest tried his hand at film acting.

“I received a large salary for appearing in a film version of “A Little Bit of Fluff”, but having never filmed before was entirely ignorant of the technique, and the producer never attempted to explain the different methods of acting according to whether one is near to or far from the camera. He himself was so ignorant of picture-making that he imagined that because I had made a success in the play I should do equally well on the screen. He was lamentably wrong, and I was a complete failure. Afterwards, with a little more experience, I learnt what could have been taught me in a few minutes; but having made a failure of what ought to have been my success, my later-acquired technique didn’t help me to get many offers from film-makers.”

Ernest Thesiger, Practically True

Fortunately Ernest was wrong about his prospects on the screen and proceeded to have a fine career as a character actor in dozens of films. In 1932 he co-starred with his friend Eva Moore in James Whale’s “The Old Dark House,” one of my favorite movies.

“He [James Whale] heard that I was playing in New York and when the run of ‘The Devil’ ended suggested that I should come out to the coast and make a picture. I did a test in New York, which was so bad that the Hollywood authorities, I am told, roared with laughter when they saw it. However one short part of it was better than the rest and I was given a contract.”

Ernest Thesiger, from his unpublished memoir, I Was

With Raymond Massey, Charles Laughton, and Gloria Stuart

Two years later Whale invited Ernest to play what has probably become his most famous role, that of the mad Doctor Septimus Pretorius in "Bride of Frankenstein.”

YouTube Video

Ernest lived and worked in London throughout most of World War II. During July of 1944, he appeared as Malvolio in a production of “Twelfth Night” at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park. A bomb was dropped nearby during one performance.

He performed for radio and television also, though sadly most of his work in these media appears to be lost. Never idle for a moment, he engaged in many charitable endeavors as well as various craft-related hobbies . One of his favorites was costumery. He loved costume parties and would sometimes attend in female dress.

In an oriental costume of his own creation

He was considered a world-class expert in petit point embroidery. His book Adventures in Embroidery was published in 1941, with a revised edition published in 1947.

Ernest at home seated in a chair which he upholstered with his own embroidery, 1930s. Photo: University of Bristol/ArenaPal

“...there is no occupation in the world so absorbing as trying to paint. Everything, every worry, is for the moment forgotten in the effort, however unsuccessful, of creating a masterpiece. To the surprise of many and the horror of some, I have also found great pleasure in needlework, which, after all, is only another way of making pictures.”

Ernest Thesiger, I Was.

He collected mercury glass, though much of his collection was destroyed after his house was damaged during the Blitz. He was very fond of his collection of antique rings, and chose an appropriate ring to wear for most of his film and stage characters.

Except for being bullied so badly at public school that he had to drop out and be taught by a tutor, Ernest was able to simply be himself throughout the rest of his long life, with no apparent trouble despite his nonconformity. I think this is because he never pretended to be anything but what he was, a unique individual.

Ernest remained married to Janette and lived with her until his death. William died unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage in the Spring of 1941.

Janette became blind some time during the 1950s. The Thesigers’ last residence was at 8 St George’s Court, Gloucester Road, Kensington, London, where Ernest died in his sleep on the eve of his 82nd birthday.

It was difficult for me to summarize the life of such a multi-faceted person, and there is much more to learn about him, I’m certain. If this hasn’t been enough for you, please visit ernestthesiger.org, my rather old and probably somewhat broken website. I hope to update it some day!

For those who want to see more of this interesting performer, I recommend these films:

1. "The Old Dark House" 1932

2. "The Night of the Party" or "Murder Party" 1935

3. Bride of Frankenstein” 1935

4. "They Drive by Night" or "Murder on the Run" 1939

5. "The Horse's Mouth" 1958

Climate Action: Join Us!

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday May 27, 2024 · 9:40 AM PDT

2024/05/27 · 09:40

Native bee on native Horsemint, Central Texas

Millions of people worldwide are creating better habitat for humans and other living things. Join us in building a resilient, regenerative, and equitable culture for all life. Nobody is stopping us!

Examples

Sandhill Farm

Paradise Lot

Grow Black Hudson

Abla's Garden

Ron's Garden

Greening the Desert Project

Spanish Reef Cleanup

Restoring Scotland's Ancient Forests

India's Paani Foundation

San Antonio, TX

How to do it

Reconnect with Earth

Permaculture A Designers Manual

Discover Permaculture

Learn Permaculture

Harvesting Rainwater

Kitchen gardening

Climate Action: Help me design an educational garden

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday February 25, 2024 · 11:56 AM PST

2024/02/25 · 11:56

The space: approximately 60 feet long by 8 feet wide, eastern exposure

For the past few years I’ve been working on a garden in my friend’s large yard in San Antonio, Texas. Here are links to two previous diaries about this garden.

Local ecosystem restoration and food forestry

Small community action

The latest addition I plan for this project is an environmental education/outreach garden along the new sidewalk, especially focusing on the importance of our yards in combating and adapting to climate change.

The neighborhood where the garden resides is mostly single family and small apartments in an old part of town. The population is politically primarily Democratic with a smattering of trumpians and Republicans. Spanish is a first or second language for many folks here.

I’m asking DK for ideas on what you would like to see in such an educational garden, and especially ideas about signage. Signs will need to be small, simple, and bi-lingual.

I’m thinking about the following categories within the garden:

Native habitat/pollinators

Trees and their benefits

Food growing

Rain water harvesting/drought mitigation

Please share any ideas you might have about what to include in the garden and what information I should try to impart. Specific wording for signage is especially appreciated (don’t worry about translation, just tell me in English, thanks!)

If you’re really excited, please include a sketch of your planting ideas!

Why do you hate Texas Democrats and Progressives so much?

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday February 18, 2024 · 3:30 PM PST

2024/02/18 · 15:30

You all here on DK who want Texas to secede: Why do you hate us Texas Democrats and Progressives so much that you advocate illegal action to consign us to die in a third world country?

What did we ever do to you that you want us to suffer? What engenders such unbearable cruelty in your hearts?

Climate change: Small Community Action

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday February 06, 2024 · 11:54 AM PST

2024/02/06 · 11:54

A few years ago I started a garden project in my friend Ann’s large yard in San Antonio. The yard was previously mostly dead Bermuda grass lawn and a few struggling shrubs. My friend wanted something different, colorful, good for birds and pollinators, and producing food. On one side of the front yard I’ve planted a garden of adapted roses, bulbs, and native pollinator-friendly flowers. On the other side is a food forest of fruit trees and other edible plants, as well as more flowers for pollinators. My goal is for this garden to be a model for other folks to transform their own yards.

The most recent addition to the project is a regenerative food garden in the old laundry yard behind the garage. I’m creating this garden with my friend Vicky, who used to do landscape maintenance at the adjacent property but had to quit because the owner insisted on spraying pesticides. Our main focus is vegetables, but there are a few fruit trees as well. Sadly, a prized young Papaya probably died in the recent hard freeze. The goal is to provide all the vegetables the three of us need. (I’ll be eating some when I’m staying at “Garage Camp,” my tiny home in a corner of the garage, on weekends.) This is an example of a community project on a small scale. Ann provides the land and financial support for the garden, I provide the design and labor, and Vicky is now working here on weekends also. We’re all over 60 with various serious health challenges, but by working together we’re creating an oasis of life in this neighborhood. If we can do it, so can others!

What’s growing in the laundry yard garden:

Mulberry

Peach

Prickly Pear

Roses

Daikon Radish

Yellow Potatoes

Kale

Arugula

Bok Choy

Chinese Cabbage

Bunching Onion

Garlic Chives

Oregano

Lettuce

Carrots

Cilantro

Sunflower (native)

Turk’s Cap (native)

Bluebonnet (native)

Golden Crownbeard (native)

We can be the heroes of our own story. Join us in building a resilient, regenerative, and equitable culture for all life. Nobody is stopping us!

Everyone doesn't have to change at once, but WE can

Mass movement becomes revolution

Regenerative life

It's not just individual action.

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday January 19, 2024 · 6:03 AM PST

2024/01/19 · 06:03

I don’t just post about individual action. When I post

“Join us in building a resilient, regenerative, and equitable culture for all life.

Regenerative life

Mass movement becomes revolution”

I’m posting about society-wide action. I can’t post an entire book every time I post. I’m not a writer. I’m a person who wants to share useful and helpful information. Some of it can help individuals. Some of it could help our entire society.

If people are truly interested in solutions to most of our problems, I beg you to read just one book:

Permaculture A Designers Manual

I have been telling people I don’t just post about individual solutions for months now and people still bitch about me posting about individual solutions.

We have the solutions to society’s problems, but we have to implement them.

If you don’t like to read, here are a couple Ytube channels with educational videos:

Andrew Millison

Discover permaculture

Please use your influence to share this information with society. Maybe even share it with some individuals.

Everyone doesn't have to change at once, but WE can

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday January 04, 2024 · 6:50 AM PST

2024/01/04 · 06:50

Some people have expressed to me that taking action on the climate is pointless because “everyone isn’t doing it.” The idea seems to be that somehow everyone on the planet is supposed to change at once, and things will be better overnight. Obviously that’s not going to happen, but I don’t believe that means action is pointless. Not everyone has to change at once, but WE here at DK can change, and we can change now. We don’t need to wait for everyone else. Everyone else might be waiting for us!

Those of us here on DK are uniquely privileged. No matter what our social or financial status, just our being here is proof that we are blessed with vast resources of knowledge. We have no excuse of ignorance to keep us from taking action.

Apparently as little as 15% of a population changing is enough to create a tipping point after which it’s more likely the rest of the population will follow. So we need to model new ideas and behaviors for our neighbors and share information about how to change with our friends and acquaintances. Not lecturing, not scolding, but encouraging and helping.

Rob Greenfield, one of my inspirations, says “The American Dream is the world’s nightmare” because the American lifestyle is so damaging to life on Earth. A regenerative life can be much easier and more rewarding than the destructive American Dream rat race. Apparently the majority of US citizens accept climate change as a serious threat. Either they expect someone else to do something about it or they simply don’t know what to do. So let’s show them what to do, and help them do it, and learn from each other how to live in a way that fosters life on this planet.

Please join us.

Collective action becomes mass movement becomes revolution

Robin Greenfield speaking at Bemidji State University at the American Indian Resource Center

COPOUT. Why won't citizens take action on the climate?

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday December 13, 2023 · 12:04 PM PST

2023/12/13 · 12:04

Now that we know “world leaders” don’t intend to do much about the climate, why won’t US citizens take action? Are they still hoping someone else will fix it for them? Or do they simply not know what regular folks can do?

What do you think?

Do you have any ideas about how we can encourage action amongst ourselves?

Climate change: Collective action becomes mass movement becomes revolution

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday December 08, 2023 · 11:46 AM PST

2023/12/08 · 11:46

If you feel individual action is useless, here are links to a few collective actions you can join. Some of these are worldwide movements, others are smaller in scale:

Permaculture A worldwide movement that presents a complete plan for human settlement modeled on natural ecosystems. People often say we need to come up with a plan for how humans can live on Earth without destroying it. This plan already exists and millions of people worldwide are following it. One can start small and take little steps, or one can completely transform one’s life. The links below have been the most helpful to me, but there’s an almost endless amount of information available for free.

www.permaculturenews.org website

Discover permaculture youtube

Learn permaculture youtube

www.tagaripublications.com/… The Designers Manual, a complete plan for human settlements

Ecosystem restoration Here are a couple organizations which spearhead large or small actions to restore ecosystems or preserve keystone species. You can actually go and join them or just donate.

www.ecosystemrestorationcommunities.org

planetwild.com

Regenerative living Finding a path to a way of life which is not just sustainable but which gives back more than one takes.

www.robingreenfield.org Robin Greenfield has become one of my most important inspirations for regenerative living

Rob Greenfield videos

The forces against us The beginning of my own path (diary)

Climate change: The forces against us

Gardening Toad

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 19, 2023 · 12:16 PM PST

2023/11/19 · 12:16

Regenerative food garden: Habitat for humans and other life

Pro tip: There aren’t any forces against us.

Most of us in the United States and other developed countries have tremendous latitude in how we choose to live our lives. Our choices affect how much damage we do to the biosphere. We can choose to consciously minimize that damage or we can choose to ignore our impact on the world around us. We even have the freedom to choose a regenerative way of life to try to repair damage that we may have caused or to go further and repair damage done by others. We can reach beyond our immediate personal lives and help others in a regenerative way. This has been my goal and focus for this past year. I feel I’ve only begun on a regenerative life path, even though these ideas have interested me for decades. This year I’m finally taking it seriously, largely due to the climate reporting here on DK from Pakalolo, Meteor Blades, birches, mikeymikey, and others.

My regenerative projects include Local ecosystem restoration and food forestry in San Antonio, continuing the Climate Resilient Kitchen Garden at my home in the Hill Country, construction of Wicking Garden Beds from repurposed materials to more efficiently use irrigation water, implementing Greywater Management off the kitchen sink, and expansion of food gardens at my project in San Antonio. I’m also practicing Minimalism by drastically reducing my purchases this year, and trying to give away about half of my possessions. This has been an extremely challenging year of change in my life, with major health problems affecting my family and myself while I’m attempting to implement these regenerative practices in ways which will benefit my family and others. But I can’t say moving toward regenerative living has been difficult. It’s actually been easy and very fun.

The person who has inspired me the most in my regenerative life journey is Robin Greenfield. Rob takes on extreme life challenges in order to show what is possible if we take our lives in a regenerative direction. He doesn’t expect other people to be as extreme as he is; he encourages others to do what they can and move forward at a pace that’s comfortable for themselves. This is what I advise also; make life changes gradually as one is able, but keep moving toward the goal of regenerative living.