Seasons are changing, we're fast approaching what I've always seen as time for contemplation. Schools started, garden seasons' wrapping up and trees are beggining to change colour. The last couple weeks have seen two great kick offs into fall. The first being the book club style meeting that was held at Collective coffee with Ryan Meili about his book "A Healthy Society." It was a great evening, and could have gone all night had many of the people attending not had families to go home too. The night started out great with a bit of a meet and greet with Ryan for those who came and don't know him, and quite quickly turned into political discussion. It was amazing to see a group of people that were diverse in age, background and profession come to so many agreements and be so passionate for change. The second night was last night.
Last night SES (Saskatchewan Environmental Society) held the first meeting of a new book club. It brought a great turn out of another very diverse group. We came up with a great list of books with too many to chose from. The first book that will be read is "Everything Under the Sun." by David Suzuki, which is fitting as he is coming to town for a lecture at the broadway theatre early October.
The main reason though I wanted to write today was to answer a question I didn't have time to answer last night. I was asked as well as one other person to describe the close feeling that we have with "The Land" We both during out introductions stated that we were drawn to the natural world in a way other than just an appreciation of it's beauty. This is something I feel increadibly strongly about and is the reason I live the way I do. Our planet has for a long time been referred to by many names, probably the most common of these being "Mother Earth/Nature" It's an old name. Lots of time when people look back at things throughout history they dismiss it saying "Oh they just didn't know any better" I think a lot of time this is just wrong, people used to be much more connected than most people are now. We've created a cultural disconnect, a barrier between us and all other living organisms. Whether you look at it through the eyes of a thiest or atheist we all come from the same origin, dirt. Hummas, mother earth, she is our oldest of grandmothers, and like our other family members a personal relationship is possible. Like a relationship with your own mother a relationship with the natural world needs to be sought after. If you call she will answer. I always found the world to be a place of beauty, endless beauty. As an adult I went on my first hike into the alpine when I was twenty. Bear lake was the destination, high in the rockie mountains near one of the highest peaks; Mt Fisher. An incredible place and an incredible walk. I remember how I felt the moment the water of a lake still encircled by the winters ice hugged me, it's a tight hug one as if from a good friend that has been away too long. I felt at that moment as though I had been baptized by the world. I really believe I came out from that swim a different person. I started the hike with an open mind and came home with a heart full of wonder and awe. Those mountains are old and they will tell you stories if you will listen. I have more recently I felt the same emotions when I went to the boreal forest for the first time visiting the Prince Albert National park. I encourage everyone who hasn't experienced this to take a weekend or just one day and go for a walk. Take the time to go slow, open your heart to the world. Stop at the peak of the trail or the spot you feel the most taken away with. If you truely listen you will find the wild is not silent, there is no silent retreat when journeying here. Listen and you will find yourself listening to the most beautiful poetry, a perfect symphony. Soon you will find yourself with the ability to connect with nature on an emotional level, not just experience it but connect and be involved in dialogue. The planet is living and we all need to live with her, co-habitation. We are the only species that have this idea that we can live separated from our mother.
On to a garden update, it's nearing the end of the season, it's really wrapping up. Not long and the squash will all be ready to pull out. I've harvested the majority of the tomatoes now, quite a bit of them. I had maybe twelve plants, all greenhouse orphans bound for the dumpster. And I'd say they all produced five pounds of tomatoes. I know I could have gotten mo out of them had I set them up better and taken better care of them. But for being plants bound for the trash can that weren't really maintained once transplanted they did amazing.
Last night SES (Saskatchewan Environmental Society) held the first meeting of a new book club. It brought a great turn out of another very diverse group. We came up with a great list of books with too many to chose from. The first book that will be read is "Everything Under the Sun." by David Suzuki, which is fitting as he is coming to town for a lecture at the broadway theatre early October. 
The main reason though I wanted to write today was to answer a question I didn't have time to answer last night. I was asked as well as one other person to describe the close feeling that we have with "The Land" We both during out introductions stated that we were drawn to the natural world in a way other than just an appreciation of it's beauty. This is something I feel increadibly strongly about and is the reason I live the way I do. Our planet has for a long time been referred to by many names, probably the most common of these being "Mother Earth/Nature" It's an old name. Lots of time when people look back at things throughout history they dismiss it saying "Oh they just didn't know any better" I think a lot of time this is just wrong, people used to be much more connected than most people are now. We've created a cultural disconnect, a barrier between us and all other living organisms. Whether you look at it through the eyes of a thiest or atheist we all come from the same origin, dirt. Hummas, mother earth, she is our oldest of grandmothers, and like our other family members a personal relationship is possible. Like a relationship with your own mother a relationship with the natural world needs to be sought after. If you call she will answer. I always found the world to be a place of beauty, endless beauty. As an adult I went on my first hike into the alpine when I was twenty. Bear lake was the destination, high in the rockie mountains near one of the highest peaks; Mt Fisher. An incredible place and an incredible walk. I remember how I felt the moment the water of a lake still encircled by the winters ice hugged me, it's a tight hug one as if from a good friend that has been away too long. I felt at that moment as though I had been baptized by the world. I really believe I came out from that swim a different person. I started the hike with an open mind and came home with a heart full of wonder and awe. Those mountains are old and they will tell you stories if you will listen. I have more recently I felt the same emotions when I went to the boreal forest for the first time visiting the Prince Albert National park. I encourage everyone who hasn't experienced this to take a weekend or just one day and go for a walk. Take the time to go slow, open your heart to the world. Stop at the peak of the trail or the spot you feel the most taken away with. If you truely listen you will find the wild is not silent, there is no silent retreat when journeying here. Listen and you will find yourself listening to the most beautiful poetry, a perfect symphony. Soon you will find yourself with the ability to connect with nature on an emotional level, not just experience it but connect and be involved in dialogue. The planet is living and we all need to live with her, co-habitation. We are the only species that have this idea that we can live separated from our mother.
On to a garden update, it's nearing the end of the season, it's really wrapping up. Not long and the squash will all be ready to pull out. I've harvested the majority of the tomatoes now, quite a bit of them. I had maybe twelve plants, all greenhouse orphans bound for the dumpster. And I'd say they all produced five pounds of tomatoes. I know I could have gotten mo out of them had I set them up better and taken better care of them. But for being plants bound for the trash can that weren't really maintained once transplanted they did amazing.
“It is to this new-found resolution to reassert our indivisibility with life, to recognize the obligations incumbent upon us as the most powerful and deadly species ever to exist, and to begin making amends for the havoc we have wrought, that my own hopes for a revival and continuance of life on earth now turn. If we persevere in this new way we may succeed in making man humane ... at last.”
― Farley Mowat
― Farley Mowat
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