Frank Cook Passing

We are so sorry and saddened that Frank is gone.  We will miss his presence, but will always have his example as someone whose knowledge of the plant world was so deep and inspiring.  I feel us watching the gap that his loss has left in all of our lives.  His memory and spirit will guide us into forever.

Love.  Love for the ones in our lives right now.  We are our community.  The people in our lives allow us to live our lives.  Appreciating the way we all support each other allows us to lift each other higher and higher.  Respect, Helping, Listening, Holding...Friends Family Lovers make the network that feeds our bodies, minds, and souls.  Knowledge, Ritual, Story, Fun, Music, Song, Feasting, Mental Stimulation, Physical Stimulation, Production of everything we want...  May we as humans go on the path of living with future generations and peace in mind.  Love and kindness is what we need.  Compassion, connection, and cooperation can lift all of humanity up together.  We can all rise as one and live as one with each others well being in mind.  Consciousness and mindfulness.  We can all do it together.

Lets Pray For All the Communities in Iraq and Afghanistan

All the Friends, Family, Lovers, People Suffering from War

Permaculture in the Blue Ridge

August 10th, 2009

Today was hot and dry, one of the few days without rain this year!  This year has been so wet that its almost a welcome surprise to have some hot and dry weather in the middle of the summer.  If someone had said something like that last year, I would have thought they were crazy.  This is my first year farming that has been even remotely wet, although I did originally garden in Guapiles, Costa Rica, where we got 18 feet of rain a year! 6 meters of rain!!  It literaly rained every day there and then the sun would come out and the plants loved it.  This year at Sweet Aspect and the Penland School of Crafts really reminds me of that lush abundant feeling of the tropics. 

I have been used to the drought that has plagued the Southeast for the last several years at least.  Coming from Madison County, Virginia to Madison County, North Carolina, the soil and climate condtions seemed really similar last year.  This year, though, I feel like I'm in a different world with all the rain.  The plants love it!!