Reflection: July is the heart of "dog days," when crickets and locusts sing, black locust trees turn brown, and the farm pond scum expands and turns dark green. The year's high noon has arrived.

It is an intensely patriotic time of Independence Day celebrations and fire crackers, of barbecue scents and barking dogs, of family reunions and all-day picnics, of sun block and crowded swimming pools, and of evening cruises in convertibles and pickup trucks loaded with half-clad young folks. July is truly vacation time.

We pause. We eat too much of the wrong food --and we resolve to keep to better diets. It is the season of bush and pole beans, okra and tomatoes, summer squash, summer apples, plums of various types, early peaches, blackberries, and cucumbers that seem to get oversized overnight. Homegrown produce offers exquisite tastes not found in commercial varieties picked green and ripened by artificial means. July is the time of bluebells and milkweeds, of blooming ironweed and scarlet sage. In this hot, lazy month, all with common sense seek shade, except butterflies and hummingbirds busy in the blazing sun amid summer flowers.

July 2004 Reflections

July 1 Canada: A Good Neighbor

July 2 Half Year Review: Daily Examination

July 3 Bringing Good News

July 4 Declare Energy Independence

July 5 Care for our Heart

July 6 Living in an Age of Terrorism

July 7 Solar Photovoltaics

July 8 Lakes and Aquaculture

July 9 The Tourist and the Environment

July 10 Chestnut Memories: An Extended Wake

July 11 Good Samaritan: Our Neighbor

July 12 Eleven Reasons for Locally Grown Food

July 13 Champion Food Quality

July 14 Agribusiness

July 15 Agricultural Marketing Cooperatives

July 16 Water Fountains

July 17 Food Preserving Techniques

July 18 Martha & Mary

July 19 Potable Water and Chlorination

July 20 Rest and Action

July 21 Community Gardens

July 22 Use Storage Space Well

July 23 Solar Hot Water Systems

July 24 Global Warming: An Eco-Justice Issue?

July 25 A Green "Our Father"

July 26 The Waste Disposal Dilemma

July 27 "Affluenza" versus Simpler Living

July 28 Wildscape

July 29 Ozone: Friend or Foe?

July 30 The Garden -- A Study in Restoration

July 31 Ignatius of Loyola

July 1, 2004 Canada: A Good Neighbor

Independence. Today is Canada's Independence Day with much of

the same fanfare that will take place in the southern neighbor only

three days hence. We North Americans share the longest unguarded

border, and true fellowship in times of need. We do work together,

even though our past history took divergent paths. The U.S. was

unsuccessful in getting Canada to forsake the British Empire, and

it looks like there will be two nations for some time to come.

Even though we see differently about monarchs and ways of

governance, we can remain good friends and respect each other's

independence. However, with NAFTA and the mixed fruits of

interconnectedness, we wonder if we are already losing our economic

independence even while remaining politically distinct.

Looking North. I could not stand the Canadian winters any more

than many of their senior citizens do. It takes stamina to endure

cold weather and that seems to erode with the aging process. I

don't blame people who look for southern vacations or residences in

the winter southland. I must confess something more. I don't

think I could take the Canadian summer mosquitoes either. The

northern areas seem more prone to these then mid-America. All

things said, Canada is vast; it is blessed with grandeur; it is

scenic; and it is open country. These are characteristics which

few other countries have. And then there are the people. When we

venture north, we find that Canadians are the soul of hospitality.

They are so dependable, helpful, and they wish people well. If you

are lost, they regard it as their own problem. They may differ

among themselves, and so generalizations are unfair. Yes, a few

might be curt, but doesn't that apply to all of us on occasions?

Canadian migratory ways. We can't help but notice these good

neighbors, for they seem to love their cool and pleasant summers;

they faithfully trek back there on I-75 every spring. That is when

they abandon steamy Florida, the home to untold numbers of Ontario

and Quebec residents for a day less than half a year (maintaining

their home residence in Canada validates their health benefits).

Economic sense. I was inclined to fault the two-home people

and the motor-home travel by many northerners who commute each year

to and from Florida. In autumn all the Canadians and some of the

geese go south. Maybe there is a wisdom to it after all on both

groups' part. Let's trust them as good neighbors with good sense.

If they close down the Florida second home to avoid air

conditioning in summer and stay in the north, good. If they close

down the primary Canadian home due to heating costs in winter,

good. Heating and cooling fuel far exceed fuel consumption of a

moderate-sized auto during two one-thousand mile trips -- unless

they utilize their motorized second home for distance touring.

That type of travel at eight to ten miles to a gallon is poor

resource use. Just going back and forth is still less than heating

and cooling homes -- and that could prove to be practicing

conservation. And the more "stay-at-homes" continue to enjoy two

sets of pleasant weather each year.

July 2, 2004 Half Year Review: Daily Examination

Half spent. Yes, today begins the second 133 days of the year

2004. Where has the first half of the year gone? Let's be more

specific, where has life gone? We can't walk backward in history,

but rather we march into the future. New beginnings always give us

hope. Perhaps it is far better to plan each day for the morrow

than to plan for a year or longer periods of time. However, we do

have to plan ahead. We ought to be more precise about what is

immediately before us as well, lest we see the horizon clearly and

stumble on the rock in front of us.

Resolutions revisited. It may prove fruitful for us to return

to resolutions at special times. I say "may" because the half-year

mark could be a time of regret that what we wanted to do in January

has not come to full fruition. Okay, that is true, but that should

not make us overly stressed. We can always have the fresh start of

a new half-year. Why should our personal accounting be slave to

the total calendar year and to long-term reappraisals? That is

particularly true at the start of a long hot summer.

Regular reviews. Here's a solution to the longer-term

planning/unplanned impasse. We could break the examination up into

smaller segments which correspond to our planning. There are

general longer-term yearly or decade-wide goals; there are monthly

plans and weekly ones, as well as daily ones. Greater intensity of

examination should be directed to the more proximate goals. Daily

routine permits us to fear less and find more spiritual fruit in

keeping centered in our day's activities, the goals, the successes,

the feelings, the consolations, and the desolations of the day.

Informal, but scheduled. Formality refers to a rigid set

practice, routine, prayer formula, and posture. That could freeze

the daily examen into something that becomes oppressive, and then

becomes neglected for sheer lack of energy at the end of the day.

It would drain us of the last drop, and be especially hard on the

morning people who wax at sun-up and wane at sunset. It is enough

that the "examen" is the last thing we do, that it has a schedule

but not a certain time length, that it be prayerful, that it may be

mercifully short and clearly placed.

Blessing and stumbling. What was it we planned for the day as

the primary activity and event? Did it get done, and were we able

to become better people for it? Did things go wrong and what? Are

we sorry, and did we beg forgiveness for the stumbling? Are we

thankful for the blessings that we have had? It may be wise to go

back to the spiritual masters like St. Ignatius who saw this as a

prayer period and the most important of the day. It goes beyond

the Prayer of the Hours or the meditation prayer period, and

summarizes the day in a prayerful and meaningful manner but in a

private moment of grace. It puts a fitting end to the struggles of

the daylight hours, and prepares us for the promises of tomorrow

and all it will bring.

July 3, 2004 Bringing Good News

At that time the Lord appointed seventy two others whom he sent

ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.

(Luke 10:1)

We accompany the disciples, called to spread the Good News. We

are to help in the healing of the Earth and its people, and to our

surprise, some success is made. And there seems to be a power

beyond ourselves which is at work in us.

Resource shortages, not over-abundance. We recognize that the

laborers are few, and still we labor on to the degree that we are

able -- going to places which could cause us to fear. God will

provide, but at times it is hard to see where the resources are

coming from and what the outcome will be. The reality test of Good

News is the shortage of time and resources needed for its spread.

Extend peace, not destructive fear. Our mission is not to

disturb others, but to bring them the Peace that only God can give.

Maybe we could frighten people into submission, but that is not

God's way and not the Christian thing to do. We could dwell only

on the vast problem of AIDS which is the largest pandemic ever to

hit the Earth's surface. In sub-Saharan Africa alone as of this

writing about 6,000 young people between 15 and 45 and 2,000

infants a day contract HIV, the precursor of AIDS. But the Good

News is that God loves us amid this epidemic or any other troubles.

And solutions can be found.

Live simply, not elaborately. Jesus instructs his disciples to

stay at one place and take what is provided. If we have to cart in

all of our dietary needs, then we are not living simply but act

like outsiders who refuse the local fare. To live simply is to

obey God's will to be among those who we bring the Good News. We

don't have to live on grasshoppers and honey as John the Baptist,

but we may have to make due with what is in the locality to eat.

Detachment, not attachment. Don't Stay when not Welcome. This

is an amazing admission of the evangelistic message, but has a

major truth to it. Find out if people want what we have to offer;

if not, go on to another place. I think some of the problem today

with use of resources in Church circles is that we spend too much

time with local comforts and "needs," and not enough looking

elsewhere to extending the Good News.

Don't take pride, even in success. This is a final admonition,

for it is worth much reflection. As we manifest the power of the

Spirit at work, we could forget that it is God's power, not our

own, at work. It's a caution to all of us who attempt to spread

the News, from small-scale homilists to television evangelists.

Egos love their own words and the power bestowed upon bearers of

the Good News. Yes, bearing Good News is a privilege, but also it

is humbling as well. It will only be for a short time and then we

mortal instruments must move on for others to follow.

July 4, 2004 Declare Energy Independence

When in the course of human events one nation and people become

so affluent that it can become a superpower, can overlook the poor

of other parts of the world, can only consider its own so-called

umbrella of defense, will spend more on the military than all the

poor nations spend on health and new homes, and can consumer non-

renewable resources at rates far exceeding anything ever conceived

in the history of the world then, for the ultimate welfare of this

nation and world, citizens must declare a moment of reflection and

independence from frenetic activity. Why must the rest of the

Earth be drained of resources to keep active such lifestyles which

for the greater part have been perpetrated by the demands of the

wealthy and the pressures of the corporate interests? These

pressures, while internal, are nonetheless depriving us of our true

independence, and rendering America dependent on foreign petroleum

powers and corporate dictated lifestyles. These conditions are no

less severe in scope than those faced by our founding fathers and

mothers, who were being taxed without their representation.

We declare ourselves to be energy independent:

* We will press ahead to use renewable solar and wind energy to

the maximum degree possible. We will make these the main bulwark

of our energy policy by giving tax incentives and research and

development grants on par with those received currently by non-

renewable energy sources;

* We will conserve the fuels we have, insulate our homes, drive

more energy-efficient cars and trucks, stop the frivolous waste of

energy on everything from hot tubs to ornamental lighting, and find

ways to cut back still further on electric appliance wastes;

* We will build smaller homes and reduce use of space for

worship, commercial, academic and domestic enterprises;

* We will consume the relatively small but vital reserves of

petroleum for petrochemicals needed for our medicines and other

necessary chemicals;

* We will use our coal in a safe and efficient ways;

* We will invest more in renewable sources from clean wood waste

burning to geothermal energy use;

* We will stimulate energy use from domestic sources, so that

the vast amounts of money now spent on foreign oil can be

reinvested in our own national infra-structure or to assist in

alleviating some of the crushing world poverty that is all around

us and renders our country more insecure with each year; and

* We will encourage other nations, regions and areas of the

world to also become energy independent. Dependence on oil and

other non-renewable resources can destabilize entire areas of the

world.

July 5, 2004 Care for Our Heart

Good care of self makes for a higher quality of life. That is

more than a mid-year theme. I had an angiogram today, the first

such hospital test in my life, and I watched my heart on the

television screen. A nurse asked (after the doctor had left the

room) whether I had ever smoked. In somewhat surprise I said

"yes," but I quit eighteen years ago. "Well," she said, "I have

seen many hearts, and know the heart of a smoker." Whether true or

not, it made me pause. Yes, the smoking habit had left an imprint

on this imperfect heart of mine. I had complications and chest

pains but maybe medication will help, and I could improve in time.

But I need to redouble the fresh fruit and vegetables, the fat-free

milk products and salad dressing, the right kind of cooking oil,

and eliminate fast foods entirely along with all their grease.

Essential. This little experience at a medical facility

made me reflect more deeply on that very essential component of our

body -- the beating heart. We describe it as a bleeding, hard or

soft, aching, loving, tender, or searching heart, but seldom as an

essential one. The emotions seem to center here, but so does the

blood being enriched by the air from the lungs and then carried to

all parts of the body. And when that heart fails or stutters for

even a brief moment, the arrests and attacks, and the 911 people

come running. We know only too well that the word "heartless" has

a host of meanings.

Taking care. The word is already out about no smoking, no

drugs, no extra stress, plenty of exercise, weight reduction and no

excessive drinking. Fine, but if we did all these things, we could

still have heart trouble because of circumstances, or weak genes,

or some other combination of reasons we have never fathomed. We

know that we must take care, but there are limits in this

cluttered, fat filled, stress-laden world which are almost beyond

our reach. Yes, I have to take care, and you do too.

Not giving up heart. I will not repeat all the warnings or the

ways to avoid heart disease. But we know full well it is not easy,

for the delicate human heart is what gives out for so many in

early, middle, and senior age. It has worked a long time, and in

part of that period it has probably been mistreated. The current

care is only so good, though they say it can help repair this

damaged organ. And we know something more. A healthy heart allows

us to extend our mobility, have more free time for recreation, have

less worry about our current condition, and hike, camp, stroll, and

go to more places even in the late hours of life. The quality of

our life is so dependent on the condition of our heart that we

repeat it like a mantra. Heart, head and hands all working

together show the community of the living organs within ourselves.

I become the image of the living God and this health helps me do it

better -- or at least I am encouraged to think it does. All said,

those with diseased hearts also can give quality testimony as well

through the generosity of their heart-felt offering.

July 6, 2004 Living in an Age of Terrorism

Questions in our age. Young children and others have a

difficulty sleeping at night. Those seeking careers find it

difficult to decide in this troubled world. Fear stalks so many of

us after 9-11. When will the next strike occur? Will it involve

me or some of my loved ones? How can we live in fidelity to our

calling when we have to face the realities of what President Bush

calls the "War on Terrorism?" Do we have to always be watchful and

waiting for the next terrorist shoe to fall? Is it possible to go

beyond these immediate dangers and help reduce terrorist by

bringing peace and justice to our world?

Terrorists hate us. A realistic perspective is always a good

beginning. We were not able to deny what our tv-glued eyes

revealed to us as terrorist successfully brought down the twin

World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001 -- and succeeded in

attacking the Pentagon as well. Yes, some people really hate our

culture and the economic and military symbols contained therein.

This hatred comes as a shock. These attacks surprised us

Americans who have regarded our culture as enlightened, blessed,

democratically-controlled and a model for the rest of the world.

Granted, we consume a quarter of the world's resources with 6% of

the world's population, but that has been our privilege. We has

come to expect others to use the English language which we see as

THE global language. We considered ourselves leaders in everything

from medicine to high technology. We thought the whole world loved

us as much as we did ourselves, our democratic traditions, and our

place in a globalized world. But we were stunned when Moslem

extreme fundamentalists expressed profound dislike for us and what

we stand for, perceiving us as materialistic and godless -- and as

intending to spread our message to others. For them, our values

were a threat to their civilization.

It's hard to love terrorists. A Gospel of Love is our

prophetic witness to what we must do in order to reestablish

justice in the world. Paul speaks about as being patient, kind,

not jealous nor pompous, not inflated nor rude. It seeks the

public interest; it rejoices in the truth. This love is both

radical and gentle, that is, getting to the roots of problems and

acting gently. We are committed to witnessing to the ultimate

victory of love over hate. A message of love is not the loudest,

the most powerful or the most golden. The Gospel of love is spoken

by quiet voices, by plants and animals, by the forsaken and those

easily overlooked. And it demands that we purify ourselves.

A challenge faces us To return to a culture of love demands

giving up some of the arrogance associated with materialistic

"progress." We must discern truth from what is propagandistic in

our media. We must reduce our over-dependence on a giant military

machine for no true security is found there. We must turn

attention to global inadequacies including the vast unemployment

pool in less developed countries.

July 7, 2004 Solar Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic "solar cells" have been known for decades to

generate electricity directly when exposed to sunlight. The first

generation of solar units were a single-crystal silicon variety.

The second and later generations will be chemical coatings which

cost far less and are more versatile. Coatings on roofing tile

have been developed which can be applied directly on new

construction or retrofitted on existing buildings. One observes

those beautiful arrays of shiny multi-colored silicon cells on

roofs of homes and commercial buildings in recent years. These

allow the sun to bring the electricity directly to us without the

need for coal-fueled powerplants and all the accompanying pollution

and land disturbance in extracting the fuel. The energy can be

generated near where it is used, or stored in batteries for night

and rainy days. This saves energy transmission losses.

The federal government's Million Solar Roof Program recognizes

that this energy delivery system need not be a major technological

monopoly for power generators alone. Smaller decentralized

efficient solar units are possible with proven solar technology.

It is just that the devices are still expensive due to lack of mass

production and equivalent tax incentives. These solar systems

could light homes, road and paths, power appliances, charge solar

electric cars, operate traffic signals (especially in remote

places), pump water, and run ventilation fans.

Integrated energy sources. When the sun shines down upon us in

July the heat loads cause the air conditioners to work overtime.

And this means that the fossil-fueled powerplants are often working

at peak capacity. That is the precise time when solar energy will

be most able to make its maximum contribution to the utility mix of

fuel sources. On the hottest and sunniest days, solar-powered

photovoltaics will be generating plentiful energy to feed back into

the system, and thus lower the peak load demands during these hot

months. This is the reasoning behind integrated utility systems

with "net metering" for solar systems. That means that your solar

home system will not only have enough energy for local demands, but

will run your meter in reverse when having a surplus. Utilities

would prefer to buy this back at wholesale rather than retail

rates, and so some adjustment is made to help pay maintenance costs

of the system and giving a fair price to the energy generator.

A final reflection. While solar energy is ready, it is not a

total panacea that will satisfy all energy wants by a sated

consumer culture. There are cloudy days when we need other

generating systems to furnish the needed energy. Solar devices do

not work well in a wasteful society which uses energy as though

there is no end in sight. It takes resources to bring solar energy

on line, and it takes care to maintain the systems. As Ken

Bossong, the founder of "Sun Day," says: "A transition to a solar

society will not be much of an achievement, if it is not guided by

a clearly articulated set of principles and values." We agree.

July 8, 2004 Lakes and Aquaculture

A lakes is a major asset to any property and can be an

excellent example of proper land/water harmony. Lakes also may

provide fresh fish for domestic consumption or sale, irrigation

water, a site for water recreation activities, fire protection for

nearby buildings, and replenishment of the water table. The lake

may increase the economic value of the land as well. New lakes

require some planning and consultation with soil conservation

people, e.g., the best place to build and what type of lake floor

liner to apply. Former requirements for clay lining are not as

urgent today when builders can add heavy duty plastic liners that

seem to work quite well but do take some skill in installment.

Watershed control. Owners of existing or proposed lakes need

to understand the limits of their watershed. If the property

holder controls all of the watershed of the particular lake, then

there are no major worries. If the water is fed from urban,

suburban, or rural landscapes where the input of chemicals into the

water is not controlled, then the lake obviously has limited value

as a producer of fish for food. For fish production, we strongly

suggest either complete control of the watershed or a formal

compact with others within the watershed to refrain from using

pesticides and other chemicals on their land.

Aquaculture. Fresh fish is generally considered superior in

nutrition to more expensive red meat. Some lake holders do not

want to raise fish but may find neighbors who would jump at the

opportunity, even for sharing the produce on a fifty-fifty basis.

Remember, the fish could be bountiful, and you may be overwhelmed

with fresh fish to the point where you find the harvest excessive.

That becomes a special opportunity to share with the needy.

Aquaculture is an excellent way to increase a community's self-

sufficiency and yield supplemental income.

Recreational assets. Lakes are very inviting and enticing, in

fact, so much so that they can easily become liabilities for

owners. Often they are an actual enticements to neighborhood

children who could be hurt or drown after sneaking past the "no

trespassing" signs. While lakes are obvious recreational benefits

for the property holders, the same is true for others. All like to

boat or swim in a nearby beautiful body of water in summer.

Providing protection for these users is another matter. There is

no easy solution. Warnings and high fences are insufficient at

times. This is one reason for placing lakes close to homesteads,

for the presence of people will dissuade the uninvited.

Vegetation. A wide variety of plants can be added to the lake

edge to enhance its beauty and to help supply natural food for the

fish. Wetland plants are well suited for lake shores, and trees

such as willow and mulberry can add beauty as well. Consult your

county agent for a listing of trees and plants that are suitable

for your own climatic conditions.

July 9, 2004 The Tourist and the Environment

American tourists are always to be on our good behavior, but

especially when it comes to environmental matters. We may actually

be more conscious in certain areas and we may not. Here are some

don't worth remembering:

Waste management: Don't litter or put throwaways in the

wrong bin.

Eco-tourism: Don't engage in activities which would harm the

environment. Refrain from wanting to go on exotic tours which

could impact delicate areas of plants or disturb sensitive animals.

It is better to visit such places virtually on television or movie

screen through the eyes of a professional photographer.

Smoking: Don't smoke in the wrong places. Regulations are

generally not as strict overseas as in America, and so traveling

smokers are generally sensitive to such issues. And so are

non-smokers. Here Americans may be of service to other lands'

environment and people by voicing opposition to lax or outdated

smoking rules in those countries.

Smaller car: For internal business or leisure purposes choose

a small, energy efficient vehicle. It can maneuver tight places

quite a bit better. It is embarrassing to find a big car wedged in

the narrow confines of an European medieval alleyway. Besides,

small vehicles are economical especially in Europe where fuel is a

dollar or more a liter (about $4.00 a gallon).

Noise control: Don't make loud noises when on tour. Many

Americans regard their rights to include making noises at

will without regard to the disturbance it causes others. Toning

down the voice and being sensitive to others who prefer silence is

good environmental practice.

Air pollution: Don't wear perfumes or heavily scented

lotions which irritate others. Try to be odor-free.

Limit hunting: Don't seek trips to hunt and kill big game. Far

better is to find a conservationist team which is seeking to tag

such animals and need someone to tranquilize specific individuals

with a dart gun. At least, it is fun without slaughter.

Vandalism: Don't pick chunks of masonry as souvenirs out of the

ancient monuments. If all did such things the monument would

evaporate. A pebble from the road nearby may suffice.

Plants: Don't pick wildflowers either for a bouquet or to dig

up the plant to take home. Remember, American customs don't allow

such practices either.

Trespassing: Don't decide the short cut across lawn is proper.

Some are deeply offended even if they say nothing.

July 10, 2004 Chestnut Memories: An Extended Wake

My siblings and I have vivid memories of the large American

chestnut snag which was over three foot in diameter and ten foot

tall, which stood as a gray white monument on our family farm's

boundary line with our Uncle Pete's place in Mason County,

Kentucky. While both my dad and uncle were very tidy farmers,

throughout the 1930's and well into the Second World War, they

deliberately allowed that large pronounced tree trunk to stand.

Even more mysterious to us as youth was that it was surrounded by

the littered ashen gray branches and tree parts which simply didn't

rot. As kids we would use these to build forts and even hurl some

at each other. We were too young to comprehend what species "The

Big Tree" was, only that our grieving forbearers never cleaned up

the littered pieces of wood which seemed to never decay. Once we

brought a piece into the tobacco stripping room and Daddy spoke of

the tree with reverence, as though it was a family heirloom. No

other tree received such respect, and he was a man who liked trees

and carved wood as an avocation.

The tree was several hundred years old and was most likely seen

and its shade used as a resting place by the pioneer Simon Kenton,

a friend of Daniel Boone (who claimed 10,000 acres which most

likely included this particular tract of land). Kenton spoke of

staying at the "cane brakes" in the headwaters of Limestone Creek

near old Washington Kentucky and in our immediate neighborhood. He

mentioned a strong spring of water, and that spring remains flowing

today in good times and through drought. One probability of the

spring's location is quite near the big chestnut tree.

Our maternal great-grandparents, the Louis Schumacher family,

lived during the 1880s on part of this original General Henry Lee

Estate, on which "The Big Tree" stood. As a youth I recall my

grandfather telling us kids how he had to go get a cow having a

calf and found both animals under "The Big Tree," a half mile from

his home. His problem as a youth was getting them to the barn.

Again, the tree fitted into events in our family history, but the

type of tree only became known to us with time. Years later, when

hiking in the newly established Blanton Forest Reserve in Harlan

County, Kentucky, an experienced forester pointed out to me the

unrotted stump and parts of an old American chestnut grove. This

wood debris had the same color, texture and weight of the unrotted

pieces we knew as young people in Mason County. Then the insight.

That was why they didn't tear down the dead snag at our family

farm. The unrotted pieces were parts of a respected dead but not

yet cremated American chestnut. That tree could and did withstand

the elements.

Being born at the time of the great chestnut blight, I would

not recall seeing live American chestnuts until years later. As

youth we attended the extended wake of a giant creature in our

midst which had been very much a part of the life of the previous

generations. And we did not appreciate what we were doing.

July 11, 2004 Good Samaritan: Our Neighbor

On July 1st we celebrated Canada's Independence, our good

neighbor to the north. We have friendly relations, an unguarded

border, and an abundance of trade and interchange. We are close

and we get along. But is proximity of like-minded folks enough to

constitute that frequently used term "neighbor"? Hardly. We often

turn to the parable of the Good Samaritan to find what Jesus has to

say about "neighbor" -- and its more than easily likeable pals.

Who is my neighbor? The pre-parable is as important as the

story itself, for it gives the reason for what follows. A lawyer

asked a searching question after showing himself well versed in the

law using Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (loving God above all) and Leviticus

19:18 (loving our neighbor as ourselves) to respond to Jesus lead

question. In trying to justify himself, he asks "Who is our

neighbor?" We ask also.

The passersby. The person hurt at the roadside is the one we

distance ourselves from: a foreign person, a drunk, an addict,

someone who we want think may bother us if we dare get too close.

The priest and Levite who go past should have known what they

taught and were taught to do. A neighbor is more than a physically

close relationship. But they passed the person by and created a

distance by taking the opposite side of the road. They did not get

involved. That applies to many of us who deny someone's presence

by looking the other way, excuse ourselves for not being medics, or

escape from an unpleasant scene.

Spirituality in confrontation. The good Samaritan confronts

the situation head-on as a person truly led by the Spirit. For

Jesus, the neighbor is the one might want to call an enemy, but he

does not pre-judge who the victim was, what causes the accident,

whether the robbers are still present, or whether he will be made

unclean if the victim dies or is touched. He closes the distance

of culture and physical space and attends to the nameless victim's

needs. And what's more, this attending takes time, ingenuity

(oil), and resources (bringing to an inn and paying for the

upkeep). The Samaritan "suffers with" or has compassion for the

one who is a neighbor.

Resolution: No parable merits more reflection both on a

broader community level and on an individual level. We as a nation

with many resources should remember collectively that we tend to

deny the Globe's worst epidemic -- AIDS. We excuse ourselves from

our share of global warming and the coming drought victims, and

distance ourselves (escape) from those hurting in this and other

lands. All the while the Internet and tv bring these people to our

very doorstep. We, as individuals, should look once more into our

lives of relative affluence, which can so easily desensitize us.

We deny those around us who cry for help, excuse ourselves from

entering into what some regard as another's unfortunate business,

and escape into our fantasy worlds and consumer product addictions.

Doesn't loving God and attaining my own salvation mean seeing,

coming to, and assisting all my neighbors in need?

July 12, 2004 Eleven Reasons for Locally Grown Food

1. Spiritual: Natural growth processes generate rhythms of the

soul. We are spiritually uplifted in growing our own food.

2. Resources: Immense savings in the energy cost of factory

farm product and transporting food can result through home grown

product.

3. Personal Control: Control of contaminants on the produce

and the knowledge that the home-grown food is wholesome and safe.

This becomes an opportunity for each person to be responsible for

and rest assured that the products are commercially chemically

free.

4. Environmental: Reduce the patronizing of factory farming or

other harmful growing practices in the production of the

community's food. One realizes that the heavy cost to land

fertility and environment is omitted in eating local produce.

5. Labor Practices: Home growers have better control of labor

practices at all stages of food production and preparation.

Consider the exploitation of migrant farm workers, who are often

forced to work without adequate protection against agricultural

poisons and without proper housing conditions.

6. Aesthetics: Beautify the countryside and make it a better

place to live for all residents. One is able to artistically

construct the garden landscape through selection of plants, time

for growing and maturation and arrangement of each species.

7. Eco-justice: Make a powerful political statement of social

justice as well as eco-justice through action. We will not

patronize products unless sure that workers receive a just wage.

8. Health: Obvious health benefits accrue to all including

older people who get outside exercise and fresh air when growing

food. A sense of well-being and control over one's life comes from

self-sustenance and the resulting improved health.

9. Savings: Economic benefits result in growing one's own

nutritious foods and sharing these with others in the vicinity.

Food prices will undoubtedly rise with increased fuel cost to

produce them and to transport them to our homes. These costs are

saved through backyard grown produce.

10. Psychological: In growing our own food we begin to have a

sense of taking control over our own lives and gaining in self-

respect. We can provide for ourselves and do not have to be

totally dependent on others for some of life's essentials.

11. Model: We show others in the local area what they likewise

can do to become self-sustaining in their own lives. People tend

to imitate those closer to themselves and those willing to coach

them into proper gardening practice.

July 13, 2004 Champion Food Quality

High summer is quality time, and we know what that means with

its pleasant scents and sights and tastes. It is the time to stop

at mid-year and reflect on the tripod of good gardening, i.e.,

amount, nutritional content and taste. Through the use of raised

beds and other intensive techniques the quality-minded gardener can

obtain plentiful yields; through careful selection of crops good

nutritional content can be obtained; and through the further

selection of specific cultivars within these families of vegetables

(along with proper harvesting, preserving and cooking) one can

acquire and preserve tastes that please the palate.

Commercial aims. Current mass produced vegetables involve

picking hybridized unripe produce, shipping for great distances in

refrigerated car, using artificial ripening agents, and selling at

a supermarket chain. The nutritional value of such commercial

produce is limited when it is harvested before ripening, for

vitamins and other components do not have time to develop.

Commercial producers desire products that are perfect in

appearance, that is, free from blemishes, without regard to

chemical pesticide presence or nutritional content loss. Chemical-

free commercial produce is not easily found under such conditions

and is higher priced. A wormy apple may be unappetizing but it

indicates the absence of pesticide. One of my finicky aunts

accepted worms on or in produce, calling them signs of chemically-

free conditions and, if accidentally cooked, a source of protein.

Quality of life. Today, many seek a higher quality of simple

life that includes smaller vehicles and places to live, less

fashionable clothing, more time with family (down-sizing job

expectations), more care in growing and purchasing locally-grown

organic foods (nutritional quality), and more time given to the

arts and music (quality leisure time). In the past, we have

emphasized obtaining bulk products -- food, water, building

materials and energy supplies -- from sources close at hand where

quality can be controlled and transportation costs reduced. The

growing popularity of Farmers' Markets means consumers are

returning to a search for quality, even if it more expensive.

Quality diet. Higher quality and a broader variety of grains,

fruits, vegetables, and herbs allow for a more balanced and

wholesome diet that uses less of the Earth's resources. This

quality diet means less use of resource intensive domestic animal

products, and encourages more vegetarian diets. Unit-for-unit, the

meat-, milk- and egg-producing domestic animal is a consuming

agent, requiring considerable feed to stay alive, reproduce and

furnish animal products for human consumption. Much grain is

required for conversion to the final animal product that is

ultimately consumed. Grain-fed beef is at the highest end of this

intensity scale, with pork middling and poultry and fish at the

lower end of the scale. Animal feed (corn, other grains, hay,

soybean byproducts, and even pastures) take up a major portion of

this nation's finest arable land that could be used for growing

soybeans and grain for direct human consumption.

July 14, 2004 Agribusiness

We need only look back fifty years when many family farms

flourished in our county and the entire farm family was engaged in

keeping the local economy going. Today, a small number of small-

scale homesteaders and sustainable farmers are able to continue

these practices with considerable economic roadblocks. These could

be overcome if governmental benefits and support were more equally

divided in the agricultural sector. The demand for organic food

rises each year and much of this can be supplied by small-scale

gardeners and farmers. While major portions of the farm economy

move towards agribusiness, still there are expanding horizons for

the entrepreneur especially in specialty and organic crops.

Contract agriculture. Today, increasing portions of American

cattle, hog and chicken farming involve contracts with food-related

corporations. The problems related to contract agriculture are

explained in Update, the bulletin for the National Campaign for

Sustainable Agriculture (June, 2001). With each year a higher

percentage of agricultural commodities are produced through

contract with vertically integrated agribusiness (35% in 1998, and

increasing at about 1% per year) starting with poultry in the 1950s

and expanding to many major commodities -- beef, hogs, fruit,

vegetables, and tobacco. Traditional systems which worked well for

the family farmers, such as the tobacco-support system (good system

but bad product), are being decimated. Farmers who worked in

cooperative ways to grow and market agricultural products are now

facing the bleak prospect of most market decisions being made by

the corporate giants. The result is a growing inequality between

producers and marketers/processors.

Restricted choices. Can even the contract farmers regain

control over their lives? In order to do so the Campaign for

Contract Agriculture Reform support the following policies:

* Establish minimum standards for agricultural contracts and

reasonable government oversight. For example, ban unfair trade

practices, including the perverse "ranking system" of setting

farmer against farmer.

* Amend the Agricultural Fair Practices Act to protect the

ability of farmers to negotiate fair contracts with processors.

* Give the federal government authority to halt unfair trade

practices.

Turning from independent to contract farming bodes badly for a

traditional family-based agriculture. This is particularly true

when that condition pertains to major agricultural commodities (and

the excluded commodity list shrinks with each year). Regaining

control over our people's lives is needed, and being contracted to

corporations is a loss of that control. But how do we regain

control? One way is for American agricultural policy to give

greater benefits to the small farmer and less to the big ones, to

consider the marketing of garden produce as important as that of

soybeans and corn, and to turn more resources to the small-scale

agricultural market.

July 15, 2004 Agricultural Marketing Cooperatives

Different forms of cooperatives exist: these include buying,

growing, manufacturing, and marketing coops. These do not spring

out of thin air, but require much in the way of planning and

organization. A group of growers may decide to cooperate in

marketing their products at a variety of outlets and to determine

standards of preparation of the product for market. Americans

generally find such cooperative enterprises less agreeable to

cultural tastes than do other more community-oriented cultures.

Determine the nature of the coop. The agricultural commodity

determines the nature of the marketing coop. Tobacco has been an

annual crop which could be grown in larger or smaller amount with

each year. As prices rise, more growers got into the act; when

prices fell, some were hurt due to overproduction. So the purpose

of the marketing coop was to control the production of the

tobacco. However, a medicinal herb like wild ginseng has a ready

market but is far slower to grow-- taking between five and a dozen

years. Thus a medicinal herb marketing coop may be better suited

to grading and proper sales climate so that the grower receives a

maximum amount for the crop.

Enlist support. Getting people to develop a scheme for

association so that the cooperative can take shape will require

some effort. Organization is at the heart of the cooperative

program. Without people, the program will only remain in the minds

of the idea people. This enlistment program may come easily when

a large number of growers feel the pinch together, as happened with

tobacco in the early 20th century; it may be quite difficult when,

as in the case of many ginseng growers, potential members do not

even want to be publicly identified.

Join an association. The creation of a new entity may be the

best way to go in marketing the commodity. However, it may be

possible to save resources and time by associating with an existing

organization having expertise and assets which can be used in the

process. There are no set answers to the question of how to

associate, without a concrete evaluation of the existing coop

structures that could be used. Forming new coops takes time which

could be lost if the commodity or participants do not fit well into

the scheme of things. Some have asked whether ginseng growers, who

are generally quite health-conscious people, should form

partnerships with a tobacco association which -- while quite good

in its own organization and generous in its approach to other types

of growers -- has never had health considerations in the forefront

of its purpose for existence. Most likely, it would prove unwise

Time may be needed. We are all in a situation of doing things

rapidly because only so much time, energy, and seed money are

available at a given time. But this decision-making period must be

valued as important and worth further discussion with experts. It

takes time to plan for the right association and even more time to

form it and see that it functions properly. But it could result in

many benefits to members and others served.

July 16, 2004 Water Fountains

People look for a harmony of water and land in their lives.

Some are blessed with observing from their home a lake or river or

even the ocean; others settle for a small farm pond or nearby

creek; and still many more have no moving water. For that reason,

they substitute circulating fish tanks or ponds, interior

waterfalls, or water fountains. The gurgling water fountain gives

the appearance of bubbling springs, or the life force coming from

the Earth itself to refresh us. Fountains have been used for

centuries to furnish water via springs or aqueducts with water

flowing by gravity down from nearby mountains. Little wonder that

the town fountain becomes a community gathering place as well as

the essential source for potable water.

Creative design. Only rarely is it possible today to have an

on-going flow of water from a mountain source. Rather we design

artificial fountains (whether interior or exterior) which would

perform the same aesthetic purpose (water sound and sight), but not

necessarily be a water source as such. The fountain could be

located in a protected and enclosed patio where the sound could

reverberate from the surrounding walls. This interior/exterior

environment could be cooled by vegetation and prevent water

evaporation, adding to the quality of domestic life. The soothing

sound along with the sight of water amid potted or ground plants

could produce an atmosphere of a cool (even tropical) forest. A

well-designed fountain could have a magic touch that draws people

to congregate, rest, and relax in its vicinity. It is moving

water. It springs as though from the Earth, giving a sense of

abundance, fertility, and release of forces. The poetic and mystic

importance of fountains have not been missed by poets and artists.

Recirculate water. Some may argue that running a fountain is

a wasteful practice. Actually the water can be recirculated with

a small expenditure of energy for a pump. Much depends on the

fountain's evaporation potential -- and that can be lessened in a

shade tree or plant lined protected place as just suggested. The

increased humidity and lack of direct breeze will reduce

evaporation immensely. Lower quality water can be used, provided

it has no unpleasant odor. The jets for the fountain could be

adjusted so that the stream flow could be greatly reduced or turned

off in dryer times. Flowing over rocks or other surfaces may

account for some of the evaporation, especially if in a sunny

location. Shaded fountains conserve water and offer a more

pleasing environment.

Solar Applications. The operation of the small circulating

water pump and accompanying night ornamental lighting could be

achieved using solar energy. For water pumping, the small

instrument does not need much storage capacity, since at night

circulation could be is reduced or even stopped. The optional

ornamental lighting could be sufficient for the early part of

nightfall. Daylight is perfect with fountains though some like the

atmosphere of longer night lighting; in such cases, consider

storing excess solar energy by means of batteries.

July 17, 2004 Food Preserving Techniques

July is the time that the normal grower in the temperate zone

begins to have the happy problem of high-quality leftover produce

such as beans, brassicas, zucchini or even the early tomatoes.

What do we do besides eat these for most meals and store a few in

the refrigerator to give to friends on the weekend? From the times

of our distant ancestors foresighted folks thought ahead to the

non-growing colder season. They dried, stored in the ground or

preserved foods through salting, canning or by other ingenious

means. We look back and admire their foresightedness and

ingenuity. Their goal was the same as ours today: save the flavor

and quality while retaining produce which will satisfy hunger in

times of want. They created sophisticated ways to preserve both

the quality and quantity of their precious produce. We wonder

whether we still have such ingenuity for such practices.

Root Cellars. One of the older preserving techniques was the

root cellar. These storage places were partly or totally submerged

outer buildings or interior space. They were dark and cool places

at constant temperature and controlled humidity where produce could

be preserved for at least six months in order to meet the needs of

the winter months. Besides potatoes and virtually all the root

crops, such places also held winter squash, pumpkins, cabbage,

apples, pears, and even wrapped tomatoes.

Canning. Home-canned fruit, berries and vegetables generally

taste great but require time and great kitchen effort in the heat

of summer. What sacrifices were made for materials and flavor in

the past! For many years our ASPI office manager, Martha Bond

canned tomato juice for soup; it was so superior to the commercial

canned varieties.

Solar Drying. Drying apples and other low-moisture content

fruits and vegetables in an old automobile or attic had the same

effect as drying with a solar food drying device. These solar

dryers can be made from scratch or purchased, and permit a current

of solar-warmed air to flow over porous screened strays of cut

fruit or vegetables, protected from direct sunlight. Differing

amounts of time are required depending on moisture content of

produce and of the location's humidity.

Freezing. This is a good and easy method, but generally uses

non-renewable energy to operate. Many folks do not like freezing

a number of vegetables such as greens and beans, but the method

works well for tomatoes and many other fruits.

Leave in or on the Ground. The simplest preservation method in

milder areas is to leave root crops in the ground beyond the

growing season. The length of time depends on the severity of the

winter and whether a good seasonal or protective cover of mulch is

used. In Kentucky, carrots, Japanese radishes, Jerusalem

artichokes and turnips are left in the ground under mulch cover.

Likewise, some hearty greens such as mustard, kale, and collards

will stay fresh, if protected from wind and intense cold.

July 18, 2004 Martha & Mary

Americans tend to be busybodies, and so we are defensive when

it comes to talking about Martha, for she was one also. We fret

about whether we have toothpicks in the olives and don't think

about Jesus as guest in the home. Martha is the patroness of

housekeeping, because her short scriptural narrative consists of a

reprimand -- though not of the order of that given in Jesus'

original encounter with Mary Magdalene, her sister: "Sin no more."

Jesus says that she (Martha) is concerned about many things, and is

overlooking the big one. She is overly busy.

Greatness. Let's give Martha credit. She is one of the very

few who called Jesus by his full title. She came to him when her

brother Lazarus had died, and she did this when Mary found it

impossible through grief to do the same. So she had the ability to

turn tragedy into moments of greatness, of immense focus. We also

need to give attention to what has to be done here and now. We

need to focus on the bigger picture. For us, the big picture means

our salvation and that of our brothers and sisters and the Earth

itself. We are to see that events are happening that could cripple

our world, and that the small incremental changes could draw our

attention away to the point that we overlook the necessary tasks of

making peace, addressing epidemics and poverty, and distributing

basic materials to those in greatest need.

Being Martha. We do not like to give full attention to the

visitor or the neighbor next door when so many little incidents

have to be attended to in our lives. The greatest criticism of a

French Marshall Bizarre in the Franco-Prussian War was that he

neglected major operations for minutia. Those with more material

possessions can be greatly distracted. One would think that with

a house full of electronic gadgets we would have more time for

important matters. But the opposite is often true. We are taken

up with burnt out light bulbs and buttons which do not function.

Both Marys and Marthas are needed. For the Christian, the

importance of having Christ present is utmost. We do have him

here. Then can we give attention to his presence and still do the

needed duties which keep the world a pleasant place? Yes, but

this challenge is doable when properly executed. The one who

succeeds turns needed duties into a prayer, gives some quality time

to total attention to the Lord, sees immense value in Christian

contemplation in action, and permits others to give more time to

total contemplation without pestering them.

Contemplative in Action. Mary took the better course, but the

course was one of focusing in Christ as opposed to dinner details.

While focusing she is the model of contemplation, something we all

must do, but the question is one of how long or where our life

calls us. Every Christian is called to sacred times of

uninterrupted prayer, give others the time they need for

contemplation, and live in the world as both a contemplative and an

activist -- the highest level. This is difficult and that is

precisely the reason for contemplation-in-action's high calling.

July 19, 2004 Potable Water and Chlorination

Problematic Drinking Water. A major problem facing Americans

and others is a treat to our supply of potable water, a necessity

for life. Americans spend a billion dollars annually on bottled

water because they distrust what emerges from water taps. Drinking

water is becoming scarce in many poorer countries.

Bottled water. Today, plastic water bottles are in vogue, even

though commercially bottled water is sometimes of questionable

quality. Regulations regarding "mineral" water vary from state to

state. This water contains dissolved minerals, as does tap water

and may be a generic term for water processed in some fashion, and

not the naturally obtained water which is labelled "natural." The

term "sparkling" refers to water in which carbon dioxide gas has

been injected to make it bubbly. These bottled waters may vary in

taste, texture, appearance, and price, and are regulated by the

Food and Drug Administration. But amid everything, they may be far

healthier than sugar-loaded soft drinks.

Chlorination. The most common way to purify municipal water

for the last century has been through chlorination. This kills

harmful bacteria and has been credited with controlling the

scourges of cholera, typhoid fever and dysentery which plagued the

world for so many centuries. Proponents of this purification

method say it is the only practical way to sanitize large amounts

of water economically. Some municipal systems use hypochlorite

compounds and some other forms such as chlorine gas -- which is

quite toxic, if emitted accidentally in the atmosphere. Some

chemical water contaminants, which have escaped previous

purification, become far more worrisome if chlorine is present.

Among by-products are the trihalomethanes, which could prove

harmful in even small amounts. The federal government has ordered

the removal of these chemical contaminants to the greatest degree

possible before chlorination but that is an ongoing challenge.

Home filters. A good and relatively low-cost home water filter

can improve water taste, reduce odor, and remove the chemical

contaminants just mentioned. Granular activated carbon filters

have been used as pour-through types, faucet filters, stationary

filters, line bypass filters and double filters. These are most

effective when water moves slowly through a large mass of the

purifying material. More recently porous filters which screen out

bacteria have become commercial. While good for removing bacterial

contamination, they may allow other mineral or chemical impurities

to slip through. If the source of the water is low on such

impurities and is not already chlorinated, these low-cost ultra-

fine commercial filters work well.

Other techniques. Boiling water is a sure way of killing

bacteria but it takes fuel to do so. On the other hand, solar

distillation proves quite efficient at lower long-term cost. Ozone

is quite powerful in killing micro-organisms, but home units are

hard to find. Ultraviolet kills micro-organisms but this only

works with fairly clear water.

July 20, 2004 Rest and Action

Like Jesus who had to break off a rest period to attend to

those who sought him, we are sometimes required to give up free

time for pressing matters. We have to balance the Judeo-Christian

emphasis on sabbath and other rest periods and the need to help

others. All of us need time to pray and to go apart for a time of

the year -- to accept a change of pace so that we can be better

peacemakers and bearers of justice to our world because the ongoing

drain on our energy dampens our enthusiasm. On the other hand, we

are driven to assist when others are in need and to stop what we

are doing to help them. Conflicts do arise and we should be free

to make the proper choices at the particular time.

Rules and regulations. In Israel, I brought a milk glass from

the previous meal down to breakfast and was met at the door by

someone who was visibly shaken. I did not realize that the dish

could not be included in the current meal by the rules of the

boarding place. It seemed to me at the time that these small rules

were overly important to the hosts. I remembered that my dad would

tell that one of his sisters would spit many times after brushing

her teeth on a Communion Day in which no food or drink were allowed

before Mass. In both cases, these rules seemed to me to have

become somewhat binding and oppressive. They can wear us down.

Flexibility. We see Jesus being free enough to do what had to

be done and yet free enough to take time off to pray. He teaches

us the need to be innovative --even when our rest sometimes needs

to be sacrificed. That requires a freedom to move as the Spirit

directs us. We discover this in Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, and

not enslaved by the Sabbath. He freely goes off to rest and have

spiritual refreshment, not only on days required but at given times

in his ministry. He encourages his disciples to go and rest after

their emotionally expended "high." Yet he is free to become active

when needed and is called upon by the spiritually hungry people.

Both are important. We need rest for physical, emotional and

spiritual balance. Others need us to have it to make life easier

for them. Through resting ourselves we affirm our human needs, the

power of God working through us, the role of being models for

others to rest, and the importance of Sabbaths and Jubilees in our

lives. But we are also masters of our rest periods and need to

realize that at time activity in helping others is also important

and necessary. There are times we are to be free enough to forego

rest for the sake of others -- and we ought to discern when this

must be done.

At peace with rest and action. Do I make the time to rest, or

do I see life as more and more work? Am I a workaholic in a world

where the average time spent working has increased during the past

decade while the labor-saving devices should have shortened work

time? Do I pack more and more in shorter periods of time? Do I

appreciate the rhythm of rest and activity? Am I free to judge

correctly when a rest period must be shortened or abandoned for the

sake of helping others? Do I know when to start and when to stop?

July 21, 2004 Community Gardens

During the middle of summer when gardens are at their fullest,

we often hear landless people say they wish they had some growing

space for a garden. Though it is best to plan and develop

community gardens during the non-growing season when there is a

little more time, still the basic idea should perhaps be

entertained in summer when we can identify people who would really

like to cultivate some land.

Surplus Land. We soon become aware that landless people exist

among us, but so there exists land surpluses which can be

identified and possibly procured for those in need:

* institutional surplus lands and lawns;

* unused portions of cemeteries;

* development areas prior to construction;

* flood plains and some conservation lands;

* refurbished and resurfaced brown fields;

* agricultural lands not presently being farmed;

* areas adjacent to parks and roadways;

* land under airport landing runways; and

* vacant lots adjacent to homes and housing developments.

Organize the Committee. Much depends on how the community

garden is organized. It takes some up-front planning and careful

laying down of ground rules which can both encourage the serious

gardener and discourage the one who will quickly abandon the

project as hot weather sets in. Abandoned community garden plots

litter the countryside, except where a strong supervisor separates

the real gardeners from the dreamers. Once the right kind of

people are found and invited, everything goes as planned. People

have the potential to raise a great variety of produce; in doing

so, they come to know each other and find gardening to be a

community-building exercise; they exchange experience; and they

share their bounty with others in the broader community.

Permanent Beds. One approach to community gardens is to plow

or cultivate the entire tract each year and then allot the plots

afterwards. The other method is to lease to each gardener an

individual plot which may already contain raspberries, horseradish,

Jerusalem artichokes, or comfrey from a previous year's planting.

These perennials are important for the ordinary gardener and allow

this person to have a sense of gardening over the years and not

simply for a single season.

Growing Organically. A community garden does not necessarily

have to be chemical pesticide-free, but it is virtually impossible

to keep some adjacent plots organic when others are not. The wind

blows; the general areas are tilled each year; and water run-off

cannot be easily controlled. Once people accept that organic

gardening can only be done without use of chemical pesticides, then

the community garden can function more smoothly. But it is

necessary to make such decisions early for they cannot be easily

reversed.

July 22, 2004 Use Storage Space Well

How much is enough, when it comes to storage space? Our

consumer culture encourages accumulation of an array of materials,

some of which have short life spans. When an item falls out of

fashion, and yet is not worn out, the owner has a natural tendency

to store it for further use, or for later reuse by some worthy soul

at the end of the throwaway chain. At this stage, the short-lived

items will apparently arrive free and give a tax write-off to the

affluent donor -- but the gift is deceptive; the product will not

last long, and the burden then falls on the hapless "end use owner"

who is least able to afford storage facilities or proper disposal.

The Storage Problem. We are all reluctant to throw things

away, to sort out what we have, and to store goods properly and

where they can be easily reached. A perfect remedy for persons

with a shortage of storage space is the yard sale. However, such

purchasers have storage problems of their own. The materials

simply shift from one storage space to another, and only in rare

cases get used properly. Many old-timers remember a radio comedy

featuring Molly Mcgee, a housewife who would open her closet and

all the utensils would fall down with loud reports and laughter

punctuating the air waves. A Molly McGee closet is an extreme.

Storage space ranges from musty old attics to well ventilated

storage rooms, from out-of-the-way property containing building

materials and old fence wire, to public file drawers and cabinets.

Creative Storage Space. Out of sight, out of mind is a well-

coined adage -- but disaster for those who tend to accumulate

things. Some simply cannot throw things away; others discover a

new freedom after severing the bonds of stored materials. Here are

some techniques for countering storage problems. Some create

storage space by installing "open shelving" in various parts of the

house/work areas. What we want, will be present; what we don't

want won't. Those who take great pride in open storage areas

include homemakers who can a variety of fruit and vegetables. The

colorful array of food in clear jars can be quite decorative.

Artists and those who take pride in their handiwork also prefer

storage where others can see it. Accessible places can be easily

and frequently purged. This ritual destroys the myth that all

materials are important for me. Why should we bestow to future

folks the task of throwing away my junk?

Joint Storage. Domestic partners can divide storage space

among themselves and assist each other in deciding what should be

kept, and where it should be placed. Active living space is

segregated from passive living space -- remote areas where seldom

used trunks and heirlooms may be stored. Some active space could

be shared jointly, and used for storage on open shelving or

tastefully covered boxes to be used in creative ways such as for

lamp stands or divider walls. Resolve that out-of-fashion objects

be put up at yard sale or donated or reused in some creative

fashion. Again, remember, affluent donors seek tax write-offs,

while less well-off recipients seek storage space or the time and

cost of disposal.

July 23, 2004 Solar Hot Water Systems

The summer sun allows us to "think solar." And what is a more

obvious solar applications than the tried-and-true solar water

heater. Photos of the 1904 San Francisco Earthquake show damaged

house roofs equipped with these devices a hundred years ago.

Why not now? About one-tenth of an average household's energy

budget is expended on heating water for showers and kitchen uses.

The cheapest way to heat domestic water is by the sun, and this is

the most cost-effective solar application outside of growing

produce on the land using the sun rays. Some solar water heating

systems are "active" varieties (heating with the sun an enclosed

liquid which transfers heat to adjacent water pipes). These active

systems are more expensive, but efficiency is improving with time.

Homemade "passive" systems (which heat the water directly in black

glass lined metal tanks enclosed in insulated boxes) are also to be

recommended. The latter have no pumps or extra gadgets except a

pressure release valve. ASPI has both types of systems.

Solar heater choices. Solar heaters need to be of a size

adequate for your water needs. Much depends on the amount of water

used, but conservation should always accompany solar energy use.

The shower length and volume is critical. With this in mind,

install water- conserving showerheads and institute a practice of

"army" style showers (wet down, soap up without water running, and

rinse off). The heater design should be visibly pleasing and in

harmony with your building. A site should be near where the water

is to be used, and yet accessible to those who wish to inspect the

unit close at hand. The ideal situation in areas of severe winters

is to have a non-solar back-up system that is also energy-efficient

and of low environmental impact. Instant heating back-up systems

work well enough, if the domestic water demand is low and the water

pressure sufficient to allow the flow to move constantly and with

suitable force.

Homemade solar heaters. Many prefer to do their own building

and save money. A homemade solar water heater is straight-forward

and can be built by enclosing a used water tank hooked to a

gravity-fed water system. Water is collected in a solar absorbing

black-painted water tank painted black. The enclosure resembles a

glass-covered open-sided snug-fitting insulated coffin (made with

weather-protected wood). Six-inch fiberglass insulation batts are

covered with aluminum flashing to preserve the solar-heated water

for use after dark.

Mounting and use. The homemade solar heater is mounted at the

selected location and angled toward the southern sun. Slightly

southeast directions are sometimes found to be adequate. Some

designers put an insulated door to close over the glassed opening

after the sun goes down, but it may prove inconvenient to close and

open in order to retain the heated water longer. If properly

insulated in an average temperate climate as found in Kentucky, the

solar heaters will furnish 100 degree F water for about two-thirds

of the year. However, such devices should be drained in winter.

July 24, 2004 Global Warming: An Eco-Justice Issue?

The deterioration of our global environment is a matter of

grave concern to all the world's population. The emerging problem

of global warming (five of the hottest summers on record were in

the last decade) caused by a greenhouse effect is often discussed.

If this continues it will affect billions of people in parts of the

world which will become drier (like central Asia and parts of

northern China), or more tropical (parts of the United States).

Entire island nations may be submerged, if icecaps continue to melt

and oceans rise a number of inches or feet. Profound changes of

still a greater degree will also occur and do so quite rapidly.

While some frigid regions may become temperate enough to grow

grain, still other well-watered zones may be turned into deserts.

Reality is Frightening. If people find it impossible to

confront reality about our planet's current troubles, what are they

to do? Escape to ever fewer pristine places or to their

distracting addictions, like ostriches with their heads in the

sand. Maybe global answers differ with different individuals and

groups. In our American democracy each citizen has a grave

responsibility to help elect officials who understand the gravity

of the deteriorating world condition and are accountable enough to

help do something about it. We are all on this Earth together.

Prudence. This global threat of global warming grows with each

passing day, according to the majority in the scientific community.

The problem is one calling for prudent action, collective prudent

action. If some predict a hurricane and we merrily go along

without taking precautions to safeguard our families, we would be

called careless and even endangering their lives. Prudence does

not necessarily side with our current American president who says

more research must be done -- and thus does one must conclude that

we have the time for longer-term research. That could be the

opposite from prudence and could spell added troubles ahead.

Scientific Agreement. Some 2,500 scientific experts agree that

human activity can change our climate, and that global warming is

occurring today. Doesn't prudence dictate that some action be

taken to curb the causes of global warming, namely, the greenhouse

gas (carbon dioxide and other emissions) at the local, regional,

national and global levels? Should nations that consume the most

carbon fuels take the first and greater cuts in consumption? Are

not these nations the seat of power of transnational corporations

with greater political clout in skewing the distribution of

responsibility away from the current consumers? Are we obliged to

refrain from excessive use of carbonaceous materials that produce

carbon dioxide? What about other greenhouse gases: nitrogen

oxides, methane, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and sulfur

hexafluoride? Is commerce in pollution credits socially just? If

so-called Third World nations are exempt, won't this encourage

escape industries to take advantage of more lax environmental

regulations? Take these questions to your congressperson.

Reference: For global impacts visit www.climatehotmap.org

July 25, 2004 A Green "Our Father"

We say the Our Father many times but shouldn't we occasionally

give it a rather environmental or green hue? First note, that this

is a prayer of both the individual and the community. The words

"we" and "our" replace "I" and "my." Our popular individualized

spiritualities allows many of us to ignore the community aspects of

our lives. Preserving and healing the Earth is first of all a

community enterprise, and this has as its model prayer the "Our

Father." I cannot change the world alone. We can.

Our Father, who art in heaven -- takes into consideration the

God who directs and guides our family, who created this vast

universe and who is a loving God who wants us to help usher in the

kingdom of peace and justice.

Hallowed be thy name -- The holy name is given not only in and

among people, but also among all the plants and animals of

creation. Making holy what is already so in a hidden way is part

of the journey of coming to truth.

Thy Kingdom come -- The New Heavens and the New Earth are

connected, and are already beginning to appear. We are called to

halt the deterioration of the Earth, to help with the healing

process, and to bring on God's kingdom.

Thy will be done -- It is the will of God expressed in the

scriptures that the world will thrive and all people will have a

just share of resources and a proper quality of life.

Give us our daily bread -- So many of the world (current

estimates at 850,000,000) are without a supply of the needs for the

day. Can we worthily receive communion, if so many are without the

necessities of life? Can we solve ecological problems without

addressing justice issues?

Forgive us our debts -- We need to ask forgiveness for the

debts we have incurred due to our use of world resources. This

becomes an awesome moment for we come to grips with ourselves and

our ability to forgive. We discover that here is the grace of

forgiveness that awaits our individual and collective

acknowledgment and that we must reexamine our consumer patterns.

Lead us not into temptation -- Most of us are tempted by the

addictive consumer products all around us. We are tempted to take

the easy way and become wanton consumers in this world of scarcity

-- and the culture offends our collective sense of togetherness by

dividing us and making us think and act selfishly.

But deliver us from evil -- The deterioration of the Earth is

a plot by the greedy in power -- the very personification of

pervasive evil in the world around us. We need God's help at this

time to be free, to halt the destruction of the environment and to

bring on a sense of hope for all people. We must be able to

confront and overcome the evil in our midst.

July 26, 2004 The Waste Disposal Dilemma

Good ecology dictates lower consumption patterns. Acquire and

consume only to the degree needed; reuse where possible; give or

trade to another when practical (e.g., flea markets); and only

dispose properly (if possible) when absolutely necessary.

Deliberate wasting is unethical, and consumption practices should

be judged ethically. Both the two most common ultimate disposal

methods --incinerators and landfills -- have severe drawbacks, from

air and water pollutants to unpleasant odors through smelly

emissions from anaerobic decomposition activity. An alternative is

the compost bins where nature converts wastes to humus for the

total growth cycle and the reuse of non-compost materials.

Recycling: Proper Disposal or Commercial Gimmick? Natural

recycling involves the process of decomposition of living matter

that furnishes the nutrients for new life. Modern industrial use

of materials often means neglecting the process of returning

containers for refilling, or breaking these down into component

materials for reuse as similar or other consumer products. Early

recycling utilization occurred in the beverage industry because

containers were more expensive than the contents. However, with

time a more centralized distant company could increase profits by

transferring disposing responsibility to the ultimate user. The

"no-return" instead of a reuse policy allowed a concentration of a

wider range beverage industry to the detriment of local beverage

companies. The giants used the word "recycling" as a shirking of

responsibility. Remember the advertisement of the teary-eyed

American Indian.

Reality Test. Merely distancing oneself from waste shows a

lack of environmental awareness and a willingness to dump wastes in

backyards of the poor. NIMBY (not in my backyard) implies taking

care of one's own waste. A more positive approach is OIOBY or only

in our backyard for our local waste. Don't dump our wastes on

others. Each of us must take responsibility for all generated

wastes. I knew a person (Albert Baldwin) who had extremely neat

property and yet never sent a single thing to a landfill in his

life. He reused all materials, but preferred not to buy materials

that would easily be discarded. He and his wife canned their own

produce in reused jars, recycled kitchen wastes as chicken feed,

burnt scrap wood and yard waste, buried cans around his orchard for

iron, saved his water in a cistern, and built from materials at

hand. Albert was a real conservationist, and the lack of waste and

the place's beauty drew the media's notice.

Reduce Wastes. The reduction of wastes to tolerable limits is

a more realistic goal. In our ideal ten- or twelve-sort recycling

system, we simply have no place for all plastic that is not PETE or

HDPE, which can be a few pounds a month of office and domestic use.

Nor can we find a place for mixed materials which do not fit into

certain categories. Thus 100% recycling is hardly possible in our

complex world -- but we can come very close to that goal.

Ref. Out of the Wasteland by Al Fritsch and Andy McDonald.

July 27, 2004 "Affluenza" versus Simpler Living

Our over-indulging consumer culture suffers from a disease that

some term "Affluenza." Just as destitution is undesirable, so does

over-abundance at the other end of the consumption spectrum have

its negative effects as well. A happy medium is, where material

goods are not too scarce or too abundant, that affords the highest

quality of life.

Scarcity. When housing, food, water, and other essentials are

in short supply, people are forced to endure hunger, cramped

conditions and general deterioration of life. This is the

condition of 840,000,000 of the world's people and none of us would

envy such circumstances. Deprivation is not what the world should

be like, and people without enough gives us vivid reminders of how

much more we should do to help alleviate their plight.

Overabundance. When at the other end of the spectrum people

have too much and become selfish and unwilling to share, they are

losing their own souls by a failure to share resources -- a mandate

as human beings. The very consumer who has too much suffers from

his excess, e.g., by over-eating and the associated diseases and

maladies coming from such a condition; homes which are too big

require much time and effort, and material goods tend to make

people insensitive to the needs of others.

The Middle Course. What constitutes sufficiency, and what is

overwhelming luxury? Think about the values associated with living

simply and those of excessive affluence. Can lifestyles be changed

through deliberate and even drastic legislative measures, or must

they only be changed through natural calamity, war, or personal

mishap? The middle course calls for rational and willing

cooperation on the part of a people who have not been so addicted

that they perceive a proper middle lifestyle course. If we

recognize our condition in the deepest sense of a spirituality that

is "down to earth," then we strive to initiate personal reform.

Possibilities. A more troubling question is whether one can

take the middle course, if addicted to consumerism under one or

more of its expressions. Can one voluntarily come to a simplicity

under certain conditions especially among the great majority of

Americans bombarded by advertisements to buy, buy, buy? The

reality of consumer addicts among our population is not yet fully

recognized. Do we rationalize as though the addiction does not

exist? Do those who recognize excessive consumerism and have it

under control take basic simple steps to voluntarily live simply?

Or do we continue to fool ourselves, thinking our buying and using

is under control and attribute affluenza to the next person.

Should we regulate consumption and follow the example of the U.S.

anti-drug, anti-smoking, or toxic chemical campaigns as analogous

to lifestyle changes through regulatory means. In fact, this last

is more realistic than expecting the voluntary route on the part of

all, or expecting a traumatic condition to beset us.

Reference: Enough, Center for a New American Dream.

July 28, 2004 Wildscape

Many reasons. A wildscape is an ornamental landscape which

serves several purposes: it can be quite beautiful; it requires

less effort to maintain; and it offers nesting and feeding places

for butterflies, birds and wildlife. Wildscapes, when well

designed, can be easier to maintain than a lawn because one does

not have to mow every week or so. They will improve the quality of

life and provide a harmony of the cultivated and the wild. Like

work and rest, cultivated and wild space need to coexist, and they

are interdependent. Increased wildscape is essential for

beneficial insects and even birds which are so hard pressed by the

decrease in wilderness areas. If labor- and resource-saving are

not sufficient reason, then providing a sanctuary for birds emerges

as an additional goal from a conservationist standpoint. Wildscapes

attract birds, many species of which are under heavy stress today

due to destruction of traditional nesting and feeding areas.

Planting & Bordering. Determine the area that should be in

wildscape where colored wildflowers stand in contrast to other

colors of the landscape. Prepare the ground for the wildscape

according to local specifications. Usually, the plot will need to

tilled. Sow the seed as recommended for your region. Species

selection depends on region, soil type, shading, and desire for a

native domestic wildscape. Experiment with varieties. Obtain

commercially available wildflower or prairie grass seed, or seed

collected from other wildscapes. Native seeds are always better

than imported varieties. In autumn, gather the wild seed and use it

to expand the wildscape, keeping long-term costs low. Consider

bordering your first wildscape with brick or stone. Spectators

will love it. Of course, it take years for landscapes to mature,

but these prove to be worthwhile investments in so many ways.

Wildscape

Where a lawn of bluegrass in regimental code,

Once was sowed, mowed and chemically bestowed;

Now dare we grace this untamed place,

With chicory, cornflowers, Queen Anne's lace.

Phlox and yarrow with spring beauty whose

Colors bemuse, patterns enthuse, scents transfuse.

Weekly altered petaled collage; false dragon's head,

Poppy red, ox-eyed bed, aster tapestry outspread.

Embolden this once addicted patch with iron weed, marigold,

Red clover, goldenrod, the uncontrolled take hold.

Let's sow cosmos to buck the zoning trend,

Let primrose begin, larkspurs befriend, bluets amend.

Resentment is not for critters, insects and butterfly

Who like the trumpet creeper and the Joe Pye.

Black-eyed Susans bring the greenlace wing,

And make mockingbirds sing and crickets ring.

The picturesque sunflower and scarlet flax command

A grand canvas plan, a hand-made meadowland.

But human art fails when nature's designs unfold,

Retold in bold splashes. Wildscape behold.

July 29, 2004 Ozone: Friend or Foe?

Foe: Urban Air Pollutant. When ozone accumulates in the lower

atmosphere in places like urban areas of high internal combustion

use, it reacts to form smog, and is itself a worrisome gaseous

contaminant in urban air pollution soup. We need a reduction of

these concentrated amounts. And it's not practical to send it to

the upper atmosphere where it has important use in very small

quantities -- for the effort of taking it up there would only add

to the pollution levels of our Earth in performing the task.

Friend: Protective Gas. Certain commercial synthetic organic

compounds known as Freons are long-living and find their way into

the upper atmosphere. There, through complex chemical reactions,

these compounds react with the protective ozone gaseous layer which

keeps dangerous ultraviolet radiation from penetrating through the

upper atmosphere and harming human beings, plants and animals.

Holes in the shield began appearing a few decades ago in and around

the South Pole and have grown larger in the intervening years.

Then came the thinning of the ozone in the northern atmosphere and

nearer the North Pole, with larger numbers of people living close

to this new emerging ozone hole. Scientists are now documenting

damage to skin and eyes and even the loss of life of certain

creatures in the affected regions.

Doing Something. This scientifically proven ozone depletion

environmental damage is now being confronted by researchers,

especially in the so-called developed world where pollution damage

is better known. Inhabitants living nearer the poles such as those

in southern Chile and Argentina are quite concerned. Restrictions

have been made by certain countries and non-polluting forms of

Freons and other substitutes have been developed and made

commercially available.

Bootleg Freon. It is now quite evident that some bootlegging

of the dangerous Freons occurs in various countries and in the

worldwide commercial trade. Again, as in other cases, after the

more affluent portions of the world used Freon and the less wealthy

people tried to follow suit, we imposed regulations that did not

affect our past use but does their future uses of the more

dangerous but cheaper materials. The Montreal Protocols of 1992

were somewhat restrictive, and require full enforcement by

wealthier and more powerful nations.

Collective Responsibility. How do people act responsibly in

such situations? We know that some international efforts can be

made to stop nuclear proliferation or spread of a deadly toxic

substance. Can the same mechanisms be used to curtail a material

which has been useful in the past in so many ways such as

refrigerants in air conditioners? The substances are damaging, but

much more remotely than a poison or toxic substance in food. It is

our responsibility to make less harmful substitutes available to

less developed nations at reasonable prices. And all countries

must work together in eliminating harmful Freons so that our shared

protective ozone layer continues to thrive.

July 30, 2004 The Garden -- A Study in Restoration

Gardens are in part the work of human beings, but manifest also

the cooperative handiwork of our Creator and the cooperating

diligent creature, the garden-maker. The first Eden was God's sole

handiwork reserved for human use. Through stumbling and falling

and subsequent toiling and redemption, we human beings learn that

we do more than live in a prepared garden. We help remake the

Second Eden, though we always must be reminded that we are only

workers and not the Master Builder. However, the invitation to

help garden is part of a great mystery of salvation. We who have

stumbled can rise and through redemption become something greater.

We are called to enhance, improve and rebuild a shattered world and

help return Eden to its rightful place. We don't act alone and

that is part of the mystery of becoming renewers and participants

in a planetary gardening process -- not mere bystanders.

Value of Restoration. Even with this privilege of cultivating

and developing the landscape, we should not lose sight of the

quality of "wilderness" -- God's handiwork from the beginning.

While wilderness is a counterpoint to cultivated garden plots, it

must be preserved and allowed to flourish. Even in wilderness

preservation human beings are more than observers; we are

protectors and preservers of wilderness areas which are integral

parts of the emerging New Eden. And we learn more about tending

gardens in the process. Domestic gardens are remade, not by

converting wilderness into gardens, but by turning damaged land

into ecological models of what cultivated areas should be.

Resolution. This country needs to begin a process of

restoration in many areas:

* Lawns to wildscape -- Places where birds and butterflies can

find a comfortable home, and other wildlife as well. The use of

native plants for cover is a way of reintroducing them into the

region.

* Wilderness areas -- Let's see that forested areas remain

roadless and not penetrated by human civilization so that wildlife

can thrive unhindered. The Wildlands Project by Wild Earth journal

is one such effort in this country at restoration.

* Wetlands -- We have lost half of our wetlands from the time

the nation was settled by white people. The losses to these

spawning places of so much of the biological life can be

compensated by encouraging restoration projects and replacing lost

wetlands by equally suitable wetland space.

* Prairies -- Large portions of the Great Plains from the

Missouri River to the Rockies should be returned to buffalo ranges.

In fact, the depressed economies of these areas (many of the 20

lowest income counties in the 2000 Census) might actually be raised

if ranching with buffalo were a regional policy. Experts

suggestion that the restored prairies would have a most beneficial

effect both on the Plains Indians and the ecology of the bioregion.

July 31, 2004 Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius accepted the cross of the Lord. We are to find

ourselves beside Jesus -- suffering and triumphant, and that is

the heart of the aspirations of each Christian. It is not enough

to call ourselves Christian; we must act accordingly.

Ignatian spirituality directs us to focus attention on a single

person and activity: the suffering, death and rising of Jesus. To

Ignatius, the call came in early manhood while he recovered from

the wounds of battle. He spent free time reflecting on The Lives

of the Saints, the only book that he had, gradually turning his

mind and heart to doing God's will. He became a pilgrim with a

single set of clothes, had to beg for his food, and was dependent

on others to complete his travels to the Holy Land. He discovered

places which entered into the live of Christ and even tarried until

forced to leave. He then studied beside children half his age,

because his formal education was so weak. He spent spare time

teaching his Spiritual Exercises to others and giving them

retreats. He even had to go to prison because some of the

Inquisition watchdogs thought he was a fanatic and that he taught

heresy. At the University of Paris he met about seven others who

formed a single group, the "Company of Jesus," and thus was born

our Society of Jesus. Much of his time was spent in administration

and writing the constitutions for his group, and struggling to keep

the Society from becoming a stabilized monastic order.

Far-out people are often hard to imitate. Ignatius' life was

somewhat extraordinary, but his pilgrimage became a journey taken

and imitated by a quarter of a million or so companions throughout

the centuries who committed themselves to Christ. Jesuits are try

to find Jesus and follow him in their chosen fields of endeavor.

Thus the cross becomes the basis of our lives. Let's not see it as

an embarrassment, but an invitation to take what is difficult and

make it an opportunity for triumph. And let us continue to do it

in every field of legitimate activity and learning.

God's Grandeur

Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ (1844-89)

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell; the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;

There lives the dearest freshness deep down things:

And though the last light off the black west went

Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs --

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

Copyright © 2007 Earth Healing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Albert J. Fritsch, Director
Janet Powell, Developer
Mary Byrd Davis, Editor
Paul Gallimore, ERAS Coordinator

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by Al Fritsch, S.J.