Living in Society
Politics mostly social commentary.
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The folks I hang with in the local food system are focused on product. Is the asparagus ready? What about the rhubarb? When should I plant peppers and tomatoes? How much should we put into a member share? I’m interested in the answers, yet those aren’t my questions. My work in the local food system… Read more
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The weather forecast is for near-perfect spring weather. No rain and a high around 65 degrees. The day began at 4 a.m. with reading and laundry. I moved the cars down the driveway and rolled the seedlings out of the garage before dawn. There should be fewer seedlings on the cart by day’s end. The… Read more
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After a shift at the home, farm and auto supply store I begin a nine-day vacation. I say “vacation” but really mean “reboot.” I hope to plant most of the garden, work in the yard and re-engineer parts of our homelife for efficiency. Why? To reap that feeling of being organized and prepared for summer.… Read more
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It’s been a struggle to get a grip on the presidency of Donald Trump. There’s nothing he’s done to give us hope. Just give me a handle — anything to grasp onto as normal! Nothing. Like many who care about the environment, nuclear abolition, and the commons, there seems little hope of advancing a positive… Read more
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Sunday afternoon I felt a bit dizzy. I assumed it was the long day, split between two farms, getting tired after making 57 trays of soil blocks. As I placed the last tray of 72 blocks on the table for cucumber seeding, I washed my tools and headed for the car. Something was up. It… Read more
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Rain began mid-morning and is expected to continue until sunset. Let it rain. It’s an opportunity to work on inside chores before spring planting. I’ll tackle a long-neglected inbox and use produce in the ice box and freezer to make soup. There’s plenty to do in the jumble the garage has become since winter —… Read more
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The first session of the 87th Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die on Saturday morning after pulling an all-nighter to wait for Republican leadership. The decision was about improving Iowa water quality and reauthorizing use of medical marijuana. They did nothing positive on water quality and may as well have let the current medical marijuana… Read more
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Between arrival home from the home, farm and auto supply store and sunset were three hours to work outside. I did. I watered the garden, rolled up the garden hose, repaired the bird feeder, and emptied the kitchen compost bucket. Broccoli and kale seedlings look good. After a third day of conditioning outside, they should… Read more
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After an absence since 2010, I re-joined the Johnson County Democrats Central Committee on Thursday, April 6. My neighbor and long-time Central Committee member Bob Huber moved out of Big Grove Precinct. That left us with zero representation so I stepped up to attend the tedious meetings and do the grunt work of engaging in… Read more
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