tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39327632024-03-13T09:12:34.513-07:00Brad BoydstonLiving life in the slow (but steady) laneBrad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.comBlogger5675125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-63875453275926396682023-05-25T21:00:00.055-07:002023-05-25T21:00:00.149-07:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNT ZINZENDORF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALBkvavG_Z44_qUSB0rPnse_7kWNVCKuLgDGVhq1g8DMSG4_dS3OLyrLj9G2M49bwsUGNQhFF4rzHRODRnPw68I6lBIVBKeS3itvRVntFnQPBwfUSvZBDAf2eNxKjXQDC8svrJrH0aHO60q2Gr5ltChvPXQvZ2GHaJBQc7ARZZW_gDQPAxQ/s500/z-boy_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALBkvavG_Z44_qUSB0rPnse_7kWNVCKuLgDGVhq1g8DMSG4_dS3OLyrLj9G2M49bwsUGNQhFF4rzHRODRnPw68I6lBIVBKeS3itvRVntFnQPBwfUSvZBDAf2eNxKjXQDC8svrJrH0aHO60q2Gr5ltChvPXQvZ2GHaJBQc7ARZZW_gDQPAxQ/s320/z-boy_lg.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>On this day (May 26<span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span>) in 1700, little Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf was born to Erdmuthe Dorothea of Reuss-Ebersdorf and her noble husband, Christian Ernst von Zinzendorf. So, baby Nik entered into the world at Dresden, Saxony as a person of great privilege.<br /><br />However, his father soon died and after her remarriage, his mother moved to Berlin. Young Nik was then raised by his grandmother, Baroness Gersdorf, a devout <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietism">Pietist</a> with many connections in the burgeoning renewal movement. It's said that the Pietist pioneer and theologian <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Spener">Philipp Jakob Spener</a> was his godfather and mentor (even though Spener died when Zinzendorf was only five years old). <br /><br />Zinzendorf developed a devout and robust faith as a child. He was educated in a school run by the Pietist leader <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Hermann_Francke">August Hermann Francke</a> (with whom he did not see eye to eye on a number of issues — causing significant tension at times). During that period Zinzendorf and three other young students organized a club called "The Order of the Grain of Mustard Seed." They focused on responding to the love of God through commitment to Christ, right living, love of others, and mission work among the heathen. These values shaped his life's work. <br /><br />In 1722 Zinzendorf purchased the Berthelsdorf estate from his grandmother and soon after invited groups of religious refugees, including some from the <i>Unitas Fratrum</i> (the followers of the martyred proto-reformer <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus">Jan Hus</a>), to settle on his Herrnhut land. He quickly emerged as the spiritual leader of this rag tag collection which thrived under his patronage and protection. In 1737 Zinzendorf was consecrated as a bishop of the group.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_39vx3v4aWQzr79JVUS1pTVwGXr3Ki8lpGroG3EdQhEWR-KJMou-QwVGbWhhshxaboL4vMGPkQjMFe-oHvbLlMYLlbv-_N7vB1cJXuQ_ogTfqzR8Epvi2_3uvd9LoHHwnwIGCePF2_3UXXq-pSegXz7u2MAELh0Xwq9PgwDkOhsoYKWtwTQ/s1125/lifeofnicholasle00span_orig_0006a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_39vx3v4aWQzr79JVUS1pTVwGXr3Ki8lpGroG3EdQhEWR-KJMou-QwVGbWhhshxaboL4vMGPkQjMFe-oHvbLlMYLlbv-_N7vB1cJXuQ_ogTfqzR8Epvi2_3uvd9LoHHwnwIGCePF2_3UXXq-pSegXz7u2MAELh0Xwq9PgwDkOhsoYKWtwTQ/s320/lifeofnicholasle00span_orig_0006a.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>This renewed <i>Unitas Fratrum</i> eventually became known as the Moravian Church. They, following the lead of Zinzendorf, have been a quiet driving force behind both the modern missionary and ecumenical movements. They are Christ-centered joyful people with an irenic spirit. My own tribe, the <a href="http://covchurch.org">Evangelical Covenant Church</a>, owes much to these Moravian pioneers and their emphasis on a personal faith in Christ that manifests itself in evangelism, global mission, social justice, religious freedom, ongoing renewal, and a Christian unity that transcends ecclesiastical tribalism.<br /><br />The Moravians have embraced a saying from the German Lutheran theologian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupertus_Meldenius">Rupertus Meldenius</a> (a proto-Pietist of the 16<span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span> and 17<span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span> centuries) as their informal motto — “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” It is an appropriate maxim for all who follow Christ in the foot-steps of Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf.<div><br /></div><div>Happy birthday, Nik!<br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-3400237126439098222023-03-02T14:38:00.000-07:002023-03-02T14:38:11.062-07:00WHY COVENANT LIVING?<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Why, as early-stage retirees, did you move into Covenant Living of Florida, where most residents seem to be older retirees?"</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDz7y5fp70qn_8xy-6gqsFk12eM1yAZkO5SI9wFCFdz51WvwYsYD47elDuWuNvUjAIW1huSkCpZUjFkMUMcZLTFCHn___NsGLKRExBsSeZN95hj2wyw2hfO_kCthxojOVCzLGOrxxC7ozFlWKL_ibIHLcsgwz7gkoHI_2Cny8GzR6TCN4AWw/s4000/IMG_20230220_085022228_HDR.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDz7y5fp70qn_8xy-6gqsFk12eM1yAZkO5SI9wFCFdz51WvwYsYD47elDuWuNvUjAIW1huSkCpZUjFkMUMcZLTFCHn___NsGLKRExBsSeZN95hj2wyw2hfO_kCthxojOVCzLGOrxxC7ozFlWKL_ibIHLcsgwz7gkoHI_2Cny8GzR6TCN4AWw/s320/IMG_20230220_085022228_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The short answer is that it's a great place to live and kick off retirement. But there is more to the story.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I took the call to serve as one of the chaplains here in 2018 we were not thinking of it as a transition into retirement. I originally intended to continue working full-time for perhaps 8-10 more years. But the stroke I had in 2019 coupled with the chronic fatigue from the autoimmune condition with which I've been struggling started to drag me down. And we decided I'd retire in October 2022.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That forced us to ask, where to next? Earlier we thought about returning to Guam full time but given my health issues and the distance from family, that didn't seem wise. Perhaps retirement in San Diego or on the Big Island in Hawai'i could work. But once we got to South Florida and discovered that the sub-tropical climate and consistently warm weather made my joints happy we decided to stay. We also found the cultural diversity in this part of Florida to be appealing, along with the many international connections at the area airports.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, the townhouse we owned in Plantation (a mile west of our new apartment) had stairs and my legs were screaming at me with each up or down trip. We started looking at other options in the area and in the middle of that process had an epiphany. In all likelihood, we'd probably want our second stop in retirement to be at Covenant Living, the continuing care retirement community where I'd worked and which is owned and operated by our denominational family, the Evangelical Covenant Church. We'd grown quite fond of the people and enjoyed time spent in the community. But did it make sense to plan on another move in five or eight years? Why not move to Covenant Living as early retirees? After all, we'd been hearing our Covenant Living friends bemoan the fact that they didn't move in sooner when they could take better advantage of the amenities. (And there are lots! A fantastic gym with fitness staff, two swimming pools, planned activities for almost every interest, libraries, prepared food, on-campus nurse and health care…)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We began crunching the numbers and figured out that it was doable if we moved into a one-bedroom apartment. So we started going through all our stuff a little at a time in the spring of 2022 after we signed a contract with Covenant Living for apartment C114. The Breast Cancer Foundation collection truck was a weekly visitor to our townhouse as we downsized from three bedrooms to one bedroom. (Better to do it now than in 10 or 15 years when we have less energy or to leave it all for our kids to deal with after we've died.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, it was a bit of a challenge but definitely worth it. We're now living in a beautifully remodeled apartment, renovated for openness, with all-new kitchen appliances, and a stackable washer/dryer in the bathroom. The layout is even more efficient than our old place and we got to choose the flooring, paint, and lighting. When we don't want to cook we walk down the hallway to either fine dining in the Orchid Cove or for casual meals in the Common Grounds Cafe (You can't go wrong with any of the soups or with Del's omelets). I have room for lots of plants outside the backdoor and in the enclosed Florida patio room. My bike Mintee lives on the patio, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The staff handles all the regular maintenance as well as storm preparation during hurricane season. There are backup generators for when the power goes down. Housekeeping comes in to clean every other week. Reliable internet and cable television are included in the monthly maintenance fee. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GRwvlhoWlizVBZm_9aKKy9FFnXHV6BDxmHqsFh8YVd5l5IbR6MDWU4UO_-mbUdGCocnwD2u1qDe15xsshnzCtqfkibNkQ9eit1NHGw0qZ83jAQZ6CkIW1u7OdPetORP015wLn4EjDvmNmlD3TnSBhk2sHbb0ttD0bJJNBjD7i0V1rm_pGQ/s3264/20230302_155402.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GRwvlhoWlizVBZm_9aKKy9FFnXHV6BDxmHqsFh8YVd5l5IbR6MDWU4UO_-mbUdGCocnwD2u1qDe15xsshnzCtqfkibNkQ9eit1NHGw0qZ83jAQZ6CkIW1u7OdPetORP015wLn4EjDvmNmlD3TnSBhk2sHbb0ttD0bJJNBjD7i0V1rm_pGQ/s320/20230302_155402.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;">When we need to see our primary care physician we can either make an appointment to see her in the health center or drop in on the days she's on campus. This morning I rode my bike 1.5 miles to our dentist. Someday I'll quit driving and we'll take the campus bus to go shopping – although there are lots of stores including Publix, Aldi, and Target within easy walking distance. Trader Joe's is 3.5 miles down the road and the Ft Lauderdale Airport is 13 miles away. Las Olas Beach is 13 miles to the east down Broward Blvd. IKEA is 4.5 miles from Covenant Living in the other direction. Oh, and did I mention that Plantation Central Park, where I've gone to ride my bike each morning for the past four years, abuts the Covenant Living campus? We even have our own gate into the park. So we can keep up with all the community people we've met there.</span></p><p><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGtfeC1VaIETDFA55gA0j2fpFacWPupagR5n5IXloFMKHJIkSNUI7IVxz6nobXOXfOkM7sjpvW1fniKQKcfqMfqqbjXh9_kknOqxt-O80fRft5yvOq9SfJG2qWk-xCxPP3rw7py8gNSbh_Sukg7Nl42cN8_Rx_UlZZTfqarkab4nIwdliEA/s320/IMG_20230222_172430253_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">There is A LOT more to be said for landing here as early retirees. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Probably the richest aspect of Covenant Living of Florida is the diverse community of residents and staff. We really enjoy our neighbors. Even though this is a faith-based community and many people talk freely about their faith, perhaps only half the residents would describe themselves as "devout." But on a whole, even the least religious residents are good-natured and tolerate the faith that makes this kind of place possible. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We really love the vibe of the community. It's a great place to work; and now we're discovering that it's also a fun place to live – meeting and exceeding our expectations. Let me know if you're at all interested in joining us. (Yes, I'd love to have some old friends as neighbors, too.) I'd be happy to put you in touch with the right people.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-48518236644035331582022-09-03T07:29:00.000-07:002022-09-03T07:29:11.737-07:00Plant gravel<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRBF7JIXU43gbBWRCkTa-1hlwGMnIwOFw1fW2xIqca7hdZa6a9lTrmsdl9i3l8StRLYgWz5JbB2wBotdcqNZG5rdurttnTdHy9vnerYxXC9k3h8IXbSwtCWuu47cwtAhLdwfkH-KeVeD7Gd0lR61bhaZu38P0c14wCf3apCVHOjysDq9Vyg/s4000/IMG_20220827_150647460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRBF7JIXU43gbBWRCkTa-1hlwGMnIwOFw1fW2xIqca7hdZa6a9lTrmsdl9i3l8StRLYgWz5JbB2wBotdcqNZG5rdurttnTdHy9vnerYxXC9k3h8IXbSwtCWuu47cwtAhLdwfkH-KeVeD7Gd0lR61bhaZu38P0c14wCf3apCVHOjysDq9Vyg/s320/IMG_20220827_150647460.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I put a layer of cheap aquarium gravel around my house plants. That's one way of controlling the fungus gnats which like to dig into the soil to lay their eggs. I completely cover the exposed soil with less than a quarter inch of gravel. That's enough to prevent them from penetrating the soil.<br /><br />Fungus gnats (aka soil gnats) don't hurt the plants but an infestation can be really annoying to humans. They are the most active in the fall and winter months.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-15947561337994527532022-08-27T12:40:00.004-07:002022-08-27T12:46:48.153-07:00ZZ plants<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr_yoFyBHoyWBEVIzYgxVWI-eOj_APnaoGsKKXbHFCwn2Wm-PsWW6lcyrxBjCtJ8OJES0SbwVm6s4oWnJpzbXxv34IUrz7INNKLufKvexwmLMdvKosnNkk37CZNUlI3Tg9voH18F6qm9uzcFbQ1Is-QMoiKSnLh55otYI2OVYkaw4c0lfwA/s4000/IMG_20220824_081729564_HDR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr_yoFyBHoyWBEVIzYgxVWI-eOj_APnaoGsKKXbHFCwn2Wm-PsWW6lcyrxBjCtJ8OJES0SbwVm6s4oWnJpzbXxv34IUrz7INNKLufKvexwmLMdvKosnNkk37CZNUlI3Tg9voH18F6qm9uzcFbQ1Is-QMoiKSnLh55otYI2OVYkaw4c0lfwA/s320/IMG_20220824_081729564_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When people ask me which plants they should get for their apartment I usually suggest that they start with a ZZ plant (<i>Zamioculcas zamiifolia</i>). They are very forgiving and can grow in lots of different kinds of light. The one pictured is in our guest bedroom and gets lots of indirect light. But they can also grow in windowless offices with fluorescent lighting. Here in South Florida they do well outdoors on patios, too. However, they don't want to live in full sun. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">ZZ plants are originally from Central Africa.</span></p>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-20208540703100077002022-06-12T10:03:00.001-07:002022-06-12T10:06:56.210-07:00Affirmation of Faith<div><i><span style="font-size: large;">This is an affirmation of faith that I wrote for use today, Trinity Sunday 2022, in our Sunday morning chapel service at <a href="http://covlivingflorida.org">Covenant Living of Florida</a>.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We believe in the One God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He created us in his image so that we might participate in his eternal fellowship and share in the care of his creation.<br /><br />This unique relationship unraveled as we pursued lives independent from him. As a result, sin, chaos, and death entered the world. God then graciously implemented his plan of restoration and reconciliation. This plan reached its apex <br />in the incarnation, <br />in the teaching, <br />in the sacrificial death, <br />and the victorious resurrection of his only Son, Christ Jesus. <br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus now summons his redeemed people to act in faith and fulfill their purpose by participating with him in his mission of reconciliation. <br /><br />The Spirit accompanies <i>all</i> Christians -- believers with diverse gifts and from diverse cultures. He empowers us to live in radical harmony with each other while we invite the entire world to embrace Jesus, <br />his approach to life, <br />his kingdom agenda, <br />and the hope which accompanies his good news.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This we affirm as our faith and our mission.</span></div>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-8451244402825814302020-11-24T12:33:00.002-07:002020-11-24T12:33:33.603-07:00Growing<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Most of the growing we do occurs through our stewardship of the mundane.</i></span></p>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-62888288003138445832020-10-13T13:11:00.001-07:002020-10-13T13:11:21.404-07:00Growing houseplants in water<p><span style="font-size: large;">Last spring I noticed some nice <b>arrowhead plants</b> (<i>Syngonium Podophyllum</i>) growing wild in the neighborhood (one of the benefits of living in Florida). I snipped a few cuttings, perhaps 8 in/20 cm each, and brought them home.<br /><br />I then took </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">a 30.5 oz left-over plastic Folgers ground coffee can, </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">cut a round hole (1 in/2.5 cm) in the center of the lid, </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">filled the can with tap water, </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">added 1/4 tsp/1.25 ml of the liquid 2-1-6 hydroponic fertilizer that I use weekly with all my houseplants,</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">inserted the bottom of the cuttings through the hole,</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">snapped the lid onto the can,</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">and placed the plastic can in a decorative pot near a window with lots of indirect light.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is what it looks like now. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCsC5CcGgMI/X4YH_QUjzrI/AAAAAAAA_54/xag3v4qtVhU45b5MfCmG7ixzyDSlFTI-QCPcBGAsYHg/s4096/IMG_20201013_152635650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCsC5CcGgMI/X4YH_QUjzrI/AAAAAAAA_54/xag3v4qtVhU45b5MfCmG7ixzyDSlFTI-QCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_20201013_152635650.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w51ouQiBTA4/X4YH_X5xjjI/AAAAAAAA_54/3J9tCSqj9hsS1oS4mameW99ZIH3S54pmwCPcBGAsYHg/s4096/IMG_20201013_152622583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w51ouQiBTA4/X4YH_X5xjjI/AAAAAAAA_54/3J9tCSqj9hsS1oS4mameW99ZIH3S54pmwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_20201013_152622583.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMlM8ocDxaU/X4YH_UNnmOI/AAAAAAAA_54/3X5LtYnMrScz8hX1rPtdgH4a3ipclVj1wCPcBGAsYHg/s4096/IMG_20201013_152607023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMlM8ocDxaU/X4YH_UNnmOI/AAAAAAAA_54/3X5LtYnMrScz8hX1rPtdgH4a3ipclVj1wCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_20201013_152607023.jpg" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I haven't changed out the water but I do add water containing the fertilizer mix each week. Because the lid is snapped onto the can evaporation is low. <br /><br />This is an inexpensive way to acquire and grow houseplants. And I never have to worry about soil gnats. I have four plant containers at home and six in the office all supporting a mixture of low light tropical houseplants in water.</span></div><p></p>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-56139155309177115292020-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:002020-04-17T14:04:01.513-07:00Growing citrus from seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pf4qG8IXv70/XpeNSA_tlMI/AAAAAAAA9wI/HP1Kk3vH-ywdKvB87kYtmrM4ts-iLCQwgCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_20200415_175100112_MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pf4qG8IXv70/XpeNSA_tlMI/AAAAAAAA9wI/HP1Kk3vH-ywdKvB87kYtmrM4ts-iLCQwgCPcBGAsYHg/s400/IMG_20200415_175100112_MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tovW3bsHx9A/XpeNSFlE9_I/AAAAAAAA9wI/mg7GjmwxgcA0bSPzyMYy4tt5Dvhj3b_IwCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_20200415_175010212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tovW3bsHx9A/XpeNSFlE9_I/AAAAAAAA9wI/mg7GjmwxgcA0bSPzyMYy4tt5Dvhj3b_IwCPcBGAsYHg/s400/IMG_20200415_175010212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am happy to see the Eureka lemon seeds I planted last week are sprouting. The plant in the pot is a Kalamansi (Calamondin) that I planted from seed last November. The great thing about citrus seeds is that most of the off spring will be genetically true to the parent. There are but a few varieties in which this is not the case. Frankly, though I grow these plants from seeds because I enjoy having them in the house or on the patio. It's an inexpensive way to start plants. And if I get fruit in 8-10 years that's all bonus to me.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">BTW, the lemon seeds came from a lemon we bought at the grocery store. I cut it up to go in the water at supper then planted the seeds after supper. The Kalamansi seeds were from a small bush I have growing on the patio. The point is, you can use seeds from sources already in your life. They don't require soaking or much preparation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I mix my own potting soil but you can use a standard mix. If you can find a citrus/cactus mix, all the better. Citrus likes to dry out between waterings.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It would be fun for kids to each have their own lemon tree.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0Plantation, FL, USA26.1275862 -80.23310359999999326.0135362 -80.394465099999991 26.2416362 -80.0717421tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-40482932766367196382019-05-28T19:32:00.000-07:002019-05-28T19:32:13.474-07:00The restorative power of silence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HC-4UAEL7vA/XO3t-iN5GUI/AAAAAAAA4pY/R7EdcRVt6kE9DrwROlmNRifHwVYsDfdlACLcBGAs/s1600/starrrrgazzzing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HC-4UAEL7vA/XO3t-iN5GUI/AAAAAAAA4pY/R7EdcRVt6kE9DrwROlmNRifHwVYsDfdlACLcBGAs/s320/starrrrgazzzing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Studies have also concluded that children exposed to households or classrooms near airplane flight paths, railways or highways have lower reading scores and are slower in their development of cognitive and language skills. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i>
<i>But it is not all bad news. It is possible for the brain to restore its finite cognitive resources. According to the attention restoration theory when you are in an environment with lower levels of sensory input the brain can ‘recover’ some of its cognitive abilities. In silence the brain is able to let down its sensory guard and restore some of what has been ‘lost’ through excess noise. </i> ("<a href="https://www.lifehack.org/377243/science-says-silence-much-more-important-our-brains-than-thought">Science Says Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think</a>," Rebecca Beris)</span></blockquote>
Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-47335029106901426562019-05-06T18:15:00.000-07:002019-05-06T18:16:30.312-07:00Beach walk in Ft Lauderdale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kp7s_mLDN-o/XNDayVuGl7I/AAAAAAAA4cs/5X9c7n2Cxlkx2HmBMclSnd722Wjl-WEQwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190422_115326723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1177" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kp7s_mLDN-o/XNDayVuGl7I/AAAAAAAA4cs/5X9c7n2Cxlkx2HmBMclSnd722Wjl-WEQwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20190422_115326723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Selfie from our beach walk a couple of weeks ago. Cheryl and I have been able to get to the beach about twice a month -- usually on Mondays -- which I take off from work. We live about 12 miles from the closest beach on the Atlantic side of Florida.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-1788589952963916302019-04-10T16:19:00.000-07:002019-04-10T16:19:24.450-07:00Go go mango<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOMQoWwQxII/XK5w42Vt1vI/AAAAAAAA4Gc/X_aHM5XGBMMrR3KcMdoxBrNAv7U7qTycgCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190410_183126371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOMQoWwQxII/XK5w42Vt1vI/AAAAAAAA4Gc/X_aHM5XGBMMrR3KcMdoxBrNAv7U7qTycgCKgBGAs/s400/IMG_20190410_183126371.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Even when we lived on Guam, I don't remember any of my mango experiments taking off the way this one has. I planted the seed four days ago and it is now 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall. When I planted this Manila Mango in the grow bag there was a slight root bulge but no stem.<br /><br /><b>Here is how I start mangos --</b></span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Find one that you like in the store.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Eat it and save the pit, removing as much of the flesh as you can.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Set the pit on a plate to dry.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Once the pit is dry, carefully cut around the edges of the shell. I often use wire cutters or sometimes pruning shears. (It's okay if the pit looks a little gross.)<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gently pry open the pit and remove the seed from the shell.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Continue to be gentle as you wrap the seed in a damp (but not soggy) paper towel.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Put the damp paper towel and seed into a plastic sandwich bag. Leave it on the table next to your favorite chair and check it every few days for signs of growth.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Once the seed looks like it is about to push out roots, place it with the root bulge facing down on top of the potting soil.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cover the seed with about half an inch of loose soil.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Place your pot with the seed in a sunny and warm spot.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Water. (I added some organic Neptune's Harvest FS118 Fish & Seaweed Blend Fertilizer 2-3-1 to the water but I think the real reason why this mango shot up so rapidly was the warm and damp South Florida spring weather.)</span></li>
</ol>
<br />Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-78531107502056047432018-04-04T08:35:00.001-07:002018-04-04T08:35:45.991-07:00Three years without meat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zudPz9V00_k/WsTtkke5xvI/AAAAAAAA0ME/vyg6niiUfV0X3tO64xRZgqmL8MJ_r5VJQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180404_081758222_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zudPz9V00_k/WsTtkke5xvI/AAAAAAAA0ME/vyg6niiUfV0X3tO64xRZgqmL8MJ_r5VJQCKgBGAs/s400/IMG_20180404_081758222_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Broccoli, beans, and kale growing<br />in a straw bale in our garden.</b></span></div>
<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Three years ago this month, after I noticed a correlation between meat consumption and an increase in joint pain, I became a vegetarian. The extreme pain disappeared pretty quickly. And I have not been prevented from getting out of bed in the morning by major stiffness in my legs. I'm not saying that all my arthritis-related pain is gone but eliminating meat has made a world of difference.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It has, however, been a bit of a journey learning how to live without meat and fish. A few observations:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've not once given any serious thought to going back to eating meat. Even if someone figured out a meat that would not affect my joints I no longer have taste for it. I have lost all desire for meat.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fortunately, I have always enjoyed the plant-based foods. So the transition hasn't been hard.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">The taste is in the preparation. <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/get-healthy-orlando/os-vegetarian-lifestyle-with-kids-20180223-story.html">As one person put it</a>, “I realized I didn’t like the meat I was eating. I liked the way it was prepared.”<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have discovered lentils and quinoa. They are wonderful!<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Most every restaurant has something I can eat.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've been able to get a veggie burger at a Burger King anywhere I travel.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Surprise! Denny's has the best veggie burgers.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">The hardest part about eating vegetarian is the feeling that you're making things difficult for a host who wants to feed you.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's not easy having to explain that you don't eat meat -- especially in a cross-cultural setting.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some meat-eaters are hell-bent on interpreting my diet as some kind of an attack on their dietary preferences. I don't quite get that.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't expect to lose weight on a plant-based diet.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Eliminating meat three years ago was a good decision for me -- certainly no regrets.</span><ol>
</ol>
Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-85076764944045258992017-10-18T18:50:00.000-07:002017-10-18T18:50:06.287-07:00Broccoli microgreens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3mbgR21lPgE/WegD9H6CsdI/AAAAAAAAx_g/1wIfUNfWPlEBo7nBxf1MaGhigG5Z_4XlQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20171018_104719110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="529" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3mbgR21lPgE/WegD9H6CsdI/AAAAAAAAx_g/1wIfUNfWPlEBo7nBxf1MaGhigG5Z_4XlQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20171018_104719110.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WvRAFXhei5c/WegD9G9gNqI/AAAAAAAAx_k/_-2DPxsWfHMd36yHgh0K0wt9C-5-MNXLQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20171018_104731585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="529" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WvRAFXhei5c/WegD9G9gNqI/AAAAAAAAx_k/_-2DPxsWfHMd36yHgh0K0wt9C-5-MNXLQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20171018_104731585.jpg" width="356" /></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4McggVcjvY/WegEEDeaWMI/AAAAAAAAx_o/P-_s2FJyS3oy6bpst6Cqj0vGsGBPBLT2gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20171018_171500889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1314" height="286" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4McggVcjvY/WegEEDeaWMI/AAAAAAAAx_o/P-_s2FJyS3oy6bpst6Cqj0vGsGBPBLT2gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20171018_171500889.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I planted a tray of broccoli seeds six days ago and we harvested our broccoli microgreens into the salad that we had for dinner this evening. </b><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Last week I laid out a few paper towels on a clean reused plastic food container. <b>There is no dirt involved in this approach. </b>I then covered the towels with seeds that I had previously soaked for about 5 hours. (I bought the pack of 10,000 seeds for $5.50 through Amazon and probably used only 20% of them with this planting.) <br /><br />I then misted the seeds with a spray of hydrogen peroxide (less than $1 at Walmart) to kill off any pathogens that might have attached themselves to the seeds along the way. After the one time application of hydrogen peroxide I misted the spread of seeds on the towels with water -- but not so much as to soak the towels.<b> I just wanted to keep them mildly damp.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I then covered the container so that the seeds were in darkness and continued to mist every 5 or 6 hours. Because the humidity is so low here in the Arizona desert, extensive misting is necessary. People living in more humid places might be able to mist just a few times a day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">After two days the seeds had started to sprout and I removed the dark covering. I then left the tray out in the open, uncovered, and throughout the days continued to mist with water as before.<b> I have added nothing to the water -- no nutrients or fertilizer.</b> And while the tray is sitting next to some plants with grow lights over them, the broccoli is only benefiting from that indirectly. <b>Most of the light is natural sunlight coming in through the window.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Harvesting requires a pair of sharp scissors. <br /><br />This is a really inexpensive and simple way to add some nutritious and tasty greens to the diet. I'm told that the microgreens are more nutritious than if I were to plant in the soil and allow the plants to mature. But I don't know if that is true.<br /><br />The lettuce in our salad tonight was also grown indoors using a counter-top Miracle-Gro aeroponic growing system. The jury is still out on the Miracle-Gro system but the microgreens on a paper towel worked great. <b>Both the broccoli and lettuce tasted good.</b> (I have not yet been able to get any of the leafy plants started in the outdoor garden for the winter. The heat still lingers here in the upper 90's. And we're over halfway through October!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Many people are farming microgreens from home to sell to high-end restaurants. I'm not one of them. I'm interested in gardening methods for people without a lot of cash. Of course, if they sell microgreens to restaurants they may become flush with cash but <a href="https://youtu.be/fO9Q2bnQvLo">others have developed that model</a>.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">More experimentation ahead.</span></b><br />
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<br />Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-9300763784838367442017-09-25T12:00:00.000-07:002017-09-25T12:00:01.935-07:00Patriotism -- let's cut each other some slack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U56S-FvoyPM/WclRnbt6G3I/AAAAAAAAxsE/PeLpRwm0vGIetpW1tA6Rt0C4Zz-6pF0NQCLcBGAs/s1600/1060x600-dc078aaca61cd2aa18002b2453fe45b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1060" height="226" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U56S-FvoyPM/WclRnbt6G3I/AAAAAAAAxsE/PeLpRwm0vGIetpW1tA6Rt0C4Zz-6pF0NQCLcBGAs/s400/1060x600-dc078aaca61cd2aa18002b2453fe45b3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #636c72; font-family: Montserrat, -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: italic;">(AP Photo/John Bazemore)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">When someone voluntarily stands for their national anthem to express gratitude for the gift of country, that is <b>patriotism</b>. When someone is pressured or coerced to stand for their national anthem to prove that they are patriotic, that is <b>nationalism</b>. But if someone declines to stand, it could easily mean that they are expressing gratitude for the gift of country in a different way.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-86879907348279705722017-07-20T08:59:00.000-07:002017-07-20T09:01:39.321-07:00Tax cyclists?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMNz1nzBZ3w/WXDPCc3L5yI/AAAAAAAAwWY/o7yXH84798kX-mdxMrY4d9Nj_aCpBi2GACLcBGAs/s1600/bikelane.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="501" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMNz1nzBZ3w/WXDPCc3L5yI/AAAAAAAAwWY/o7yXH84798kX-mdxMrY4d9Nj_aCpBi2GACLcBGAs/s320/bikelane.png" width="216" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Bike-friendly Oregon has added a tax on new bicycle purchases. <a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/consumer/no-more-free-rides-colorado-lawmaker-proposes-bicycle-tax">A state senator from Grand Junction, Colorado is pushing his state to do the same</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">To many cyclists, this appears to be a silly and petty attempt to get them off the road and into cars "where they belong." But really -- a $15 tax isn't going to stop too many people from buying a bike. (Although, it's going to cost the states more to collect the taxes than what they receive. Still, it's the principle that counts -- right?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">But maybe this is the very kind of thing that would legitimatize the presence of cyclists on the road -- at least in the minds of some drivers. If bikes had a license plate with tags they would be screaming -- "Look! I belong here, too!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">The deeper more troubling issue is our incessant worrying over someone getting a "free ride" in society. Will we start taxing walking shoes because pedestrians should have to pay for sidewalks? We don't have enough collective sense to realize that <b>society as a whole reaps a plethora of benefits when individuals leave their cars home to walk or pedal</b> -- </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">less stress on the transportation infrastructure, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">healthier population needing fewer hospital beds,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">increased mental health levels,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">reduced criminal activity (cyclists and pedestrians are more tuned into what's happening on the street than drivers), </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">less dependency on dirty fossil fuel -- foreign and domestic, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">reduced carbon footprint, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">cleaner air, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">clearer thinking which adds to the national productivity levels...</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Personally, I wouldn't mind the $15 tax but let's look at the bigger picture before we jump too quickly onto this tax train. There is more at stake here than a few tax dollars.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-13336717077873453922017-03-07T20:21:00.000-07:002017-03-07T20:21:19.206-07:00Teaching English without Teaching English<span style="font-size: x-large;">Brilliant TED talk</span><br />
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Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-25877961211613333262017-02-10T20:47:00.000-07:002017-02-10T20:47:25.902-07:00 Permaculture in Development<div class="page-header" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; margin: -15px 0px 20px; padding-bottom: 9px;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 500;">I want to make sure that I can find this great intro to permaculture from the fine folks at ECHO. So, I'm </span></span><span style="font-weight: 500;">archiving</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: 500;"> it here.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 500;"><a href="https://www.echocommunity.org/en/resources/9716624e-195a-4a40-90da-ebd6a884ec38">https://www.echocommunity.org/en/resources/9716624e-195a-4a40-90da-ebd6a884ec38</a></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 36px; font-weight: 500;">Permaculture in Development</span></span></h1>
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An introduction to permaculture and its application in agriculture development</h2>
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By: Brad Ward</h5>
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Published: 2017-02-02</h5>
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From: <a href="https://www.echocommunity.org/en/resources/d0eaf359-b4a4-43a1-801b-ab1320c1ba76" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">ECHO Asia Notes</a> | <a href="https://www.echocommunity.org/en/resources/a9fe5a8a-adac-48d7-bd05-cbe1360e6915" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">AN Issue #30</a></h5>
<a class="btn btn-success btn-xs" href="https://www.echocommunity.org/en/resources/a9fe5a8a-adac-48d7-bd05-cbe1360e6915/download" style="background-color: #458e07; background-image: none; border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(57, 118, 6); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 1px 5px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;" title="Download Original"><span class="fa fa-download" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto; transform: translate(0px, 0px);"></span> an-issue-30.pdf</a></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">[Editor’s Note: Brad Ward, a member of the ECHO Florida team, wrote a great article on Permaculture in Development for a recent edition of ECHO Development Notes. We receive many inquiries about permaculture and how it may be used in agriculture development, so have decided to re-print it here as a potential interesting and valuable option for your work. We look forward to your feedback.]</em></div>
<figure class="col-xs-12" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 1.42857; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px !important; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 4px !important; position: relative; transition: border 0.2s ease-in-out; width: 559.821px;"><a href="https://www.echocommunity.org/resources/3a7587b6-bbd6-4ad4-a422-cd2c55f252a0" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="EDN 129 Figure 1" class="img-responsive" src="https://assets.echocommunity.org/images/3a7587b6-bbd6-4ad4-a422-cd2c55f252a0/edn-129-figure-1_sm.JPG" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<small style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 11.9px;">The permaculture-designed community garden space at ECHO. Source: Betsy Langford.</small></div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Introduction</strong></big></div>
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The word permaculture is mentioned with increasing frequency in speeches, books and magazine articles on sustainability and food security. What is permaculture? Is it a movement? A philosophy? Simply a set of design tools? In this article, I answer the above questions by looking at permaculture from a variety of angles. First, I briefly describe permaculture’s history, underlying ethics, and key principles and common practices. Then I discuss common criticisms of permaculture and explain the underlying perspective that shapes its use in addressing a community’s food, water and shelter needs (i.e., the lens through which a permaculturalist views development). Finally, I share how permaculture has influenced my own life and work, both as a Christian and as an agriculture development worker.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Definitions</strong></big></div>
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The word permaculture, coined by its co-founder Bill Mollison, is formed from the words “permanent” and “agriculture.” The concept of permaculture is difficult to explain in just a few words, because the term is used to describe (usually simultaneously) both a worldview/philosophy for living on the earth and a set of design principles and practices.</div>
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Bill Mollison emphasized the philosophical aspect in his defi nition: “Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system” (Mollison 1988).</div>
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Rafter Ferguson, a well-regarded permaculture researcher and practitioner, has an elegantly simple way to frame the many aspects of permaculture: “Permaculture is meeting human needs while increasing ecosystem health” (Ferguson 2012). To guard against reductionism, Rafter adds a cautionary statement to his concise defi nition, saying, “I’m all for shorthand defi nitions in the right context as long as it’s being used to communicate a principle rather than obscure fundamental complexity” (Ferguson 2013b).</div>
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My own defi nition of permaculture is as follows: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture is a cohesive set of ethics, principles and practices that help guide the stewardship of an ecosystem to ensure resilience and abundance to all its inhabitants.</em></div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculturalists and Permaculture Designers</strong></big></div>
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The permaculture movement is very open-source and non-centralized. A person wanting to call him/herself a Permaculturalist or Permaculture Designer is expected to complete a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) led by a teacher or group of teachers with sufficient training and experience to teach the course. Courses are off ered through universities, at small farms that have been designed around permaculture principles, and even in the backyards of urban/peri-urban permaculturalists. Each course includes 72 hours of instruction based on the main themes laid out in Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual by Bill Mollison (1988). Courses can be structured many ways: intensive courses take place over nine consecutive days, weekend courses take place over several consecutive weekends, and online courses are typically nine weeks long.</div>
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Many people practice permaculture without calling themselves permaculture designers and without having taken a PDC. For example, ECHO’s Global Farm in Fort Myers, Florida, is an excellent example of applied permaculture practice, even though it has not been specifically designed according to permaculture principles. Many ECHO Technical Notes and articles have detailed the application of permaculture principles without using the “permaculture” label.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Key Figures and Primary Source Literature</strong></big></div>
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Bill Mollison (born in 1928) is considered to be the father of permaculture. In 1978, Mollison collaborated with David Holmgren to write a foundational book called Permaculture One. Mollison also wrote Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual, published in 1988. This 400-page book lays down the foundational philosophies, principles and practices of permaculture. Mollison founded The Permaculture Institute in Tasmania, and created a training system to train others under the umbrella of permaculture.</div>
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David Holmgren (born in 1955) is a co-originator of the permaculture concept with Mollison. Holmgren is an Australian permaculture designer, ecological educator and writer. His 2002 book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, provides what many view as a more accessible guide to the principles of permaculture. Holmgren refi ned those principles over more than 25 years of practice.</div>
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Two other authors whose ideas are featured prominently in permaculture concepts are P.A. Yeomans (1904-1984) and Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008). </div>
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P.A. Yeomans was an Australian inventor known for the Keyline system, used to develop land and increase its fertility. Yeomans’ Keyline concepts are now part of the curriculum of many sustainable agriculture courses in colleges and universities across the world. Yeomans wrote four books: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Keyline Plan; The Challenge of Landscape; Water for Every Farm; and The City Forest</em>.</div>
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Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer and philosopher. He promoted no-till, no-herbicide grain cultivation farming methods, and created a particular method of farming, commonly referred to as “Natural Farming” or “Do-nothing Farming”. Fukuoka authored several Japanese books, scientific papers and other publications, most notably <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The One-Straw Revolution</em>.</div>
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Due to the recent growth in permaculture’s popularity, many books have been written to help explain basic concepts or to drill deeper into a particular system and/or practice. An extensive list of permaculture books and websites can be found at the end of the article.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture as a movement</strong></big></div>
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Permaculture practitioners and teachers think deeply about natural systems, and especially about human interaction with those systems. Because technology has increased the capacity for humans to make large-scale and rapid changes to entire ecosystems, permaculture practitioners often fi nd themselves on the front lines of a debate that pits extractive greed against the long-term health of the planet. In this way, permaculture joins the larger movement of those who wish to conserve natural systems and mitigate/restore the damage done by decades of unbridled exploitation. Permaculture’s voice in this movement is valuable because it off ers positive, actionable design alternatives to the status quo.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture as a process for designing human community and natural ecosystems</strong></big></div>
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Using a permaculture framework, the design process moves through several levels. It begins with ethics, then moves to principles, next to design strategies, and fi nally to technique or application.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">I. Ethics</strong></div>
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Permaculture, whether viewed as a philosophy, a movement or a design process, rests on three ethical pillars: 1) care for the earth; 2) care for people; and 3) set limits to consumption and reproduction, and redistribute surplus (Holmgren 2002). Most people can agree with the fi rst two ethical statements, but the concepts of population control and redistribution are loaded with controversy. For this reason, many permaculture authors and teachers have simplifi ed/modifi ed the third ethical principle to “fair share” or “care for the future.”</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">II. Principles – Bill Mollison</strong></div>
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In <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual</em>, Mollison (1988) condensed the core principles of permaculture design into the following fi ve statements [in bold, with elaboration from the author]:</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. Work with nature rather than against.</strong> This statement may seem obvious, but we humans tend to try and “have it our way” when it comes to the agriculture systems we develop. This often creates unnecessary failure, exorbitant use of natural resources, and potentially wide-spread ecological damage. Large-scale monocropping is a classic example of working against nature.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. The problem is the solution</strong>. If we are willing to look at a problem from a variety of angles, we will discover that the “problem” is actually a resource for another part of the ecosystem. A good example of this is Mollison’s well-known statement, “You don’t have a snail problem, you have a duck deficiency!”</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3. Make the least change for the greatest possible effect.</strong> Thoughtful interventions aimed at leverage points in an ecosystem yield the greatest returns for the time and resources invested. An example of this principle is S.A.L.T. (Sloping Agricultural Land Technology) for hillside farming. By planting trees along a contour (the leverage point), erosion is reduced, terraces are formed, and soil fertility is maintained—and possibly even enhanced.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4. The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited.</strong> This principle might also be expressed by saying that it is only our knowledge and imagination that limit the sustainably productive potential of an ecosystem. A permaculture designer works to create layers of symbiotic relationships in an ecosystem. This concept is well-displayed in agroforestry systems, in which multiple stories of species work together to protect and serve each other, increasing both the total potential yield and (often) the individual yield of each component. Function stacking, another concept that illustrates this principle, refers to choosing plants and animals in a design that perform more than one function and yield more than one product. A flock of chickens is a good example of this idea; chickens provide food, feathers, manure, tillage, weed control, insect control, etc.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5. Everything gardens (or modifies its environment).</strong> Every part of an ecosystem directly infl uences certain other parts of the system and has an overall influence on the system as a whole. In complex systems, changes bring unintended consequences. Careful observation over a long period of time reduces unintended negatives.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">III. Principles – David Holmgren</strong></div>
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In his book <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability</em> (2002), Holmgren expands the number of permaculture principles to twelve [in bold, with elaboration from the author]. His approach provides a more nuanced and systematic way to begin making stewardship decisions in complex and ever-changing ecosystems.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. Observe and Interact.</strong> Spend a long time observing an ecosystem before starting to build or garden in it. Doing so will enable us to build or garden as efficiently and sustainably as possible.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. Catch and Store Energy.</strong> Energy of all types flows into and out of all ecosystems. Make the most of these resources, and minimize/eliminate any losses. Energy resources include: sunlight; water; seeds; inherent heat (such as in stones and water); wind; and organic matter (in soil and compost).</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3. Obtain a Yield.</strong> When growing plants for food, fuel, textiles and/or beauty, we want to obtain a yield. Good stewardship is about abundance and blessings we can share.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4. Apply Self-Regulation and Respond to Open Feedback Loops.</strong> Negative feedback can point to unsustainable methods, and probably means we need to do things a little differently. Excess positive feedback may hurt other systems. Our goal is balance. For people accustomed to viewing agriculture projects and/or development work as a series of problems to be solved, reading the negative feedback signals can seem fairly straightforward. Evaluation of excessive positive feedback can be harder to observe and discern. For example, for decades, mega-scale monocropping symbolized best-practice modern agricultural productivity. The negative environmental and human impacts of these systems were easy to miss, and remain easy to rationalize in the light of their enormous capacity to provide the raw materials for cheap calories and corporate profits. It is difficult in the dominant system to say “no thanks” to short term gains (excess positive feedback), even when we recognize that there will be a cost to both people and the planet.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services.</strong> Conserve non-renewable resources, and always seek to restore resources. Expand our thinking about what could be a resource.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6. Produce No Waste.</strong> Ideally, everything that is needed is made on site, and all byproducts become inputs for another part of the design.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7. Design from Patterns to Details.</strong> Sort out the big picture fi rst; everything else falls in place after that. Big picture items include factors like climate, terrain and sun aspect. Taking these items into consideration at the very beginning is critical to all of the other decisions that follow, and they ultimately determine the pattern of the design. A permaculture designer uses strategies like sectors and zones (see descriptions below) to help determine the overall pattern. He/she then moves toward specific techniques and plants.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate.</strong> Every element in a system has strengths and weaknesses. In permaculture, we can use this to our advantage by pairing elements with complementary needs, so they help each other grow steadily. For example, in a keyhole garden, the composting system is directly integrated into the garden bed. Placing this keyhole garden close to the kitchen further integrates the system by locating the production area of fresh greens and the receptacle for trimmings and waste near the place where they are used, thus reducing labor.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">9. Use Small and Slow Solutions</strong>. Small and slow changes build resilience and diversity, making our system adaptable and reducing the eff ect of negative unintended consequences.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">10. Use and Value Diversity.</strong> Diversity forms the foundation of resilience.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal.</strong> The borders or edges between diff erent ecological zones and micro-climates are places of great diversity and potential. Species that can thrive on both sides of the edge have an advantage in these zones and can increase the productivity of the entire system.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change.</strong> Things will always change; that’s guaranteed. Respond to change by innovating continuously, and don’t give up.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">IV. Design Strategies</strong></div>
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Connecting the ethics and principles of permaculture to a specific site</div>
<figure class="col-sm-6 pull-right" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; float: right; line-height: 1.42857; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px !important; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 4px !important; position: relative; transition: border 0.2s ease-in-out; width: 279.911px;"><a href="https://www.echocommunity.org/resources/8b0abb2d-5078-4d1e-9145-7217867f631b" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Permaculture 2" class="img-responsive" src="https://assets.echocommunity.org/images/8b0abb2d-5078-4d1e-9145-7217867f631b/permaculture-2_md.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<small style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 11.9px;">Figure 2: Yeoman’s Keyline Scale of Permanence considers the time and energy needed to make a change to a site or ecosystem. Adapted from Owen Hablutzel’s Scale of Permanence graphic.</small></div>
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requires a framework of design. Designers use a wide variety of methods to organize their thoughts and articulate their ideas. Some common tools are as follows:</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Yeoman’s Keyline scale of permanence</strong>(Fig. 2) takes into consideration both the time and energy needed to make a change to a specific site or ecosystem. At the top of the scale, at the far end of both the time and eff ort axes, is “climate”; this aspect would require the most time and energy to change. At the bottom of the scale is “soil.”</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sectors</strong> (Fig. 3) are used to identify the various factors that interact</div>
<figure class="col-sm-6 pull-right" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; float: right; line-height: 1.42857; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px !important; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 4px !important; position: relative; transition: border 0.2s ease-in-out; width: 279.911px;"><a href="https://www.echocommunity.org/resources/b87e4485-1d86-433f-8435-a8a878d81d82" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Permaculture 3" class="img-responsive" src="https://assets.echocommunity.org/images/b87e4485-1d86-433f-8435-a8a878d81d82/permaculture-3_md.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<small style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 11.9px;">Figure 3: Sector Analysis helps identify the different elements that interact with a site.</small></div>
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with a site. Sectors would include phenomena like the path of the sun as it crosses the site; direction of seasonal or predominant winds; human and animal traffic patterns; noise; and visual impacts.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Zones</strong> identify the human interaction required to maintain specific areas of a site. Typically there are 6 zones, numbered 0 – 5. Zone 0 identifi es the home or business structure where people live or work. Zone 1 is the high human traffic area of the site; in a residential setting, zone 1 would be the walkway between the driveway and the front door. It would also include the patio or a nearby kitchen/herb garden. Zone 2 would likely include things like annual vegetable beds and chickens, zone 3 would include fruit trees and pasture, zone 4 would have fuel wood, and zone 5 would be left wild to allow for continued observing and learning from nature.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">V. Practices/Techniques</strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Multi-species integration</strong> (plant guilds). Permaculture designers seek to bring multiple stories (canopy levels) of plants together in “plant guilds” to increase and diversify the yield in the system and to add resilience.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Agroforestry</strong> and forest gardening are exemplary types of plant guilds. An example of a tropical plant guild would be an overstory tree such as a mango combined with shade-loving Barbados cherries, and below them, comfrey and garlic chives. Agroforestry (multi-story, perennial-based food, fuel and fi ber systems).The above example of plant guilding is also a good example of part of an agroforestry system. Agroforestry systems are designed to maximize the usable yields for humans from a multi-storied forest, while maintaining the diversity and increasing the fertility of the forest itself.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Slowing and retaining water</strong>. Water is a cornerstone resource in any agriculture system. Good permaculture design keeps ideal levels of moisture in the system with minimal energy inputs. This means channeling away excess water, retaining water in dry seasons, and helping water penetrate the surface to get to the root zone of plants.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Composting</strong>. Composting ensures that fertility and nutrients stay inside and are recycled through an ecosystem. From simple compost piles to vermiculture systems to composting latrines, all sources of fertility are valuable and should be stewarded to our best ability.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Natural building</strong>. Where possible, use locally available and renewable materials to satisfy the need for shelter. This will help encourage local economies and preserve non-renewable resources. Secure and comfortable homes don’t have to look like the suburbs of the West, and imported designs and materials often lead to less comfort and safety. A good example of this is a metal roof replacing palm thatch. The metal roof is often less resistant to hurricane winds; it also transmits heat from the tropical sun, making the house unbearably hot during the day.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Common Criticisms of Permaculture</strong></big></div>
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One common (and sometimes accurate) criticism of permaculture is that proponents make claims about yield potentials or resilience factors with little reliable data to back them up. Because promotion and documentation of permaculture practices is largely decentralized, no official governing body exists to validate the claims of permaculture practitioners and of those who tell permaculture’s stories. Lately, there has been robust discussion within the permaculture community about being more careful about what is claimed as fact, and about seeking partnership with people and institutions that can help verify good practice with good science and increase the community’s capacity to carry out experimentation that produces usable data and/or leads to more extensive research.</div>
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A second, more superficial, criticism of permaculture centers around the lifestyles of people who identity with it. Those caught up in a modern westernized paradigm might be tempted to criticize and marginalize those who have a diff erent outlook, rather than try to understand their point of view—especially if that diff erent outlook challenges some of the practices that make one’s life comfortable.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture in Development</strong></big></div>
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Many permaculturalists subscribe to a post-industrial vision of the future. They see permaculture as a tool to prepare for a less mechanized, less economically globalized and de-urbanized world. As a result, they view the development process diff erently than typical traditional western development workers would. This view shapes permaculturalists’ “better future” paradigm, which impacts their choices regarding prioritization of labor and resources.</div>
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As an extreme example, a traditional western development agency working with smallholders in a rural setting might work to create supply and distribution chains that allow the smallholders access to the global market. It might bring non-local and non-renewable resources into the area to increase yields of a single crop or small variety of annual crops. It might envision consolidating smallholder farms into one larger operation to increase efficiency, thereby creating a smaller, more efficient labor force with the hope that those displaced would fi nd better incomes off of the farm. All these eff orts would be carried out under the guiding vision that the modernized industrial world is our best vision of the future; that increasing the economic base by creating more consumers has no resource barriers that technology can’t overcome; and that hard physical work and traditional rural living are things from which people ought to be freed.</div>
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By contrast, a permaculture designer working in the same situation would seek to strengthen the independence of the rural community and protect it from outside infl uences. He/she would seek to fi rst create an ecosystem and social system that meets basic human needs, and that then trades out of its abundance, with maximum biodiversity. Rather than creating consumers, good permaculture seeks to create more resilient and successful producers who stay on the land, with the knowledge that their lives are valuable and that their work is among the most intricate and dignifi ed.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">My Personal Permaculture Story</strong></big></div>
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My own embrace of permaculture, as both a design tool and a paradigm through which to view good human development, started about 11 years ago. As I embarked on a new career as a “community development/ agriculture missionary,” and uprooted my family to a new culture and environment, I began to ask myself a very basic question: “What is development for?”</div>
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I was unsatisfi ed with initial answers that were based on experience. icould see the truly unsustainable nature of so much that was being called sustainable. icould see that the enhanced quality of life promised by the modern world often led to greater depths of misery and despair. icould see that when I said the word “development,” I projected a vision of middle class Americana; and icould see that that very lifestyle was crushing the world’s ecosystems and was by its very nature unsustainable.</div>
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I began to look for a diff erent answer. My reading and research led me to the concept of permaculture. Permaculture provided a new way of thinking about how man could live a productive, abundant life, while nurturing and stewarding creation. I saw that, rather than just laying out a utopian vision, the Permaculture Design Manual and other permaculture literature gave step-by-step instructions for evaluating the natural systems around me and systematically bringing resilience and abundance into those systems. Permaculture design gave me an organized way to look at the big picture, and to plan and test small incremental changes.</div>
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Permaculture is good stewardship. For me, it is also a way to work for God’s kingdom. I view permaculture’s ethical pillars (listed earlier in this article) through diff erent lenses, so that they become the following: 1) actively love God’s image bearers; 2) diligently steward God’s creation; and 3) live contentedly and joyfully share God’s provision.</div>
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After practicing permaculture principles on my own for a few years, I took a Permaculture Design Course to increase my profi - ciency and confi dence in using the design processes. The class was challenging and extremely helpful. The exchange of perspective and experience was invaluable, as was having design concepts evaluated by fellow students and a professor. As mentioned earlier, permaculture classes are off ered in a variety of formats. The resource section has some links to well-respected courses.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Conclusion</strong></big></div>
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Permaculture is part of the growing community of eco-agriculture disciplines. It is rapidly gaining acceptance as a valuable design methodology in both non-government and government institutions across the globe. It is adaptable to every ecosystem and culture, and off ers accessible problem-solving tools rather than silver-bullet solutions. It considers the ecosystem and social system as a whole, facilitating good stewardship, and providing a pathway to true sustainability, resilience and abundance.</div>
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<big style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Recommended Resources</strong></big></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Books</strong>:</div>
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Bane, Peter. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country</em>. BC, Canada: New Society, 2012.</div>
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Beyer, Hunter and Franklin Martin. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permacopia Book Three: Plants for Permaculture in Hawai’i, & other Tropical & Subtropical bioregions</em>. Volcano, Hawai’i: Homescapes, 2000.</div>
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Falk, Ben. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Resilient Farm Homestead: An Innovative Permaculture and Whole Systems Design Approach.</em> Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013.</div>
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Fukuoka, Masanobu.<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming</em>. NYRB Classics, 2009.</div>
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Holmgren, David. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability</em>. Hepburn, Vic: Holmgren Design Services, 2002.</div>
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Jacke, Dave and Eric Toensmeier. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 1: Ecological Vision, Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture. </em>Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2005.</div>
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Jacke, Dave and Eric Toensmeier. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 2: Ecological Design And Practice For Temperate-Climate Permaculture.</em> Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2005.</div>
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Lancaster, Brad. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Vol 1: Guiding Principles to Welcome Rain into Your Life and Landscape, 2nd ed</em>. Arizona: Rainsource Press, 2013.</div>
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Lancaster, Brad. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Vol 2: Water-Harvesting Earthworks</em>. Arizona: Rainsource Press, 2013.</div>
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Martin, Franklin. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Plants for Use in Permaculture in the Tropics, 2nd Edition.</em> Florida: Yankee Permaculture, 2009.</div>
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Mollison, Bill. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Permaculture: A Designers’ Manua</em>l. Tyalgum, Australia: Tagari Publications, 1988.</div>
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Morrow, Rosemary. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture.</em> Kangaroo Pr, 1994.</div>
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Savory, Allan. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making, 2nd ed</em>. Island Press, 1998.</div>
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Toensmeier, Eric. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Perennial Vegetables: From Artichoke to ‘Zuiki’ Taro, a Gardener’s Guide to over 100 Delicious, Easy-to-Grow Edibles. </em>Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007.</div>
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Yeomans, P. A. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Water For Every Farm: Yeomans Keyline Plan, 4th ed</em>. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2008.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Periodicals</strong>:</div>
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Acres USA – <a href="http://www.acresusa.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">www.acresusa.com</a></div>
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Permaculture Design Magazine – <a href="http://www.permaculturedesignmagazine.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">www.permaculturedesignmagazine.com</a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Internet</strong>:</div>
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<a href="http://permies.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://permies.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://holmgren.com.au/permaculture/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://holmgren.com.au/permaculture/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://permaculturenews.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://permaculturenews.org/</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mpcnetwork.org" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/mpcnetwork.org</a></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<a href="http://www.thepermaculturepodcast.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://www.thepermaculturepodcast.com/</a></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Resources quoted in this article:</strong></div>
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Ferguson, Rafter Sass. “Wait... you’re studying what again? (Part 2): What do you mean by permaculture?” Liberation Ecology, November 14, 2012, <a href="http://liberationecology.org/2012/11/14/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://liberationecology.org/2012/11/14/ wait-youre-studying-what-again-part-2/</a></div>
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Ferguson, Rafter Sass. “The convenience and poverty of simple defi nitions”<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Liberation Ecology</em>, June 13, 2013, <a href="http://liberationecology/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://liberationecology. org/2013/06/13/the-convenience-and-poverty-of-simple-defi nitions/</a></div>
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Ferguson, Rafter Sass. “Continuing the Conversation – Permaculture as a Movement”<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Liberation Ecology,</em> June 25, 2013, <a href="http://liberationecology/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://liberationecology. org/2013/06/25/continuing-the-conversation-permaculture-as-a-movement/</a></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px;">
Hemenway, Toby. “What Permaculture Isn’t—and Is,” November 18, 2012, <a href="http://www.patternliteracy.com/668-what-permaculture-isnt-and-is" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005175; text-decoration: none;">http://www.patternliteracy.com/668-what-permaculture-isnt-and-is</a></div>
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Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-21993389849097870522017-02-08T17:11:00.000-07:002017-02-08T17:11:08.309-07:00"Evangelism and the Five Spiritual Worlds"<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dr David Durst's "Evangelism and the Five Spiritual Worlds" resonates with me. </span><br />
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Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-54452125045091062422016-11-03T12:25:00.001-07:002016-11-03T12:25:28.211-07:00Loud tough talkers<span style="font-size: x-large;">Historically speaking, loud tough talkers end up creating more long-term problems for themselves and others than they solve.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-53937678824440821362016-10-12T10:27:00.000-07:002016-10-12T10:32:12.202-07:00Banana Bed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfs9IAynxEo/V_5vA6hrEGI/AAAAAAAAtRs/bEdIRdEsLyoSbOZIhbkFMM2Y2xWaDMsiACLcB/s1600/20161012_092315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfs9IAynxEo/V_5vA6hrEGI/AAAAAAAAtRs/bEdIRdEsLyoSbOZIhbkFMM2Y2xWaDMsiACLcB/s640/20161012_092315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqr-wq9GrfY/V_5vA13FZAI/AAAAAAAAtRo/-JYowUs6-LIrIM7soKOS5e2Z6hD6y1BGwCLcB/s1600/20161012_092330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqr-wq9GrfY/V_5vA13FZAI/AAAAAAAAtRo/-JYowUs6-LIrIM7soKOS5e2Z6hD6y1BGwCLcB/s640/20161012_092330.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is my latest attempt at growing bananas. One of the problems I've had in the past is the hot arid wind in Phoenix. The banana leaves are so large that the dry wind quickly sucks all the moisture right out of them. This time I've got a masa goldfinger up by the house protected by straw bales. I water the bales in order to raise the humidity level around the bananas. Eventually, after they are conditioned I'll plant veggies in the bales, too. I currently have a couple of potted pineapple plants in the banana bed as well. I've never seen either the bananas or the pineapples happier.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-20238572520715380852016-09-24T08:31:00.000-07:002016-09-24T08:31:36.294-07:00Roy Goble's Junkyard Wisdom -- Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFiZO-4TDCQ/V-aajjefjQI/AAAAAAAAtIE/VFxGbI-oMewXg3JgO_K12DtgE4yS-nTAACLcB/s1600/Junkyard-Wisdom-1%25C6%2592-CL-663x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFiZO-4TDCQ/V-aajjefjQI/AAAAAAAAtIE/VFxGbI-oMewXg3JgO_K12DtgE4yS-nTAACLcB/s200/Junkyard-Wisdom-1%25C6%2592-CL-663x1024.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Roy Goble is a down-to-earth kinda guy with a fun and wacky sense of humor. Yet, he also has great business sense and now -- a big bucket of money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Roy’s recently released book <i>Junkyard Wisdom</i> is the transparent and often humorous story of his wrestlings. In light of what Jesus says about money and wealthy people, is it even possible to be a faithful but wealthy follower? What would be the best way to benefit the poor, while protecting his own soul? Maybe he should just give it all away.
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the problems of money is that it walls the poor off from the wealthy. Out of sight, out of mind. The rich unintentionally end up suffering a kind of amnesia in regard to those on the margins. But Jesus seems pretty adamant that following him involves welcoming the poor and marginalized into your life. All that sounds pretty messy and as Roy struggles -- it is.
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Roy tells his story -- stories -- starting in his father’s San Jose, California junkyard, which became the seedbed of his own Goble Properties real estate <i>empire</i>. The journey moves in an engaging way through rural Belize, the ghettos of Thailand, and back into the affluent San Francisco Bay Area. There is a sense of playfulness throughout -- including a cameo appearance by radical Christian activist Shane Claiborne in one of the footnotes. Shane indirectly calls Roy out on one of his ideas.
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Goble and co-author D. R. Jacobsen are able to maintain tension as the story unfolds, finally finding a sense of resolve in the end. Yet the question remains for the reader to decide whether it is adequately resolved.
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The fact is that this book would not have appeared on my radar so quickly except that Roy wrote it. We grew up eight houses down from each other in the Willow Glen area of San Jose. He was best buds with one of my younger brothers throughout elementary school and was nearly a family member in our house during those years.
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I’ve enjoyed knowing him as an adult through <a href="http://www.junkyardwisdom.com/" target="_blank">his blog</a> and Facebook posts. He has become a spiritually insightful story-teller. <i>Junkyard Wisdom</i> is Roy at his best with relevant questions, clear thinking, and application -- even for those of us who don’t have the wealth-generation gift. And you certainly don’t have to know him to realize that this is a unique book filled with fodder for necessary discussion. But I’m pretty certain that after reading the book you’ll feel like you know him, too. </span><br />
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</iframe>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-6824809626191590702016-08-14T19:58:00.000-07:002016-09-24T08:49:38.048-07:00Brad Lancaster models desert sustainability<span style="font-size: x-large;">Water capture, desert gardening, and tiny house -- all in urban Tucson</span><br />
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Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-63267961147485170032016-08-14T19:17:00.001-07:002016-09-24T08:52:19.635-07:00Fascinating. Definitely not a tiny house, but...<span style="font-size: x-large;">Not a mansion -- not anything I've seen before. Interesting way of living.</span><br />
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Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-21383616865967437992016-08-12T22:17:00.000-07:002016-09-24T08:54:54.739-07:00India is full of undiscovered creativity<center>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Innovations which change the world tend to surface on the periphery.</span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932763.post-45830684290533767802016-07-20T09:25:00.002-07:002016-09-24T08:55:55.067-07:00Indian Fig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3yZ_6JFfC30/V4-lM69V-fI/AAAAAAAAr6w/jEnSNAIlc54qUnJTwk9Gq0ELBRz21x8BQCLcB/s1600/20160720_083956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3yZ_6JFfC30/V4-lM69V-fI/AAAAAAAAr6w/jEnSNAIlc54qUnJTwk9Gq0ELBRz21x8BQCLcB/s640/20160720_083956.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aQH8nQveKyk/V4-lM2wa32I/AAAAAAAAr6s/tpL82uNriEs7JCgvDEMjocBzIQ9Ozp1wQCLcB/s1600/20160720_084453%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aQH8nQveKyk/V4-lM2wa32I/AAAAAAAAr6s/tpL82uNriEs7JCgvDEMjocBzIQ9Ozp1wQCLcB/s400/20160720_084453%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://goo.gl/photos/SodW2uZvKStL74aT7" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">View the slideshow</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The birds have long been at it but I've finally harvested my first tuna (fruit) from our huge Indian Fig (<i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i>) at Boydston Manor. They do require special handling to avoid the glochid tufts (spines). But it is easy enough slice the skin off the tuna.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The tuna has a pleasant fruity flavor -- perhaps a cross between a strawberry and a fig. The texture reminds me of a kiwi and like the kiwi there are plenty of seeds. But they are easily separated from the fruit in your mouth. <br /><br />Ideally I would allow the fruit to ripen more before harvesting. But the birds have been aggressive.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">I planted this Indian Fig from a paddle cutting I got from someone six years ago and this is the first year it has fruited. If anyone would like a cutting I'm happy to share. This cactus is native to central Mexico.</span></span>Brad Boydstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08201335149386731937noreply@blogger.com0