It’s people like you who remind us that real change doesn't come from summits or glossy speeches, but from the ground up—literally. It’s in the small, everyday actions, the choice to grow your own food, reduce waste, and share knowledge, that we find the roots of lasting impact. Appreciate all of it, Cecilia, especially the pics.
Happy Monday Neela and thank you so much! I truly believe that even when the reports can be so dire we cannot give up our small works. Have a lovely day!
I had the belief farms were quiet places in the winter; nothing to do but maybe go out once in awhile to see on things. Hey! I learned something! Farms do not sleep.
You might be thinking of vegetable farms in places with winters. Signed, A vegetable farmer who has a few months to think about when to file and oil her few tools.
Yes! The winters are very grim here. Nothing growing for a long while yet. But when I get to Melbourne I hope to set up gardens that produce something all year round. Won’t that be exciting’
It took me ages to figure out how to grow food year round when I was south of you, in Austin, Texas. Now that I'm NE of you, so many of the books and suggestions people have actually work - ha!
Jude and FreeBee, as well as others, could teach us a lot about getting by in cold weather. Thank you for sharing your expertise and warm observations with us.
You are most welcome. The old pigs spend hours a day getting their beds ready whereas the young ones just hurl themselves in to the hay. I find it an interesting observation.
You look after the cows so they can be comfy if they want to 🩵 what's the cat's name?
We all have to do as little harm as possible, I think. So if I step on an ant while walking to work, that's not my intention. Stamping on an ant nest? Very different. You're making sacrifices that feel possible to you. Some might choose the air con but never to run an engine or take an international flight... We all find the balance as we can.
I've been watching the ducks and the geese - in flocks of a hundred birds - floating out in our bay. It has made me wonder what they eat this time of year and what the cold water feels like. Then today I was walking in the park and came across a group of people SWIMMING in Lake Ontario! They swim every Wednesday and Sunday at noon from December 1 to the end of April. Wow! One of the swimmers was the nephew of my walking buddy. He came over to talk with us as he got out. There was music playing - the swimmers were all dancing and jumping and moving as they dried off. He explained that the water was 9'C while the air was 2'C. Apparently the trick is to keep yourself in the water for the first thirty or forty seconds when your brain is screaming 'Get out!'. Then, he explained, your panic becomes less intense and you can begin to relax into the water. They all stay in the water for ten minutes. Then come out totally refreshed. Got me thinking about the birds in the bay ... and wondered if the water actually feels warm? A different perspective!
Huh. Well - I guess all those posh spas have ice baths!! But I am not sure I would be game. Are they strict about the 10 minutes so they don’t get hypothermia?
Some stayed in the water longer. It looked like people lasted best they could. Also seemed like some had been part of the group for years while others were less experienced. I was amazed!
The CO2 in the atmosphere has been measured by the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii for over 65 yrs. The yearly seasonal vegetation changes show as a wavy line in the chart. The growing rise in the total level due to fossil fuel use by humans shows no sign of slowing or decreasing.
It is interesting how summer photosynthesis by plants makes the line go down, and the absence of photosynthesis sends the line upwards. We talk only about the hockey stick graph of increased emissions and never about the hockey stick graph of the loss of vegetation and soil, which increased more steeply during the 1950s.
I imagine there are many variables. We have cover crops for our organic soil but almost all of the great prairie land here in Illinois is bare for all of the winter. Just bare soil, which is anthema to the natural order.
Wow you covered a lot there. And I love it. The discussion. It's there among the day to day ways we choose to live. Our small everyday lives that accomplish these important things should not be quiet. We may never know all the places our words land or their impact. I'm working on getting my words out there too.
Thank you Hans. I am always excited to travel and apprehensive to leave the farm in the hands of others. But if the cold lifts a little everything will be easier for them.
Thank you, Cecilia, for mentioning me. I love reading your posts. Tima and Wai are my favorites; they deserve a separate newsletter or could be the main characters in a children's book :-)
It’s people like you who remind us that real change doesn't come from summits or glossy speeches, but from the ground up—literally. It’s in the small, everyday actions, the choice to grow your own food, reduce waste, and share knowledge, that we find the roots of lasting impact. Appreciate all of it, Cecilia, especially the pics.
Happy Monday to you!
Happy Monday Neela and thank you so much! I truly believe that even when the reports can be so dire we cannot give up our small works. Have a lovely day!
I had the belief farms were quiet places in the winter; nothing to do but maybe go out once in awhile to see on things. Hey! I learned something! Farms do not sleep.
You might be thinking of vegetable farms in places with winters. Signed, A vegetable farmer who has a few months to think about when to file and oil her few tools.
Yes! The winters are very grim here. Nothing growing for a long while yet. But when I get to Melbourne I hope to set up gardens that produce something all year round. Won’t that be exciting’
It took me ages to figure out how to grow food year round when I was south of you, in Austin, Texas. Now that I'm NE of you, so many of the books and suggestions people have actually work - ha!
No rest for the wicked!!
Jude and FreeBee, as well as others, could teach us a lot about getting by in cold weather. Thank you for sharing your expertise and warm observations with us.
You are most welcome. The old pigs spend hours a day getting their beds ready whereas the young ones just hurl themselves in to the hay. I find it an interesting observation.
You look after the cows so they can be comfy if they want to 🩵 what's the cat's name?
We all have to do as little harm as possible, I think. So if I step on an ant while walking to work, that's not my intention. Stamping on an ant nest? Very different. You're making sacrifices that feel possible to you. Some might choose the air con but never to run an engine or take an international flight... We all find the balance as we can.
Yes! That is exactly right. Being able to sustain your choices is paramount to success. A sustainable lifestyle. At least I think so.
It's better we do something good for a long time than something unsustainable for a short time 🙏🏼
I've been watching the ducks and the geese - in flocks of a hundred birds - floating out in our bay. It has made me wonder what they eat this time of year and what the cold water feels like. Then today I was walking in the park and came across a group of people SWIMMING in Lake Ontario! They swim every Wednesday and Sunday at noon from December 1 to the end of April. Wow! One of the swimmers was the nephew of my walking buddy. He came over to talk with us as he got out. There was music playing - the swimmers were all dancing and jumping and moving as they dried off. He explained that the water was 9'C while the air was 2'C. Apparently the trick is to keep yourself in the water for the first thirty or forty seconds when your brain is screaming 'Get out!'. Then, he explained, your panic becomes less intense and you can begin to relax into the water. They all stay in the water for ten minutes. Then come out totally refreshed. Got me thinking about the birds in the bay ... and wondered if the water actually feels warm? A different perspective!
Huh. Well - I guess all those posh spas have ice baths!! But I am not sure I would be game. Are they strict about the 10 minutes so they don’t get hypothermia?
Some stayed in the water longer. It looked like people lasted best they could. Also seemed like some had been part of the group for years while others were less experienced. I was amazed!
The CO2 in the atmosphere has been measured by the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii for over 65 yrs. The yearly seasonal vegetation changes show as a wavy line in the chart. The growing rise in the total level due to fossil fuel use by humans shows no sign of slowing or decreasing.
https://scrippsco2.ucsd.edu/graphics_gallery/mauna_loa_record/mauna_loa_record_smooth_curve.html
It is interesting how summer photosynthesis by plants makes the line go down, and the absence of photosynthesis sends the line upwards. We talk only about the hockey stick graph of increased emissions and never about the hockey stick graph of the loss of vegetation and soil, which increased more steeply during the 1950s.
I imagine there are many variables. We have cover crops for our organic soil but almost all of the great prairie land here in Illinois is bare for all of the winter. Just bare soil, which is anthema to the natural order.
No. It won’t / but we do what we can do. I just can’t give up.
That is exactly the attitude the world has needed most from everyone..."I just can't give up." We all need to do our part, however large or small.
Absolutely.
Wow you covered a lot there. And I love it. The discussion. It's there among the day to day ways we choose to live. Our small everyday lives that accomplish these important things should not be quiet. We may never know all the places our words land or their impact. I'm working on getting my words out there too.
You have massive amounts of knowledge to share - you are always working on something interesting!
Best wishes on your travels and new venture helping in Melbourne
Thank you Hans. I am always excited to travel and apprehensive to leave the farm in the hands of others. But if the cold lifts a little everything will be easier for them.
Thank you very much for the mention, Cecilia! Yes I am in Maine.🥰
Forgive me, but where are you based out of? Something in my head is telling me you're out west a bit?
So sweet to hear updates on all your critters and I'm excited to follow along with your city-garden project!
Have a great time in Melbourne!!
Central Illinois. No snow here so far - not like you had anyway!
Thank you, Cecilia, for mentioning me. I love reading your posts. Tima and Wai are my favorites; they deserve a separate newsletter or could be the main characters in a children's book :-)
They are a crotchety pair of room mates!
😂