I got the blues
thinking of the future,
so I left off and
made some marmalade.
Its amazing how
it cheers one up
to shred oranges
and scrub the floor
People have been cultivating plants for a very long time...
certainly thousands of years... so long as there was somewhere to
plant seeds... or propagate a plant ...then people have been growing
plants for all manner of purposes....for all kinds of sustenance.
I just read a story that made me wonder what kind of arrogance and
idiocy would drive a government to sign a bill to make it illegal
to grow food in one's own back yard? A bill that would outlaw
gardening and saving seeds!
Please take a few minutes to read
homage blog 10 minutes ago. Sorry
to be bossy about this... but if
you enjoy your art, your lovely
home and fine food ... then think for
a few minutes about the consequences
of a bill like this... and what
happens when it is picked up in
another country and another!
Some things should not be put off!
What do you think?
update from last night:
Thank you to all who communicated, sent links
and emailed to participate in an important dialogue..
And thanks to bloggers who went the extra mile and tracked down
links to put perspective onto this issue which has collected energy
as it has been disseminated out into the ether. Like the proverbial
chinese whispers in some cases the story was changed beyond
recognition.
However should you care to read the Bill:
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply
the link was sent in by 2 bloggers... in summary form from Sharmon
of true adventures of an art addict and in full from Egmont of
the artist within us to the homage blog.
It was well put by Sharmon:
I was extremely alarmed by what I read in your email, so I did a bit of research. For the most part, it seems to be an
internet hoax, thank goodness. The bill exists, but most of the claims made by Natural News are false. According to
snopes, which is usually very reliable,(http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/organic.asp), the bill contains nothing
about home gardeners, seeds, or organic farms. I read a summary of the bill at govtrack.us (http://www.govtrack.us/
congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510&tab=summary), and that appears to be true.
However, the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-02mar2009.htm) sees it as
over-regulation which will put an undue burden on small family farms. Thanks for bringing it to may attention; I will
research it further. But believe me, if I thought the bill would effect our right to grow gardens or save seeds (both
of which I do and intend to continue), I'd be picketing on the front steps of the Capital Building.
This comment answered some of the questions at the top of the my
list ... however it must be noted that there is quite a difference
in reading the summary as opposed to the complete Bill sent in by
Egmont...I suspect many trying to read this bill would find themselves
wondering anxiously if they might be missing something!
What struck me most about this entire story after it came to my
attention yesterday was that we're poised to expect bad news from
the transationals gobbling up control of global food markets. Many
of us have taken on board the fact that it is indeed illegal in
some parts of the world to grow food from seeds saved locally,
according to traditions extending back generation upon generation.
Food sovereignty is a huge issue.
The fear accompanying this story I picked up yesterday is not coming
for no reason. And if we, for even a moment, thought about what
it might feel like to lose our food sovereignty we can be present
to the issue that is already out there for some...
as a chronically harsh reality served up because there was no power
to intervene... or perhaps understanding to see the need to!
This image from the previous post is quite apt for this discussion.
There's huge fear surrounding peak oil, peak water and peak food...
population growth and climate change. Some put their head in the
sand and say its not happening, its not coming!
Others are sponges and seem to soak up all the information and ideas
that are circulating and of course this can be too much!
We can easily be overloaded like we were here in the recent floods
that many are still dealing with. In our vulnerability we often
recognize the suffering of others... so the challenge to stay on
the one hand open and receptive and on the other not overwhelmed
and fearful.
To 'Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity' is a bold act
because it suggests venturing up to meet what's coming rather than
hiding... but with a willingness to discover/uncover new ways
to partipate in the challenges and possibilities of our time!
Lets keep the dialogue happening... sharing knowledge is vital
in this time of increasing velocity and complexity of change. I
really appreciate everyone coming by and taking a moment to
reflect, add something, walk away even with new resolve to watch
what's happening more closely.
Go well,
S x
