A city girl's explorations into sustainable living

Recently I found myself unemployed, pondering what I should do with my life next. All the career books say, do what you love. Find your passion. Follow your bliss. As if there is an answer -- a solution that will allow you to make money doing what you were meant to do. Help the world, help yourself, and make money!

For me, it's not so easy. I'm interested in a lot of things, but nothing that I am willing to invest in enough to turn it into a career.

I'm what Barbara Sher calls a "scanner," or what Margaret Lobenstine calls "the Renaissance Soul." At least that's what these self-help books for the career-stunted tell me.

What I tell myself is that I'm a learner. And what I want to learn about right now is sustainable living. I have a feeling it's what I'm supposed to be doing -- even if it doesn't pay. Even if it COSTS money to do.

I am meant to be a student right now, exploring peak oil, the economic crisis, climate change, sustainable agriculture, community building, permaculture, natural capitalism, Transition Towns, rural sociology, and my own spiritual growth. I honestly don't know where it will lead, or what it will amount to, but I invite you to share my journey.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

My Garden

I love my garden. I'm not the greatest gardener, though -- I tend not to read the instructions on seed packets or pay attention to when, or where, I am planting seeds.

I have had success in the past growing sweet peppers, and so I'm looking forward to watching the peppers develop on my four pepper plants this year. I have fond memories from last summer, going out into the garden in the morning to pick some fresh peppers to add to the salads I was making for my brown-bag lunch. (I didn't use brown bags, though -- I used cooler lunch bags.)

This summer, my garden has peas, beans, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, and a cauliflower. Last summer I tried growing a cauliflower and got nothing but a sad, small, brown lump of veggie mass.

I am determined to become better at growing my own food -- a must as we face the "long emergency" and energy descent. I guess I might have to start reading instructions on seed packets one of these days.
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