Things are starting to come up in the garden. Little blades that want to be spinach, little spade-like shapes that want to be broccoli and kale. Tiny little green spots of leaves promising at beets. The strawberry plants look extremely happy. Yesterday I planted the blueberry bush, which will hopefully start bearing fruit next year.
On a work break today, I read this. Depressing. Oh man, how depressing. But it reinforced this decision of ours to garden. Beyond the smaller economic and health benefits it will afford our little family, there’s also the larger sense of the importance of growing some of our own food. Maybe the necessity of growing our own food. I’ve been joking with Billy about how when the economy collapses it’ll be a good thing we can feed ourselves. But of course beneath every joke lies a bit of truth. Or paranoia. Too soon to tell, maybe.
Anyway, a good article, one I hope you’ll read if you haven’t already.
Happy Sunday. I’m headed back to the narrative coal mine. My characters are dumpster diving today. Writing a novel about squatters, as I am, has impacted the constant narrative in my head in unexpected ways. Ways I can’t really express clearly yet. Nor should I…it’s all going into the book. But talking about it with Billy recently, he was saying it was good material to write about, that people want to know what the hell has happened to America and that this is a piece of that question. And I think he’s right about that, very much right, and so that’s something I’ve been chewing on lately. Something that I’m working through as I write.
I’m reading The Human Stain now during Thumper’s naps, am about thirty pages from the end. Its making me think about the whole Monica Lewinsky thing again, making me think about the point we’ve reached in our culture. And then thinking of how the media jumped on Obama’s “bitter” remark, and thinking about the vacuousness of our news media in general, thinking about our short attention spans, our short memories, and feeling sick of it all and just wanting to hole up and garden and ride out the last gasps of our empire’s decline. Which is a lazy, cowardly response. But I am a product of the culture, too, yes… And so for a while I despair about where we’re at and where we’re going but then soon enough I go back to worrying about how much coffee I’m drinking and hating a former co-worker because her debut novel is coming out next month even though she was rejected by my agent (and then feeling ashamed remembering how I’d taken a certain smug satisfaction from that at the time because I am a petty, jealous creature yes I am).
And because I am not one of those people who talks about politics easily or often in public, and because I prefer to hash things out quietly, in my own head, here I go, back down into my hole and back to 1994 and my dumpster-diving squatters. (I hear you can find still-warm reject bagels behind a particular Upper East Side Hot & Crusty.)
About the blueberry bush, if you don’t already know this, it is best to pick the blossoms off the first two years, to let the plant gain strength. Ours will be fruit-bearing (we hope) THIS YEAR. We are so excited. Dang, I should do a blog post. And I could be wrong, but I feel that it should have a cross-pollinator. I’m fuzzy on this right now, but there has to be a reason we bought 6 different varieties, and I’m thinking that’s it.
Posted by: Norma
ah Philip Roth … lives next door to me, or rather, writes next door to me – he always gives me the “eye” when we cross each others’ paths (which is almost daily) – it’s almost as though he thinks he knows me… (but he doesn’t. trust me.)
listen – keep up with whatever you’re doing – hopefully it will make some kind of a difference – whether it’s for you and your family, or in the larger scheme of things – none of us will know … only our progeny will eventually benefit from it 😉
best,
mhv
Posted by: margaret
All I can coherently say is that I agree it’s a dying world we’re living in, and one second I’m worried about any and all global issues and the next more concerned with the state of my lip gloss. Maybe that’s just how I cope. But the garden is wonderful, and it is a great way to help your family, at any time.
Posted by: Stacey
About the blueberry bush, if you don’t already know this, it is best to pick the blossoms off the first two years, to let the plant gain strength. Ours will be fruit-bearing (we hope) THIS YEAR. We are so excited. Dang, I should do a blog post. And I could be wrong, but I feel that it should have a cross-pollinator. I’m fuzzy on this right now, but there has to be a reason we bought 6 different varieties, and I’m thinking that’s it.
Posted by: Norma
ah Philip Roth … lives next door to me, or rather, writes next door to me – he always gives me the “eye” when we cross each others’ paths (which is almost daily) – it’s almost as though he thinks he knows me… (but he doesn’t. trust me.)
listen – keep up with whatever you’re doing – hopefully it will make some kind of a difference – whether it’s for you and your family, or in the larger scheme of things – none of us will know … only our progeny will eventually benefit from it 😉
best,
mhv
Posted by: margaret
All I can coherently say is that I agree it’s a dying world we’re living in, and one second I’m worried about any and all global issues and the next more concerned with the state of my lip gloss. Maybe that’s just how I cope. But the garden is wonderful, and it is a great way to help your family, at any time.
Posted by: Stacey
Thanks for the link to the article. The more people that write about these issues, the better.
Posted by: claudia
I suppose it took a certain amount of carbon footprints to get me to your blog, but I’m glad I’m here. I read the linked article and found it not depressing but very motivating. Why bother with a garden this year is a question I’ve been wrestling with because I am putting my house up for sale (that’s the plan anyway). But if I manage to sell my house before harvest, perhaps my garden could be an instrument of change for another family. Or at least feed them for a bit.
I’m also enjoying reading about your writing. I sure hope you get published because I want to read what you write.
Posted by: Chris
Yeah. Just, yeah.
Posted by: Michelle
What no one talks about, because it is frankly too horrible a thought, is that ‘going green’ is not the solution. It still requires oil and oil is running out. Maintaining our current lifestyle would require an invention beyond my comprehension and I do not have enough faith that technology will provide the solution.
On the blueberries – yes it is a good idea to cross pollinate, so having more than one variety is a plus. Our little plants remain in NJ, I hope, feeding another family.
Posted by: Jenni
Thanks for the link to the article. The more people that write about these issues, the better.
Posted by: claudia
I suppose it took a certain amount of carbon footprints to get me to your blog, but I’m glad I’m here. I read the linked article and found it not depressing but very motivating. Why bother with a garden this year is a question I’ve been wrestling with because I am putting my house up for sale (that’s the plan anyway). But if I manage to sell my house before harvest, perhaps my garden could be an instrument of change for another family. Or at least feed them for a bit.
I’m also enjoying reading about your writing. I sure hope you get published because I want to read what you write.
Posted by: Chris
Yeah. Just, yeah.
Posted by: Michelle
What no one talks about, because it is frankly too horrible a thought, is that ‘going green’ is not the solution. It still requires oil and oil is running out. Maintaining our current lifestyle would require an invention beyond my comprehension and I do not have enough faith that technology will provide the solution.
On the blueberries – yes it is a good idea to cross pollinate, so having more than one variety is a plus. Our little plants remain in NJ, I hope, feeding another family.
Posted by: Jenni
I started reading your blog more regularly when I finally committed to knitting. Yes, really, I’m a full-on knitter now. Attended four weeks of classes and now I’m a knitting fool.
But it’s also been really interesting to follow your writing process. And while most people who read today’s post took away from it an important environmental message, here is what I left with:
I want to know the name of your former co-worker who is having her debut novel published so that I am sure not to buy or read it because, frankly, I think a dose of pettiness and jealousy is healthy and necessary every once in a while, so I’ve got your back.
Posted by: Jess Brown
Saw that Pollan article yesterday, too. It’s outstanding. Now to work my way through the rest of the mag.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Lately, I have been more concerned about the economy, how hubby and I live and what we can do to be greener. One of our neighbors is enlarging his garden and we are in the process of starting seedlings. The neighborhood gets together and offers suggestion and we have compost we can contribute. I am really thinking of a garden and believe it or not chickens. I just have to figure out where to put the garden and chicken coop and deal with our rambuncious dog.
Posted by: Patty
Eating food from our garden always fills me with satisfaction. It makes me feel like maybe we could feed ourselves if we had too, although I know that isn’t completely true. Just wait until you start canning!
Posted by: knittripps
Small things make a difference. Wether the difference is big enough…well. But when the wave or the ice age comes,or whatever trick the planet has to get rid of us, at least you can look in the mirror knowing you did your best.
(I’ve just read The Swarm by Frank Schatzing. Great entertainment and good stuff for thoughts).
Posted by: rippedoffknitter
I started reading your blog more regularly when I finally committed to knitting. Yes, really, I’m a full-on knitter now. Attended four weeks of classes and now I’m a knitting fool.
But it’s also been really interesting to follow your writing process. And while most people who read today’s post took away from it an important environmental message, here is what I left with:
I want to know the name of your former co-worker who is having her debut novel published so that I am sure not to buy or read it because, frankly, I think a dose of pettiness and jealousy is healthy and necessary every once in a while, so I’ve got your back.
Posted by: Jess Brown
Saw that Pollan article yesterday, too. It’s outstanding. Now to work my way through the rest of the mag.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Lately, I have been more concerned about the economy, how hubby and I live and what we can do to be greener. One of our neighbors is enlarging his garden and we are in the process of starting seedlings. The neighborhood gets together and offers suggestion and we have compost we can contribute. I am really thinking of a garden and believe it or not chickens. I just have to figure out where to put the garden and chicken coop and deal with our rambuncious dog.
Posted by: Patty
Eating food from our garden always fills me with satisfaction. It makes me feel like maybe we could feed ourselves if we had too, although I know that isn’t completely true. Just wait until you start canning!
Posted by: knittripps
Small things make a difference. Wether the difference is big enough…well. But when the wave or the ice age comes,or whatever trick the planet has to get rid of us, at least you can look in the mirror knowing you did your best.
(I’ve just read The Swarm by Frank Schatzing. Great entertainment and good stuff for thoughts).
Posted by: rippedoffknitter
I just commented on Rose Kim Knits about the vacuousness of the media and wondered if vacuousness was a word. Then I come over here and I’m thinking the same as you. Weird.
I like that you grow you own food. My mother used to keep a vegetable patch. I’ve tried, but all I do is feed the squirrels.
Posted by: Dr.Steph
Depressing is right. I planted our garden this weekend- hopefully we will not have a repeat of last summer where a drought prevented me from even watering it. I work in the Air Quality field and I feel so frustrated going to conferences, etc and hearing the general populous think that “technology” will find the fix. I firmly believe that there is no longer a “silver bullet” and the improvement in our environment will be due to everyone making the little changes. I can also very much relate to the idea in the article about no one being sure what the footprint is due to various changes. Take electric vehicles for example. They are put forth as “zero emission vehicles” but unless they are recharged with solar cells alone, they are simply offsetting the emissions to a power plant. No easy answers. I just try to have faith and hope that the little things I do (conserve water, recycle, reuse, plant a small garden, etc) will truly make a difference.
Posted by: Heather
I just commented on Rose Kim Knits about the vacuousness of the media and wondered if vacuousness was a word. Then I come over here and I’m thinking the same as you. Weird.
I like that you grow you own food. My mother used to keep a vegetable patch. I’ve tried, but all I do is feed the squirrels.
Posted by: Dr.Steph
Depressing is right. I planted our garden this weekend- hopefully we will not have a repeat of last summer where a drought prevented me from even watering it. I work in the Air Quality field and I feel so frustrated going to conferences, etc and hearing the general populous think that “technology” will find the fix. I firmly believe that there is no longer a “silver bullet” and the improvement in our environment will be due to everyone making the little changes. I can also very much relate to the idea in the article about no one being sure what the footprint is due to various changes. Take electric vehicles for example. They are put forth as “zero emission vehicles” but unless they are recharged with solar cells alone, they are simply offsetting the emissions to a power plant. No easy answers. I just try to have faith and hope that the little things I do (conserve water, recycle, reuse, plant a small garden, etc) will truly make a difference.
Posted by: Heather