This month has included deep heartache for many… COVID, protests, counter protests, distrust, wildfires, smoke, political polarization, virtual school, … and the passing of RGB yesterday was just really tough. At times I have felt hopeless. These words from Barry Lopez are a reminder that the work I am lucky enough to be a part of is doing much to assist in our healing.
“I know of no restorative of heart, body, and soul more effective against hopelessness than the restoration of the Earth.” – Barry Lopez #hope#restoration
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Broccoli Lessons - shrink and protect yourself
This week I was feeling overwhelmed by the weight of everything… stress from work, home, our community… the world.
Sitting in the garden this morning… I noticed the leaves of our broccoli plants starting to wilt. Of course, on hot days, transpiration removes more water from the plant than can move from the roots… causing the water balance within the plant to get thrown off. This dehydrates and collapses cells in the leaves. Interestingly, wilting also serves to reduce water loss, as the drooping leaves expose less surface area to the sun’s evaporative rays.
In these times of hardship… it is okay… even necessary to shrink and protect ourselves. We all need time and space to shelter and recompose. On this year’s #Juneteenth…I am reminded that not everyone has this privilege.
Please take care of yourself… and remember your #privilege and support others find their own balance. So that when the heat of the moment dampens, we can regain our strength and restore our community’s balance.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Happy World Wetlands Day!
How many times do you see artists at your wastewater treatment plant. You certainly do at Fernhill Wetlands, treatment wetlands in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
You want to be the change?
I am so excited to share that I am a small equity partner in
this amazing development in Ann Arbor, Michigan. AND you can be too!
It’s super simple. Check out the link below… a few clicks later… you can be
the change you want to see in the world.
THRIVE
Collaborative has publicly opened a portion of the equity investment in
Veridian at County Farm* to allow our community and supporters (that’s YOU!) to
invest in a Living Community Challenge targeted neighborhood - https://lnkd.in/egEF-6U.
Unlike
traditional crowdfunding, you are actually investing in real estate with the
opportunity to earn a financial return. That’s right - use the power of your
investment, not just donations, to accelerate the climate solutions we need.
All investment must come through LocalStake https://lnkd.in/eFcMShK, a third-party website
platform. It’s like Kickstarter, but rather than giving you product, we’re
giving you equity in the development phase with returns from the sale of the
lots!
Thursday, April 5, 2018
I am dubbing 2018 the year of floating wetlands… I am super excited by these new Biohabitats babies launched last fall!
Water is virtually everywhere, from soil moisture and ice-caps to the cells inside our own bodies. On a normal, day-to-day basis, maintaining a well-hydrated system is easy to manage for those of us fortunate enough to have access to clean drinking water. So what role does water play in our bodies , and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy?
1. Depending on factors like location, fat index, age and sex, the average human is between 55 and 60% water.
2. At birth, human babies are even wetter – being 75% water they are swimmingly similar to fish - but their water composition drops to 65% by their first birthday.
3. The H2O in our bodies works to cushion and lubricate joints, regulate temperature and to nourish the brain and spinal cord.
4. Water isn’t only in our blood: an adult’s brain and heart are almost three-quarters water - that’s roughly equivalent to the amount of moisture in a banana.
5. Lungs are 83% water, which is roughly the amount of moisture in an apple.
6. Even seemingly dry human bones are 31% water.
7. Each day we lose 2 to 3 liters through our sweat, urine and bowel movements, and even just from breathing. While these functions are essential to our survival, we need to compensate for the fluid loss.
8. Maintaining a balanced water level is essential to avoid dehydration or overhydration - both of which can have devastating effects on overall health. Increased dehydration can cause notable drops in energy, mood, skin moisture and blood pressure as well as signs of cognitive impairment. In fact, a dehydrated brain works harder to accomplish the same amount as a normal brain - and it even temporarily shrinks because of its lack of water.
9. For a long time, conventional wisdom said that we should drink eight glasses a day. That estimate has since been fine-tuned; now the consensus is that the amount of water we need to imbibe depends largely on our weight and environment. The recommended daily intake varies from between 2.5 to 3.7 liters of water for men and about 2 to 2.7 liters for women - a range that is pushed up or down if we are healthy, active, old or overheating. But don’t go crazy - it’s possible to overhydrate if you consume too much water in a short amount of time - a risk mostly encountered by athletes because of complications in regulating water levels in extreme physical conditions.
10. Water within food makes up about a fifth of our daily H20 intake. Fruits and vegetables like strawberries, cucumbers and even broccoli are over 90% water and can supplement liquid intake while providing valuable nutrients and fiber.
Drinking well might also have various long-term benefits. Studies have shown that optimal hydration can lower the chance of stroke, help manage diabetes and potentially reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. No matter what, getting the right amount of liquid makes a world of difference in how you’ll feel, think and function day-to-day.
Democracy Now! has learned the longtime Detroit activist and philosopher Grace Lee Boggs died this morning at the age of 100. “She left this life as she lived it: surrounded by books, politics, people and ideas,” said her friends and caretakers Shay Howell and Alice Jennings.
Grace Lee Boggs was involved with the civil rights, Black Power, labor, environmental justice, and feminist movements over the past seven decades. She was born to Chinese immigrant parents in 1915. In 1992, she co-founded the Detroit Summer youth program to rebuild and renew her city.
Grace Lee Boggs was a regular guest on Democracy Now! for many years.
Here’s how U.S. groundwater travels the globe via food.
A new study shows how major aquifers are being drained for agricultural use, which means the water is removed from these underground reservoirs and moves around in some surprising ways. “By unsustainably using these aquifers, we are trading off future food security with current food production”.
