Zan Asha's new plan for farming where YOU can join in!

 

 

Change is a big catch-word lately, encompassing the massive instability that is normal in life, perhaps more so in the current state of the world. I too, am not immune to change, and this little article is the result of lots of little earthquakes that seems to have moved me to write this.

While I love writing stories that bridge the gap between the rural and urban world, between crafters and conneseurs of art, between city slick and rustic reality, the slew of things I was learning along the way made me deeply, deeply aware that one way of life was slowly being chipped away, in lieu of what may be deemed a "better life." In other words, the world of farming--at least family farming--was eroding away, as people congregated into suburbs, towns, and cities.

Now, don't get me wrong--as a city person, I most certainly am not condemning "city-fied" living, but I find that the more one gets away from sustainable living, from earth based living, and depends more and more on corporations and the government for living, the more one invites trouble from establishments whose bottom line is dollar based, and not ethics based.

As a result, you will find cheaply made items from other countries, entire businesses shipped overseas to "save money," instead of supporting American workers. You will find chemicals that make food plants, and animals grow too big too quickly, while causing untold side effects in humans. Or even inhumane treatment of food animals, or the land in which factory farms, or factories, quickly and cheaply make "food." And large corporations reaping goverment support while smaller businesses and farmers are slowly pushed out.

What to do? I would sit and here about things like NAIS, factory farms, Monsato, and all sorts of farming ills. About bills that limited American crafters and workers, and many other things that was killing a way of life. Was anyone else educated about this?
And what about farming and unspoiled land stewardship? It seemed like farms were foreclosing and being sold to the highest bidder.

I am a do-er. I couldn't just sit around and do nothing. Almost coincidentally, I helped a friend plant a garden on her city rooftop. I basically took my hands-on gardening skills and created a potted veggie garden using old, cleaned paint buckets, soil, pots, and seedlings. Several neighbors noticed as well and took part; the project was to defray the ever-climbing costs of produce. Throughout the whole experience, several city friends kept saying, "you should teach this stuff. Lots of city people have no idea how to do it."

And then it hit me! I had made MANY many farming contacts, who were slowly losing money due to goverment regulations, and I had many city contacts, who had money to spend and who wanted very much to learn sustainable, farming ways. So, why NOT combine them? Why not have farmers---particularly farmWOMEN, who are a growing statistic in farm ownership--discuss/write/speak about what they know, and share this information online,on tour, and everywhere?

SO, here's the PITCH! Are you an expert at something specificly sustainable? Knitting, spinning, herbalism, owning llamas, beekeeping, growing grapes, winterizing houses, horse care or plowing, root-cellaring, anti-factory farming, sewing clothing, using solar or wind energy, financing a farm, getting out of debt, shearing sheep, old-fashioned recipes, vaccinating livestock, raising rabbits--heck, ANYTHING farmy or green? And, by expert, please note that I mean you've had at least 5 years of experience with it....

Would you like to write for a new publication I am working on, or speak? I am looking into the possibilities of starting a small revolution here, and I am looking for YOU to help me, help US, make that happen! I am looking for writers, people comfortable publicly speaking, and people who can demonstrate their expertise on video. I would eventually like a great network of farmwomen, crafters, and others. If you are interested, or would like more information, PLEASE EMAIL ME at zinnah@aol.com

Hopefully we can DO something to create the world we truly desire to live in, even if its small (but it will be green)! Like that small seed planted on a rooftop garden, I am hoping this seed will germinate into a glorious garden of change!