I consider myself a lifelong learner, constantly expanding my skills and awareness. I’ve gravitated towards specific areas, including the environment (particularly climate change, biodiversity, soil, plants, ecology, and ecological living) and community change (democracy, community and political organizing, topics related to democratic socialism and an equitable society—anti-racism and anti-xenophobia), and reading often provides the vehicle for the learning. I read extensively across genres and media. Often, fiction presents reality and envisions solutions more creatively and realistically than journalism, research, and other forms of nonfiction (which yes, I consume copious amounts of). Beyond print, I listen to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks. These days, I seek out alternative and verified sources, as many mainstream media and social media outlets appear compromised in terms of truth and reality. I also peruse research literature and attend many webinars and conferences.

A few individuals and ideas stand out right now:

Circling back to the top… I’ve realized as I listen to Brad talk about his work in Tucson and tell his life story, that even though he tells it as a coherent path, that he didn’t always know what he was doing or where he was going. He did, he tried, he failed, he tried again, and he learned. It all piled up. I’ve been looking at him as a monolithic person who has done amazing things and always knew what to do, but as I cycle through his teachings, I realize that this person I admire, Brad, has actually made mistakes. He felt fear. He had to figure out a way forward as he went. So, in some senses, this is a form of taking the man off the pedestal and understanding the process better… I too must do and make mistakes in order to learn. I won’t always know the outcome of my actions. Results pile up over time, and you just have to keep doing, keep reflecting, keep adjusting, and keep doing in order to see those piled-up results; there’s a certain amount of fearlessness and faith that’s required.

I also look at the list above and think about being okay with being the person marching to the beat of a different drummer and having an obsession with something: democracy, history, regenerative farming, poetry, plants, and water harvesting. I think I’ve internalized the tall sunflower syndrome a little too much and have tried to subdue my differences. No more. I am what I am.

Turning what may be described as climate anxiety on its head: it’s a big challenge, but I’m doing it. I’m planting, doing, growing, feeding, building soil, and recharging groundwater. I’m inspiring and teaching others.

A glimpse at future blog topics:

• Finish the Terra foundation series, reflect and update.
• Share and discuss my soil webinars. 
• Share and discuss my Build A Basin workshop.
• Share an environmental gardening tip of the month.
• Share water conservation projects like our laundry to landscape greywater system, our tippy tippy.
• Our Rich Earth Institute related diversion.
• Leaf mold, bokashi, Berkeley Method hot compost, aerated static pile composting, dog poop composting, and vermicomposting.
• Site analysis and how it figures into planting design.
• Slow soil regeneration building soil.
• Dig’n’divide as a form of low cost propagation.
• The planting calendar and the planning calendar.
• Increasing permeable surface area at home (ribbon driveways, permeable pathways and more).

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