But as far as I know I'm still not allowed to "man" the phones on the master
gardener line because I don't just deliver the published chemical control
sheets but sometimes offer the organic solution. Uh uh, that's a no-no. Bad
girl.
And the local Extension office is determined to work with a local Grange group
to keep pushing a Saturday farmer's market at a totally invisible site on a
back street parking lot. After I found a free site (and insurance coverage)
across the street from the WalMart and around the corner from the biggest mall
in 50 miles, I was told by the Grange market folks that I had to understand
that nobody was at the market to make money but to enjoy visiting with each
other. I'm afraid I responded that I'd be at the mall site this summer
because I'm doing sustainable agriculture and if it ain't economically
sustainable then it ain't sustainable. So now I'm sponsoring a mall farmer's
market this summer.
In the Master Gardener program I do what's allowed (write an occasional
article for the MG newsletter, teach an herb class once in a while), and I
teach my own workshops without their blessing or endorsement (or any
connection with them, advertised at my own expense yadda yadda). Might be
better this way -- looks like it might develop into a full-time job!
I came to the conclusion a while ago that if a door seemed to be locked I
could break my head open beating it against the wall, or I could open the
window and crawl through it. Very carefully, in case it's a long way to the
ground on the other side.
BTW, yes I have two degrees, one in science and one in liberal arts. Both of
them taught me how to read and how to think. My mother and father taught me
the basics of how to grow plants and communities by modeling it with gardens
and by community service, and I've carried on from there with books and
thousands of dollars' worth of workshops and seminars and continuing their
legacies. IMHO it's irrelevant how the commitment or the knowledge was
attained, what's important is how we put it to use.
I also don't think the dominant paradigm is going to be changed easily or
soon. It might have to work through to its own conclusion, which could indeed
include disaster. Here's Monsanto and Dupont with their millions or billions
of research monies dangled in front of the land grant universities, and over
here is SARE with its annual $150,000 or so to share among half a dozen
states. If I'm a university president, then this is a no-brainer decision and
I should send my energy toward something that actually requires decision
making. How do we change that? Darned if I know.
This list is one of the most important things we can do. The onesie-twosie
people who are coloring outside of the lines -- both outside of the system and
within it -- need to know that they are _not_ twisting in the wind all alone.
We need to connect, to work together on our shared ideals despite personal
differences, to make an effort to keep our language as direct and simple and
inclusive as possible. It isn't always an easy task. Sometimes it helps to
remember that there is a world at stake.
Just my two scheckels. Thanks for listening.
Dori Green
Ash Grove Community Farm & Center for Sustainable Living
Corning, NY
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