Saturday, July 30, 2011

Fed by Healthy Food & an Uplifting Practice

Last night's dinner/movie party was a success. Ten guests joined us for brats, calico beans, and potato salad and supplied their own wonderful additions of fresh garden greens, just-picked sour cherries, garlic scape pesto, beet salad, and fruit salad.

After dinner and conversation we adjourned to the living room to watch "Gasland." Filmmaker Josh Fox's documentary explores the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that's sweeping the country.

Halliburton developed this method of drilling for natural gas which has since expanded to 34 states. Many of his interview subjects live in homes close to wells that have (apparently) polluted their air and water. Despite a lack of regulation by the EPA these people describe undrinkable tap water, failing health, and, in some cases, chemically poluted tap water that they can literally set on fire.

It gives one pause.

One of our guests mentioned at the farmers' market this morning that the magnitude of fracking was so shocking to her she woke at 3:30 a.m., got out of bed, and began to cook food to share at her market stand. The first solution that came to mind was for her to serve people nutritious, vitamin-rich foods. (A creative and hopeful response.)

Frances and I rose early. I was on the deck--well-sprayed with bug dope--by 8:00 a.m. While Frances watered our flower and vegetable gardens I moved through my T'ai Chi Chih practice. After the previous evening's movie it was helpful to engage myself in a positive, uplifting practice.

Overnight weekend guests to arrive soon and we have wonderful, homegrown farmers' market beets, chard, and herb bread to serve and enjoy.

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