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calm
January 2010 
If you were to create a retreat center, what would it be like?
Posted on Oct 3rd, 2009
by 
sandi
sandi
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 03, 2009:
I would start a retreat to work on healing the agricultural land in the U.S.. I know it'sbeen done before but it needs to be done again and again until it makes the difference. To use the methods of the Mennonites and Shakers to feed the soil and increase productivity without the use or chemical fertilizers. Scott and Helen Nearing did it back in the 40's and the rest of the decades by having interns but I can't see working that hard for salad every night. Make it light, make it fun, make your own wine, whatever floats your boat, but make it happen. One thing every person on the planet has to do is eat, let there be enough for all.
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“Make it light, make it fun, make your own wine, whatever floats your boat, but make it happen. One thing every person on the planet has to do is eat, let there be enough for all.”
I will be at your retreat center in a heartbeat! Great photo. Did you see the rainbow in the bottom right-hand corner? Atmosphere or camera lens – it doesn't matter. I like it a lot!
We're only at HolEssence today from 10-2pm (instead of 6pm) because we're heading down to Evanston (close to Chicago) to attend an art exhibit that's being hosted in the home of one of our friends. We're getting an up close and personal look at the work of Russell D'Alessio.
If even one goes hungry we will all then hunger.
Thanks Sandi
J.M.
That photo is radiant, as you are. Your connection to Mother Earth is so intimate and pure…
“…let there be enough for all…” Beautiful Sandi! And to all who pass through this lovely blog…If you can't plow a field to feed others, remember that there are food pantries all over in need of donations. Peace. :)
I love what you wrote here. It's uplifting to think that there are others who feel the same way about treating the land in a healthy way. Something that heals many things at the same time!
sandi, I can't believe I have been ignorant all this time of how really beautiful your heart is. I am so glad for these chances to get to know you better, this is such an exciting idea, how can it be brought to fruition I wonder?
you are so right, sandi; either we work to heal the earth, or the earth will just shut down to heal itself leaving us to forge for ourselves in some distant planet somewhere else (or not); and it does not take much on our part … really; remember the Hudson River about 20 years ago? It was doomed. But we just put a little effort into cleaning up, and the earth recovered quite nicely; we forget that we are all one huge ecosystem – that we are separate from our agricultural lands is only an illusion
Laurie, thanks for pointing out the rainbow, who knows how it got there? I love the quality of October light, at no other time in the year does it have that rich, golden color that gilds the landscape. I know you'll enjoy your visit to the exhibit this afternoon, that seems as if it would be a much friendlier way to view artwork than your typical stark gallery.
—JM, hey there, It appalls me at the waste so many take for granted. That's one of the reasons I got chickens again, I threw away so much bread to the cows every week that I finally said to Me, you could be getting more out of this than cow pies. One of my better thoughts. Thanks for your Thoughts.
—Hi, Jeannie, your comment had me laughing out loud, at the time the photograph was taken, I looked very much like a dirt-dauber. I had looked up from my work and noticed the sun was putting a last polish on the day and thought, This moment will never come again, catch it now and save it for the cold winter months and be glad that you did. Having done it, I wanted to share it with my friends. Thanks.
Thanks, Harmony, there is so much taken for granted that I think the last one we think of is the One we are walking on. When I think of all the natural disasters that are occurring nearly every day, I think if I were Gaia, I would be very irritated too with what people are doing to my beautiful self. Of course there is food for every one, we just throw it away before it can be used.
—Gia, of course you would be there! If I can't count on my friends to help, how would I get things done? Communal living? That would take some thought, certainly more like the Shakers, I lived through the Woodstock Generation's idea of communal living, I think they are all Financial Advisers these days.
—Hi, Liza, there is something so elemental about working the soil with your hands and God Forgive me, tools that don't reguire petrolium products and a mechanics hands to keep them moving. It creates for me a quiet, contemplative space in time to let troublesome things drain away, and as the body is wearied with labor the mind is refreshed with peace and well-being. For me, time to reflect and meditate does not always have to be spent in withdrawal from the world, instead working with Gaia, herself, provides an insight and balm to the soul that can't be found elsewhere. You, who are so attuned to Nature, know this yourself. I would share it with others so their hearts could be healed as well.
Hey there, Nicole, it's not a new idea, it's the idea that worked for thousands and thousands of years until man discovered a way to make short-cuts and created burn-out. So much of prime agricultural land has become worthless, it is virtually on life-support furnished by the major chem. co. who are now beginning to suffer their own backlash. There was a perfect and beautiful balance to the process that has now been thrown off kilter by the 'New! Improved! Fast-Acting!” products creating by companies whose names I won't mention for fear of soiling my tongue. I'm not saying turn back the clock, just take what we know and rearrange the pieces to create a better pattern of living.
Barbara, I can always count on your cool mind to see the bottom line, and looking down, I see that bottom line approaching. Not in my lifetime or yours, not our children's or even the grandchildren's. The day will come that the human body will have to adapt to ingesting agricultural poisons with every mouthful of food. When it comes down to having to buy every single thing they eat, people will have lost the right to demand clean, wholesome food, they will by then have no choice. With organics foods slowly coming into it's own, it is still very expensive for the bulk of the population. Hey, I'm preaching to the choir here! I know this, you know this, but do the American People know this? Believe me, American agri-biz hopes not.
wonderful thoughts. I'm really tired or I'd write more…Sandi, you have to come have a meal up here at 61 Main, a locally owned restaurant where much of the food is grown at Whitestone Community Farms, here in Pickens County. I'm amazed and happy to say that twice now over the past month I've gone in to have supper on a Friday night and been told they were full up for the night. People love the flavors and freshness of the local food. I hope maybe these burgeoning efforts as well as the ones that have been around awhile will begin to seed some longterm changes in how we deal with land and sustenance.
Laura, I'd like to take you up on that offer, very soon , in fact before I get too busy at work. I did take the summer off, grew a nice, organic garden, with enough over-flow to take it to the Farmer's Market at Canton. Let's get together and have a meal and a Gaia chat. I was just so surprised to find a Fellow Gaian right next door! I'm also familiar with the Whitestone area and have done a little exploring and hiking there.
sandi, you are right, we have to regain that wisdom that knew how to balance the taking from the earth with giving back so that it doesn't become depleted. bows
It's still out there, Nicole, people just quit listening.
Quit listening as if you can stop listening to yourself. Oh well the rest of life will keep on talking till we just don't see it coming then I guess either.
=}