Last week, while at the corporate books store (so that my son could play with the "domas" train set) I spied Barbara Kingsolver's new book, " Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life". I can't stop talking about it. While being didactic, Kingsolver is never condescending. The book is by turns a diary, an exegesis on food politics and a garden manual. Just when you think that there's no hope for humanity, Kingsolver brings it back to home and heart with her loving descriptions of root vegetables and asparagus.
This book makes me want to experience food on another level. It makes me think that there is something out there I'm missing out on. Since I hate to miss out, I'm starting a garden. There can be nothing more important then what we put on the table for our children. And if I've learned anything about food politics in the last year, it's that consumers shape the market. Spending a few extra cents now to buy local will make all the difference in the future.
To find out more about buying local go to the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's website: asapconnections.org.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Mother's Day Roots
Mother's Day Proclamation, by Julia Ward Howe
Written in 1870
Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have breasts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
For more on making Mother's Day a celebration of peace and reconnecting with the day's roots, visit www.rediscovermothersday.org.
In Asheville, NC, consider joining the peace vigil at All Souls Cathedral at 5:30pm on Mother's Day or the Women in Black silent vigils every Friday from 5:00-6:00pm at Vance Monument downtown.
Written in 1870
Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have breasts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
For more on making Mother's Day a celebration of peace and reconnecting with the day's roots, visit www.rediscovermothersday.org.
In Asheville, NC, consider joining the peace vigil at All Souls Cathedral at 5:30pm on Mother's Day or the Women in Black silent vigils every Friday from 5:00-6:00pm at Vance Monument downtown.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Mom is one smart CEO!
Here are links to two recent articles about motherhood:
Mom Deserves a Raise in 2007
http://www.salary.com/aboutus/layoutscripts/abtl_default.asp?tab=abt&cat=cat012&ser=ser041&part=Par639&isdefault=0
Looks like a stay at home mom's annual salary is estimated at about $138,000. Yes, she's super mom. She's a cook, housekeeper, janitor, and CEO of the home.
and
How Motherhood Makes You Smarter
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/emotrecovery/1428975.html
This is how we earn the big bucks, so to speak.
As always, these articles get me back to how women's work and families are valued in our community and in our country. How are we recognized and compensated for our work and contributions? I think it can be more than just Mother's Day.
Mom Deserves a Raise in 2007
http://www.salary.com/aboutus/layoutscripts/abtl_default.asp?tab=abt&cat=cat012&ser=ser041&part=Par639&isdefault=0
Looks like a stay at home mom's annual salary is estimated at about $138,000. Yes, she's super mom. She's a cook, housekeeper, janitor, and CEO of the home.
and
How Motherhood Makes You Smarter
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/emotrecovery/1428975.html
This is how we earn the big bucks, so to speak.
As always, these articles get me back to how women's work and families are valued in our community and in our country. How are we recognized and compensated for our work and contributions? I think it can be more than just Mother's Day.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Hating Hillary
The January/February issue of Mother Jones featured an article by Jack Hitt on why we hate Hillary Clinton. His article guides the reader through modern archetypes that highlight why there is such hatred for Hillary. The article helped me to reevaluate my own thoughts on Hillary. Of course now that Oprah is endorsing Obama there may be no more reason to explore our misogyny.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/index.html#4336
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/index.html#4336
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Marketing to moms video
I came across a video on Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog about marketing to moms. I admit, it made me laugh out loud. Check it out at http://www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com/comments/marketing_to_moms/. It's marketing, MTV, moms, and minivans all in one. Oh and by the way, it's actually a commerical for Zima.
And I have to add this, because some have asked -- what does this have to do with mothers electing? It's because if we are this big a demographic -- a force to be reckoned with, and marketed to -- politicians will do the same. And I'm curious to see how the 2008 candidates market themselves to us.
And I have to add this, because some have asked -- what does this have to do with mothers electing? It's because if we are this big a demographic -- a force to be reckoned with, and marketed to -- politicians will do the same. And I'm curious to see how the 2008 candidates market themselves to us.
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