B e t r a y T h e A g e

Nature Transformed: Edward Burtynsky's Vermont Quarry Photography in Context it currently showing at the Middlebury College Museum of Art until April 22. "In this exhibition of Burtynsky's iconic photographs of the quarries of Vermont are explored within the context of the geological and social history of the area including in particular the Italian immigrant stoneworkers in the granite quarries near Barre. " This rather stunning display of large frame photography in Vermont quarries is jaw dropping. The large panels of photographs have a mixture of texture, shapes and color that pull the viewer in and won't let go. This free display is not to be missed by lovers of Vermont history and photography. 

Tar Sands Action | 2·17·2013 at the Washington Monument from John Picklap on Vimeo .

Marching around an empty White was not such a terrible thing. Golfing with oil executives is the height of irony. Won't be takin away that oil subsidy any time soon as suggested by Bernie Sanders proposed bill. Cozy!

The buses converged on Washington DC with what was the largest rally demanding action to mitigate Climate Change. I was fortunate to be able to join 3 bus loads of fellow Vermonters on what turn out to be quite chilly and blustery even by Vermont standards. It really didn't matter that almost no one was downtown when we marched, it really didn't matter that Barak was golfing with Tiger Woods as we chanted at the White House. We were there to show the world that complacency is not sustainable. And, if you tried to ignore the issue on this day and the days that followed, you had better not watch NBC, CBS, CNN, CSPAN, Univision, Telemondo, The freakin Weather Channel, or just about any other media . We, the voice of sanity, clearly are not going away. You could feel that in the commitment and emotion from the speakers as well as the chanting and signs of the marchers. A serious commitment was made by 50,000 people, many who travelled long distances to march in the cold.  ...

Bus loads of Vermonters will be driving 10 hours on Saturday to get to Washington DC to partake in a protest to get us on track with limiting the destruction caused by excessive carbon in our atmosphere. For anyone who has been reading this blog since 2004 will know, that it is real, and business as usual presents a bleak future. This blog is not going to change anyones mind about climate change, however, the collective we must change habits and change them quickly.  It is scary to think that even if we release 0 carbon, there will still be a lag time when carbon will continue to be released. Anyone with any interest can search this information on the web. It becomes quite plain and simple. We need a massive redirection and will power is the only thing standing in the way. Individual and political will power to make change our approach to using energy and moving people from one place to another.  Join us won't you?

It was a dreary rainy day with matted leaves and partially naked trees getting ready for a hibernation of sorts. Misty clouds and fog obscured the mountains around us, half hiding, as if they were playing a game of hide and seek. Many of the vegtables are in their final throws as the season changes and tells them to to relinquish their bounty. What to do? The photographer in me wants to post a picture, however, imagination is a powerful tool that pulls out smells and sights from years of stored up experiences, so I post none today. I picked the leeks this morning from what started as puny little sprouts now with massive dark green leaves and stocky snow white roots. I picked three for the potato leek soup we had been holding of on making until today. The recipe called for basil, chives and parsley, all picked from the same plot. A pot cooked this afternoon a released it deliciousness for the evening meal. We baked a meatloaf with carrots, and some of the onions so we would have it ...

Gorgeous, beautific day in autunmal Vermont today. Spent the day raking leaves with loved ones, loading the truck with wood and stacking a row on the front porch in preparation of blustery days ahead. What more could one want, really? Breathing, loading, raking, vibrance, laughing, it's what we do this time of year.

The Dalai Lama visited Middlebury College today on the leg of a short tour through the US. Tickets were sold out quickly, though it was possible to watch through closed circuit TV at a variety of locations at Middlebury, and it was streamed through the colleges website. I got to watch it at home, coffee in hand this Saturday morning. What can be written about this man in this limited space. He is the nearest thing we have to Ghandi. I talked to someone at a work who was pissed that the tickets were "sold out." I told him that he could stream it from home, and he said " I want to feel his presence." Ya, we all want to feel his presence. His themes are compassion and respect.......he bolded stated that he is a marxist in regards to the equal distribution of income, yet praised capitalism for the tremendous innovations that have resulted. The dude is unflinching in his ability to seek the truth, no barriers, no limits. His holiness emanates love. I believe that hi...

Carpooling has been a hit in France and may be coming to a town near you. Let's jump in! More...

Markey/Waxman Report

I was reading somewhere, that one of the challenges we face is that the consequences of a changing climate are not always felt locally. That the consequences of unleashing ancient hydrocarbons buried for millions of years do not necessarily hit the average person over the head in order to get more action on these issues. It is well documented that the naysayers, though unbacked by science and reason, hold a disproportionate control over the media who timidly have been unwilling to present climate change as the biggest challenge ever to face humanity. Here in Vermont, we have little in the way of energy resources and are dependent mostly on importing our energy. James Hanson, the NASA scientist who blew the whistle years ago is not sleeping very well these days as he wonders if we have reached the tipping point where nothing we do may mitigate the disaster that we are experiencing in the natural world and for what is in store for us. All things local make more sense when it comes t...

Mitt will take us to place that is difficult to comprehend..

Stepped out of human turmoil for awhile today, a purging of sorts. Hiked with old friend Lillian, Jean-Marie, and new friends visiting from Massachusetts. Three of the new friends were Biologists. I assumed that they suffered more than most in regards to understanding the degradation of the natural world. Quite to the contrary, they talked about the heroism all around us....I was told that they were also more aware of the great efforts to improve things, to bring about solutions.........We all need a good dose of that.. While hiking a trail traversing valley's and peaks in Lil s neck of the woods, we came upon a man alone on the trail viewing the vistas.....came to be he is a musician and plays Irish music with a number of different groups. We talked of a great many things both Irish and music. How striking to find a kindred soul who admires Kevin Crawford of Lunasa as much as I do. I leave with an invite to play trailing in the breeze....... Lastly, a young couple repelling ...

I am coming to face to face with homelessness daily. In Vermont there appears to be no Section 8 Vouchers available, and organizations that process Section 8 Grants are not even taking names for waiting lists. Meanwhile I hear about a family with 5 kids staying in a motel and tonight is going to be the last night. No one knows where they will be tomorrow. We could you a good dose of widespread outrage right about now.

Rutland Farmer's Food Center is a farmer's market like no other. It is probably the best Farmer's Market in Vermont and has grown to become a vibrant and important organization in this central western city. Take a moment to watch the video and you will most likely be inspired by the character that makes up many of the residents of Rutland. A movie "The Blood of This Town" most exemplifies this spirit based on the annual blood drive in Rutland and its off the charts success.

http://nyti.ms/gKVevb

Here is a thought provoking piece from today's Times. Having been active in the locavore movement where I live, I have experience with the issues expressed in this piece. I like the message that the writer poses and that is " let's not ignore some of the larger problems" and does a good job of putting the energy used in agriculture into perspective. What are your thoughts? "But the local food movement now threatens to devolve into another one of those self-indulgent — and self-defeating — do-gooder dogmas. Arbitrary rules, without any real scientific basis, are repeated as gospel by “locavores,” celebrity chefs and mainstream environmental organizations. Words like “sustainability” and “food-miles” are thrown around without any clear understanding of the larger picture of energy and land use. The result has been all kinds of absurdities. For instance, it is sinful in New York City to buy a tomato grown in a California field because of the energy spent to truck it...

The Future Alway Comes How many times did we stand in front of the black polished marble heart and think about when Mack would arrive here? And today he gets ready for tomorrow Tonight the moon shined ever so handsomely framed by clouds that never existed before until I adored them tonight I also saw a face in the moon as I drove that ribbon of empty highway from Castleton to West Rutland This earliest of projective tests still toys with us despite our smartness We see what we want Isn't it a bit unsettling? The weather? It still feels like the middle of July as I remember it Though no lightning bugs, they visited and left in June For those who listen and watch there is a change all around us I think it came to me in a dream at Kathy's While the wind came suddenly with a pounding rain and whipping trees I was confused at first But then it became recognizable to those who listen and watch My dream was that it had started You know that when you strip away all of the distractions ...

EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. — Erica Zimmerman and her husband spent months pasture-raising pigs on their farm here, but when the time came to take them to slaughter, an overbooked facility canceled their appointment. With the herd in prime condition, and the couple lacking food and space to keep them, they frantically called slaughterhouses throughout the state. After several days they found an opening, but their experience highlights a growing problem for small farmers here and across the nation: too few slaughterhouses to meet the growing demand for locally raised meat.