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December, 2008 - Issue #91

 

WINTER IS UPON US

 

We do our best to make the short, cold days of winter cheery.  The birds and squirrels don't seem to mind.  To be fair, there were some pretty warm days in December and we spent a part of most every day outside.  But for the most part, we only dart outside  to snap a photo or take the vegetable peelings to the compost pile.  Good friends and inside projects are the key to surviving and we have plenty of both.  Here, Haruka and Camille work on decorations for a memorial party in honor of Mark.

 

TOURING A HYDRO-ELECTRIC PLANT

 

Bob joined a group from CCCC (Central Carolina Community College) for a tour of the hydro-electric plant in Saxapahaw.  We were taken with the simplicity of the sign on the building.  Click on the photo to see the detail.

 

ENDURING TECHNOLOGY

   

The brick building houses lots of big equipment used to harness the power of water for human use.

 

CRAFT NIGHT

   

 Everyone in our circle of friends has been working on their Christmas presents and we take turns hosting the group.  On December 10th, it was our turn to host Craft Night.  Jeremy sewed patches on his old jeans, Jack made smudge sticks, Adah and Rob made baskets and Mary Beth knitted scarf.  More photos here: .Craft Night at Camelina

 

TEMPEH BACON

Same as it ever was and oh so delicious!  We keep the wok handy for deep frying this flavorful, nutritious plant-based protein.  Bob makes the Tempeh in ten pound batches at least once a week. 

 

BANANATORIUM AND OTHER WINTER SIGHTS AT PIEDMONT BIOFUELS

   

Lyle brought half of the bananas inside to see how they do and so far they are staying alive.  Much of the other landscaping has gone dormant.

 

Nevertheless, on a sunny day there is always beauty to be found, whether it is in the native grasses featured in the Biodiversity beds or in the fanciful paint on the out buildings.

 

A MAN AND HIS GARDEN

Bob puts a lot of hours in our vegetable garden.  He enjoys the work, the food and the meditative qualities of the place.

 

By the time the sun sets on the garden, Bob has them all covered up for the night.

 

EXPANSION

 

This month, Bob decided to double the size of the garden.  He pulled up the original boards and double dug a new plot.  Then he began mulching the new area, using the old trampoline cover and board from the scrap pile.  After that, he brought in another pick up truck load of compost and shoveled it into the new space.

 

Bob pounded in a few new fence posts and Camille helped helped bring the fence around.

 

THE PROOF IS IN THE EATING

 

As a direct result of Bob's planning, planting, shoveling, fencing and covering, we will have fresh spinach, lettuce, arugula and herbs all winter.  The garlic we'll harvest next summer is coming up to the left of the potted herbs.

 

A TIME OF SHARING

 

Christmas week was a time of cooking and eating with friends.  Camille and Michelle baked French Bread to go with soup and salad and dined with Tim and Bob.  A couple of days later, we went to Jason and Haruka's and traded cooking secrets. More photos can be found here: Christmas Week 2008

 

A SOMBER END TO THE MONTH

 

Mark Estill caught an unscheduled bus to the afterlife after a short bout with cancer, giving his family and friends little time to prepare themselves.  A ceremony and party  at the Plant gave his many well wishers a chance to say goodbye, share memories and show support .  More photos here:  A Tribute to Mark

THIS MONTH'S QUOTES:

"I've changed my mind. I used to wait for the explosion, the big crash, the sudden chaos that would destroy the neighborhood. Instead, things are unraveling, disintegrating bit by bit." - Octavia E Butler from "Parable of the Sower"

"I think it's vital to de-professionalize the public debate on matters that vitally affect the lives of ordinary people. It's time to snatch our futures back from the "experts." Time to ask, in ordinary language, the public question and to demand, in ordinary language, the public answer." - Arundhati Roy from "Power of Politics"

In its own independent attempt to penetrate the bailout, the Government Accountability Office learned that "the standard agreement between Treasury and the participating institutions does not require that these institutions track or report how they plan to use, or do use, their capital investments." - Frank Rich from his essay, "Who Wants to Kick a Millionaire?"

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