Category: low-footprint living

HIEROGLYPHIC STAIRWAY, poem by Drew Dellinger

What a treasure!! Just found this recording of the iconic poem, read by the poet himself!!

I first saw this poem in print, on a popular poster. (I had the poster wheat-pasted on the sidewalk-facing blackboard on the west fence of my yard for a couple years, till wind & weather wore it down.)

BTW the recording duration is under 3 minutes. Which means it fits in to the 3-minute time limit of citizen comment period at our City Commission meetings.

I had been thinking I might read this out loud at Commission, but then again instead I might attempt to write a riff, in which the first line will be “What did you do when Daytona was flooding?”

And I will say that these words of mine are inspired by a poem called Hieroglyphic Stairway by Drew Dellinger. And tell them to please check out that poem because it is truly spectacular.

Here is the YouTube link.

https://youtu.be/XW63UUthwSg?si=eURXCEXFH8AK588V

BTW you will be amazed at what you can find on YouTube. If you’re not already using it as a resource, please check it out! It’s also just a great way to play almost any song do you want to hear. (And, I have heard from some musicians that they treat musicians better than some of the other platforms do. If I hear anything else or different, I’ll update you.)

hieroglyphic stairway, drew dellinger, 2:51

Nothing like a soft rainy afternoon to encourage me to get to a really basic maintenance task that I had been meaning to get to for a while! Refreshing existing labels, and writing new labels as needed, on the plastic baggies where the different categories of cords & chargers live. (For the various cords and chargers and other bits associated with electronics, even the relatively minimal quantity of electronics we have.) The blue sharpie marker was ideal for this task.

BTW the black nylon drawstring bag is something that somehow arrived in our house / life a few years ago – I think someone was throwing it away.

A couple years ago I added the embroidery of a lightning-bolt to remind us that this is the bag where chargers & cords live. It was great actually using some of the silver metallic thread from my multigenerational stash of embroidery threads!

PS. Although the consensus among professional organizers seems to be don’t allow yourself a MISC bag (or a MISC drawer etc), I always seem to break that rule LOL. And I myself am actually a professional organizer, so if you too find yourself unable to help breaking that rule, you can have my blessing!

Photos here on my deep green Facebook page

Such a hyperindividualistic and lonely scenario. Probably inevitable that many of us EAs would have this vision, given how hyperindividualistic our capitalist industrialist Anglo-centric culture is.

Why is it that when tribalism memes combine with whiteness, the scenarios always look like either Mad Max or saltine Dreadlock American Gothic? (Don’t answer that, I know why. It’s a rhetorical question.)

PS. Some folks asked what makes it individualistic. And what makes it lonely.

What makes it individualistic is that it ignores the fact that so many cultures worldwide are already living a tribal indigenous sustainable lifestyle.

We don’t have to reinvent it. We just have to stop destroying it, and take a page from their book. We can look all over the Asian continent and African continent, and Mexico, South America, indigenous Australia, the South Sea Islands, the Caribbean etc.

BTW in recent months I seem to have a wealth of reels from Indonesia and the Philippines popping up in my feed. Just one example of why we don’t need to reinvent.

So many traditional cultures all over the world have ALREADY got sustainable Village life down pat. They are close to nature AND they have deep community.

We don’t need to make a Eurocentric reinvention of this, and shouldn’t!
it won’t work as well because we’re not socialized to create community. We can see the fruits of our mis-socialization all around us, it’s not our fault individually, I’m not blaming anyone – I’m just reporting societal reality.

Permaculture design principles & ethics are rooted in observation of nature, and of indigenous ways. And then adding any beneficial pieces of modernity / industrialization, of which there are some! Witness the solar oven, passive solar water heating, etc. And modern tweaks to optimize rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, humanure composting, composting in general. Not everything modern is bad, and these Mad Max type names or romanticizing tribalism tend to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Within this category we need to stop romanticizing hunter-gatherer society in some weird bleached form. Instead look at peoples who are actually living this way successfully for thousands of years. Such as the Masaai.

Also animal-herding tribes such as found in Mongolia and elsewhere in central Asia.

Their ways are rapidly being crushed by creeping colonialism, and we need to just do the work of getting out of the way and allowing them to exist. As opposed to reinventing our own weird take which will not work.

Indigenous cultures alive and well today are who we should look to for the blueprints of how to manage resources and create real community. Including tribal governance etc.

#decolonize #DecenterAnglocentrism

PS. If you’re curious about the various flavors of toxic white tribal / hunter-gatherer / cottagecore type memes, check out “Anastasia Ringing Cedars”, as well as this quote from Tyler Durden which prompted my rantish post.

BTW I learned something new today. Tyler Durden is the name of the character in the popular Hollywood movie Fight Club (1999). I saw this movie but it was years ago, and I don’t have a very detailed memory for movies, and I don’t remember this quote, but here it is:

“In the world I see – you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You’ll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You’ll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you’ll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty car pool lane of some abandoned superhighway.”

Honestly I can’t even tell if that’s meant to be utopia or apocalyptic. But I hear a lot of people quoting this kind of stuff as an example of some sort of weird future paradise. “Sounds about white,” as some of my favorite antiracism teachers say!

We, humanity as a whole, have unprecedented access to information including skill sharing. We are a living library and laboratory of best practices from all times and places. All throughout history, and extending all across the globe in present day as well. Multiple axes — temporal and locational.

Let’s use this wealth to make a society(ies) that’s nurturing to all creation! BTW if you want inspiration, you can also look up “solarpunk” and read some stories and see some beautiful art.

Wrote this in response to a colleague who commented in a thread about doing away with long-distance travel, especially flying. Colleague feels we should not be criticizing the jetsetting perma-bro, but instead focusing our criticism on the Paris-lunching Kardashians of this world.

I replied:

1 Actually, those of us who identify as eco-minded / climate-aware — and ESPECIALLY those of us who identify as ecological *professionals* / climate communicators etc — are the ones who need to hold ourselves to the strictest standards. I have no business expecting a “civilian” (be they Kardashian or just regular folk) to voluntarily rein in their travel or other consumption. WE have to take the lead and set the tone.

My models in this regard are the landscaping reformer Benjamin Vogt, and the professor and “low-footprint motivator” Joshua Spodek, both of whom take a hard line on travel even for professional purposes. They rightfully believe in the power of virtual conferencing / workshops. And they refuse in-person long-distance requests even when it’s uncomfortable to refuse.

2 I don’t know and don’t need/want to know the name of the permie-celeb you reference. There are SO MANY of these guys who fit the same description. So many. I receive their email newsletters and have even taken some of their webinars. Online is a great way for them to disseminate their teachings globally.

And, in each bioregion, there are gifted & knowledgeable people undertaking the physical tasks of planting trees and so on. Part of our job is to identify these local hands / “boots on the ground” and resource them. Empower the locals in each place!

When we get into justifying our flying or other high-footprint activities “because MY work is so important,” we are going down the slippery slope of eco fascism. I get to consume resources; you don’t. No wonder so many people distrust the eco movement as a whole.

3 What we did in our professional lives in the past is what we did in the past. Be it high-flying perma-bro or jetsetting climate-conference attendee. Many of us used to travel to teach, consult, etc. in person.

But times change, and now we have a rich ecosystem of tele-community tools at our fingertips. The rise of virtual learning and conferencing opens up deep worlds of connection ad collaboration — free of the distractions of jet lag and hotel arrangements and expensive meals, all the while constantly worrying about the home front and trying to keep tabs on our families/neighborhood urgencies back home. It’s an exhausting and toxic hamster-wheel.

In travel as in all other areas, the escalating biospheric crisis calls for ratcheting-up our voluntary self-restraint. WE are the ones who need to lead that. No one else has motivation as strong as we do.

4 Core principles and ethics of Permaculture design call for pushing back against the rapacious consumption that has become so normalized we don’t even think about it. This casual and deadly normalization includes submitting to the ruthless extraction of our OWN human energy and life-force; the diversion of our innate creative juice.

Permaculture design principles and ethics instead lead us to prioritize a smaller, slower, more human scale. What a great opportunity we have here to show REAL leadership.

The government is intricately hitched to war and extraction motives, and cannot politically afford to do what we the eco professional sector can & MUST do.

WE have the tools and the inspiration to help people create beautiful livelihoods in their own neighborhoods and bioregions. How cool is that! And it’s already happening. The shift is under way.

5 – PS. Regarding teleconferencing, distance learning and collaboration, the fact is that the Bioneers set an example of success in this mode decades ago! Long before Zoom.

And, the original post was actually my colleagues commenting that they would love to be able to take high-speed rail but can’t spare the time because flying is so much faster. This is to places far across the country.

I replied: Ummm … So just don’t go? Or go less? Or make a long seasonal migration arc or something? Is that not an option? Or just find ways that you don’t have to be in so much of a hurry?

I know we’re not going to change our culture overnight but maybe we can push back against some of the normalization of hurry. And busyness.

If we, the Permaculture leaders and self-employed and ecologically aware, can’t or won’t do it, I don’t know who can.

*******

And the OP that’s being referenced here. Standing up for high-speed rail vs flying. I do have mixed feelings about high-speed rail; I think we should just deal with regular speed. Closer to nature’s natural rhythms.

Especially if high-speed means we have to build more & separate infrastructure. That will chew up yet more land, and people’s homes and locals livelihoods.

But at least advocating rail vs plane is a step in the right direction regardless.

We have to stop being so self-important that we have to Jetset all over the country and be every place five minutes ago.

(Added later for clarity – NOTE – This is a comment on a pattern I see, and not one particular person! It’s actually quite widespread in the ecological movement. And in academia as well. We are inevitably conditioned by the social norms of the society around us.)

BTW speaking of ground transport, I just learned of a trend: the emergence of luxury transport that’s not a private bus. It’s billed as semi private bus service.

Very cushy (Big seats,, and competitive with airlines when you consider the “time overhead” hassle of Airport time especially on a short like 50-minute flight. And on the bus, it’s your rolling office; you can be working the whole time. Yes, this is geared mainly at the business traveler; it’s not an economy service but it still feels like a very good value.

Further Exploration:

• Joshua Spodek website. https://joshuaspodek.com “My mission is to help change American (and global) culture on sustainability and stewardship from expecting deprivation, sacrifice, burden, and chore.”

Two bus services to check out in this up-and-coming category are Vonlane in Texas; and Jet Set in Florida. A Facebook friend who rode Vonlane Austin – Dallas route recently gave them lavish praise on her Facebook page which is how I found out about Vonlane, and learned about this “luxury bus service for the business traveler” category in general.

I appreciate that Vonlane’s website, even though clearly aimed at the luxury-seeking business traveler market as opposed to the “green” market, mentions as an advantage of buses the lower environmental footprint than flying.

• Benjamin Vogt website. thttps://www.monarchgard.com/benjamin-vogt.html “Benjamin is author of several books, including the disruptive, call to action A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future (watch the presentation based on the book) as well as Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design. Active on social media with over 60,000 followers, he runs the Facebook page Milk the Weed and posts frequently on Instagram.”

Made the comments below in response to a super lovely new neighbor who FB posted: “In my heart, I am an Educator, but there is a reason I am a realtor now… 🙁 #unionstrong #notinflorida “

I replied:

Realtors ARE educators. Realtors have a surprising amount of power to make a difference.

As I’m learning over the years, a REALTOR has many opportunities to EDUCATE people of all ages, and shape the future of neighborhoods and communities, thus making life better for everyone.

We are so glad you guys came to our community bringing your beautiful positive energy. You have made a great difference already.

Turning neighborhoods back into real neighborhoods is something realtors have the power to do, and YOU have chosen to exercise that power in such creative and lovely ways. Many people here, including children and parents, are already being helped & influenced by you.

Your adorable Halloween door-hangers inciting us all to participate in Trick or Treat, as small a thing as it might seem, contributed to a recent boost in the neighborhood. Raised the vibration, increased the cohesion, taken things up a notch!

And that’s only one example of the many things you have done in a short time make a difference to our little pocket neighborhood in the tourist district, which often risks becoming a no man’s land.

Realtors also have great power to encourage landscaping that protects the environment and reduces flooding. You are already doing that also and we really appreciate you!

If you ever miss teaching, I could probably steer you to some opptys to do educational radio appearances and lecture series! It’s fun and a lot less restrictive than the school environment.

The Oceanfront Breakers Park building down by the pier used to host talk series that attracted a lot of kids / families. They probably still do! < emoticons: speculative face, green heart, ocean wave >

Thank you Laura, and all other of you REALTORS who are making a big difference in the quality of life and building real community and helping the environment. You know who you are.

Growing up in a real neighborhood may be the most powerful influence in a child’s life, outside of their own family. BTW by rebuilding real neighborhoods where the houses are filled with fulltime residents, we increase the chance that schools will be back in the neighborhoods again.

#NeighborhoodMarketing #StrongTowns #CommunityBuilding

Prompted by a post by Tom Radcliffe, which Sharon Astyk shared on her feed. He talks about enculturation, and how not everybody gets to opt out of pushing back. Specifically in regard to what we have normalized regarding the acceptability of transmission of airborne disease. Totally needlessly.

Here’s the post. Go read it and check out the comments. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Please read the entire comment section under his post as well, as he and other people offer a wealth of easy and commonsense fixes.

Or you can read my reaction commentary below, and then go back and read the OP on Facebook if you’d prefer.

I’m going to quote one extra superbly evocative paragraph from Tom Radcliffe’s post here, because it so hits my righteous disgust snarky-bone. He’s describing an old friend who has an obviously prestigious high-profile role in a global health organization.

“… He works for an organisation that for years actively and aggressively shouted down the idea that covid was airborne. But it’s not just his country and his work. It’s all the details of both. The wine club and dinner parties, the conferences and international flights, the wider family skiing holiday and the yacht club. He can’t leave them or change the way he does them. …”

(News flash, can’t means won’t).

My thoughts:

And in the category of change… Open air spaces exist! Zoom exists!!!

It’s a financial-privilege and caste-privilege issue in addition to the concern for public-health & people with disabilities, people with immune system issues, people who need to protect household members with same, etc.

I’m sick of people saying but wahhhhh wahhhhh zoom is not the saaaaaame.

Most of the people saying that are people with Perdiem’s, or just plain more money for travel & hotels, or just plain people who are not willing to give up the prestige of jetsetting all over the planet for meetings.

And people who aren’t willing to recognize that people with disabilities and immune system issues etc. have something to contribute. And that we are at a great loss without those voices.

It’s no accident that the quality of ecological / climate / social-justice conferences flourished during the shutdown. From an activist standpoint, a lot more voices were included because people didn’t have to travel so we got to hear from a lot more people from all over the planet.

If I sound at all angry, well … Yes. Yes, I am. Because all of this destruction is needless. Destruction of the planet and destruction of people’s lives and everything.

Better yet, stop flying.
But really, even for those who are not ready to take that step for the planet (Why? Why would you not be? Talking to my climate freak-out upper-caste blue-people here. Suck it up and move near the grandkids already, would you please. Or else move them near you and Bankrol their business. You’ll come out ahead financially too.) …

But yeah, even for those of you who are freaked-out about climate change and yet remain weirdly unready to take that basic step for the planet:

Why would we begrudge taxis and Uber’s their livelihood? Why on earth would we want to inflict more driving on the General population, when people are already so harried and besieged?

BTW 40 years ago, back when I was still flying, my Aunt Nancy did the greatest public service to me when I flew from DC to Boston to visit her. (Silly me, I didn’t know about the train back then.) But the act of service she did to me was to write down the public transportation instructions all the way from Logan to her house.

The trip by bus, subway & foot from Logan to my aunt’s house in West Newton was wonderful, and very empowering to me (at the time a young woman who had often been shamed by the people around me that i lacked common sense).

I appreciated my Aunt’s faith in my competency — it’s always been refreshing to me when people trust me to be able to wipe my own ass, in addition to them loving me and wanting my company — AND, not less, I appreciated her introducing me to the public transport in her city. Which we went on to use together,and me by myself, many times during my visit to her. Even though she did own a car.

Gosh I loved the hell out of my Aunt for so many reasons but in addition I love how she cared about people and planet. I still miss her to this day. She’s flying with the angels, or should I say she’s walking and taking the train and bus with the angels in heaven.

Here’s the original article from wall street journal that prompted this. (I didn’t actually read the article, those are behind paywalls. I just read the commentary on their Facebook post about the article.)

Title is, “I’m serious, drive to the airport for the people you love.” (WSJ facebook feed Nov 25ish, 2025; author Dawn Gilbertson.) https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/holiday-airport-pickup-dropoff-traffic-d517babd

“Picking up and dropping off the people you care about at the airport is a hassle—but it’s the ultimate act of service, wrote columnist Dawn Gilbertson in 2023. Hitching a ride with family or friends adds a personal touch the most charming Uber Black driver can’t replicate. ‘If I’m free, I’ll bring anyone to the airport, including my former husband. It saves us all money, too.‘”