Certified Organic & Roman Empire

[Guest guest]

Certified Organic: Now I could be speaking out of turn here because

I have not checked if the standards for growing " organic " in Texas

have changed, but as I recalled your farm has to have been organic

for at least 3 years before being certified, AND (and this is the

clincher), adjoining farms also have to not be using pesticides,

herbicides, etc. That's where it becomes particularly difficult,

because that is something you simply cannot control -- because if

they aren't organic, their pesticides can " waft " over to your

property.

 

I grow organic, mainly because I'm lazy. We don't use pesticides on

our cow pastures, but we do herbicide them occasionally.

 

Roman Empire: Yeah, I don't buy this whole routine of how we need to

let illegal aliens in for jobs we don't want to do. I don't buy it at

all. But we have created a situation of having a lot of people not

have a sense of self and what they can accomplish because of the

welfare system. I watched something on LINK TV channel (I have

satellite) called something like " The Gardens of New York " .

WONDERFUL SHOW! Basically, the prison system in New York (mainly

Rikers) had a program for some of its more trusted inmates, both male

and female. They were trained to take care of gardens around NYC.

They followed these inmates, interviewed them. Most were poor blacks,

hispanics, in for drugs and stealing to support their habits, had

always been on welfare.

 

Every single one of them seemed to have awakened after planting

something, and seeing it not only live, but grow and thrive!! They

experienced such a sense of accomplishment " I can actually do

something and be successful! " Once they were through with their

time, they were given jobs with the city. One of the women started

her own flower arranging and plant business. Only one " fell off the

wagon. "

 

There are people here in the U.S. who are willing to work -- there's

just a whole mindset of " being taken care of " that has to be overcome.

 

Dede

[Guest guest]

On Behalf Of edgetexlady

Friday, October 27, 2006 8:31 AM

 

Certified Organic & Roman Empire

 

Roman Empire: Yeah, I don't buy this whole routine of how we need to

let illegal aliens in for jobs we don't want to do. I don't buy it at

all. But we have created a situation of having a lot of people not

have a sense of self and what they can accomplish because of the

welfare system. I watched something on LINK TV channel (I have

satellite) called something like " The Gardens of New York " .

WONDERFUL SHOW! Basically, the prison system in New York (mainly

Rikers) had a program for some of its more trusted inmates, both male

and female. They were trained to take care of gardens around NYC.

They followed these inmates, interviewed them. Most were poor blacks,

hispanics, in for drugs and stealing to support their habits, had

always been on welfare.

 

Dede, I am a fervent fan of LINK (you'll find a support button on our

website) and this show brought me to tears. Those of us who work with the

plants know their importance to our connection to the earth and to the

universe itself. I'm always looking for ways to help re-connect people

(especially young people) so that we honor and preserve (and enjoy the

bounty of) the wonderful plants, given to us by our respective God. The

profound changes in these disenfranchised people after this experience.

While not all survived and thrived when back in society, most of them did.

 

Butch's post referencing Mo Ibrahim's philanthropy and intent is wonderful,

but I can't help but worry about the decline of our own economy, health,

education and security. The balance of power is severely skewed here in the

US and we could easily slip into a similar state of impoverishment unseen

here in the US if we continue the trends that have emerged in the past

decade. Not a discussion for here, however.

 

Be Well,

Marcia Elston http://www.wingedseed.com

" Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot. " Hausa Saying from

Nigeria