Lane- Janet McKinney and I are working on a group to go out and join you guys for the Staple Crops Festival.

Lane- One more thing. Did you know Janet McKinney and I participated in the Transition Training up in Bellingham? We were able to raise enough money through the market for our tuition plus a fifty dollar gift from someone in Skagit. We walked away from the weekend with a whole lot of tools and support. I personally was affirmed of much that I had been working on independently. More to talk about face to face.
Sarai

Lane- my family and I would love to visit. Unfortunately everyone is heading back to school and we are "Transitioning" our schedules (I think it is funny to use that word as much as possible). I would love to talk face to face. This computer thing is hard for me. I talked to Jodi from the Co-op last Friday and she said you had just contacted her. I'm going to continue to correspond with her, she's very busy, but I think that we can find a complimentary way of working together that will help rather than add weight.
Janet Mckinney and I are going up Highway 20 soon and talking to the guy that runs the Concrete community garden and the Guys around the Farrell Farm. I heard through the grape vine that Sun Ray and wife also want to hear more. The Bow area is bubbling with activity and we are beginning to come together. The Bow Little Market is taking off and it is becoming an excellent place to network with the full spectrum of people and is beginning to provide aid for those who need it. I think a small speech I gave at a house concert at Kate Bower's house in Bow will be aired on the radio (cross your fingers). Although I didn't mention Transition specifically I spoke of the Market being one of many positive actions that will move us towards resilient communities and away from a world that is daily looking more scary and irrational and finished it off with "We do not need to participate!"
I would love to come visit and make a real connection with you and your wife and discuss how we can be mutually helpful and be inspired by your spot. I loved it. Your comment to my site was partially on my hotmail account and was cut off mid word. So it read..."Our non-profit on Guemes will hopefully develop into a Transition demon..." I think we should just leave it at that.
Sarai

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check out that website and organization. The Christian tradition bears some responsibility for making this mess, and it has much to contribute to get us out of it. I appreciate your lending a hand.

Hi Lane, I have a month left before I prepare to move my body to warmer latitudes for the month of Feb, where I hope to experience restorative days, and share my skills with locals both as a permaculture designer, and an edible-forest-gardener...I often end up off the grid in rural areas, in a tent, immersed in the blessings of being in the now moments.

Christy is doing well. I have not yet found the right timing or encouragement to have her focus some of her gifts towards our local Whatcom Initiative...but maybe in the future! Some of us tend to standback from 'movements', including myself & other longtime permis, and there is so much to do outside in the gardens even in the cold winter!
..Its still amazes me that everything we write on the web can possibly be viewed by anyone interested...Yikes..

Lane, The Cascadia site is looking great. I'm really trying to pull myself away from the online black box, but I keep receiving inspiration to post at some online sites, or organize or share wordsmith visioning....Yes to the idea about creating a vision statement, or a vision Open-Question, that connects us all and keeps us focused through time & challenges.

Lane, yep thats a new flower pic...Taken from some beauties I had clipped for a bouquet from my garden.
The vibrant colors where amazing to see held close up in my hand!
I love to be surrounded by the bees & pollinators being nourished by the flowers!
I hope you're cold will move on easily...remember lots of water, rest, fresh air, & nourishment!

There are times when I hold a precious book in my hands, I remember the living tree it came from, and I remember beautiful paper you made that I held in my hands at the 2008 convergence, and the paper scrolls made by other paper-makers long ago!

Good work Lane. Cascadia is lucky to have you championing their interests. Get in touch with me anytime. I'll be glad to be off assistance where I can.