Thursday Open Thread 5-17-2018
Morning - The dream of creating a new community is not a modern desire, but a human one.
These self contained communal buildings, Fujian Tulou were built from the 12th to 19th century in Southern China. The first Fujian Tulou were built prior to influence of European sea trade, Marxism and capitalism. The crop beds and terraces to feed the villagers are located outside the fortified buildings.
Unlike other housing structures around the world with architecture illustrating social hierarchy, Fujian Tulou exhibits its unique characteristic as a model of community housing for equals. All rooms were built the same size with the same grade of material, same exterior decoration, same style of windows and doors, and there was no "penthouse" for "higher echelons"; a small family owned a vertical set from ground floor to "penthouse" floor, while a larger family would own two or three vertical sets.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ_Z58r3mIs]
A couple of videos on major influences in the development of Chinese culture created by a Chinese American that might be interesting.
The Book of Changes, I Ching or Yi Jing books in English are often several hundred pages trying to explain 64 linear pictures (hexagrams) created from 8 core pictures (trigrams). Cultural use of trigrams and hexagrams originated when Chinese civilization was primarily located in a temperate climatic zone with 4 seasons.
[video:https://youtu.be/nrbXY3Bjn2k]
Basic overview of Buddhism, at less than 11 minutes it does not delve into the various practices. Buddhism was developed in a more tropical environment with monsoon seasons.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJWPjTqlt_E]
Farmers Markets or Grow Your Own
If one has the time to create compost or buy the raised beds placed directly on the ground appear to work well regardless of your soil. Only 3/4 acre is used for this commercial, teaching and home garden.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFT4O51DuQY]
From Australia - advice for easy to grow prolific crops.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNh4DYm0GzY]
Farm Report
Days have been a little warmer. A refreshing drink before the sprinkles came up to full pressure.
Blue skys and green grass
The skyline colors were dramatic last night as the setting sunlight bounced between clouds and earth.
The dark bands is rain in the distance. Lightening shot across the band a few times.
Comments
Good morning, SOE~~
Slow morning on the c99p. Late spring is finally creeping in with lovely weather - now, if we could only get some rain, here in NM. We are dry - so very dry - I worry about fire.
Nice videos. I enjoyed watching the one about Fujian Tulou. The I Ching was interesting, as well - I had an I Ching reading as a young woman. Wish I had written it down!
Thanks also for the videos on growing. Always informative - always something to learn.
Your pictures are lovely. Thank you for sharing.
Have a beautiful day, everyone!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Time is always short in Late Spring
when there is so much to outside. Summer is around the corner and often busier.
Rain a the last 36 hours has been fairly significant. Hope you get some soon. As more people live, travel and play in an area the potential for fires increases.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Indeed. :) n/t
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Good morning. Great OT, SOE, even thought I haven't
watched the videos yet. Great pictures too.
I made my raised beds out of salvaged materials, but I saw a great idea for those with the money to do it. Sidepocket at DK built some out of cinder blocks laid without mortar on top of hardware cloth laid out to match the bed footprint (to keep moles and such out). I'm not sure how many levels he went up, and then he filled both the beds and the holes in the blocks with soil. Regular crops go in the beds and things that don't need much room, like carrots, onions, leeks, etc can go in the holes. Off the top of my head, that would be durable, termite proof, mole proof and weather proof. If some holes were dedicated for the purpose, poles could be inserted for (removeable) fencing or covers for use as needed.
There are now I Ching apps for android devices and apple phones that will throw the I Ching for you, give the results and interpret them. Also, a guy named Randy Handley wrote a translation version for today's world and society in today's language and metaphors. It is available as a Kindle book, which means that you cn use it with any device or computer upon which you have installed the freebie kindle reader software/app. For it, however, you still have to throw the yarrow or coins yourself.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I Ching Example:
Regular I Ching app gives:
Street Corner Ching (tangled copypasta, failed paragraph breaks) Near the title is a graphic of the Hexagram, from top down: unbroken, unbroken, broken, broken, unbroken, unbroken. NB: no changing lines
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
good afternoon
This time of year early morning is the time to do chores, so I'm chiming in late. Our spinach has played out and the lettuce about to bolt. We always try to gather a mess of salad greens for the Florida Folk Festival on Memorial weekend. We often have a big potluck between several camps/groups.
This is the time of year where rain is welcome. We got .25 inches last week and so far just 0.1 yesterday, but they are calling for showers through next week. Looks like we are in our spotty summer rainfall pattern.
I've been holding off on mowing the fields. We've got good wildflower bloom this year and I'm letting it all go to seed. The blueberries are loaded and we need to get some netting over them this year. Last year the turkeys got most of them. I'll leave them a bush or two to access...best to share the wealth!
Been staying busy and hope you have worthwhile activities too. Have a good day all!
PS beautiful sunset and storm.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Replying late as usual these days . . .
Blue Bonnets from two weeks ago. This field is on the north side of my garden patch.
Very much enjoyed the OT and comments. Enjoyed the spiritual info . . . very wonderful. Still have to watch the gardening videos - may do that now.
This is my second week to be home all week. Been getting up before the sun to work in the garden until the heat hits. We had 5 inches of rain less than 2 weeks ago, but already need more. The ground water is at a great level IMO, but it is warm enough that the surface dries up in the heat of the day. Have mulched around everything with old hay, and that is helping.
It looks beautiful right now. Hoping for a harvest.
Have a great week!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
gardening videos . . . very inspriational!
Thanks
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo