WALL.E

There wasn't too much the kids or I could do today so we decided we'd see a movie.  I cannot recommend more highly the movie, Wall.E.  There is so much love packed into this feature.  The creativity, with regard to machinery interacting with each other and how everything snaps together, is mind-boggling.  I hope NASA pays attention to this one.  There is a very important message in this flick for everyone and anyone to understand.  We ARE destroying the planet.  I won't spoil it for you but it involves waste, robots, air, plants, the million year old cockroach, love, laziness, obesity.  It has a lot to do with gardening, sustainable living, the importance of plant life and teaching children NOT to use the clicker for their tv and instead going out and DOING SOMETHING!

We grabbed dinner afterward and always talk about what we've just watched.  There was applause after the movie!  Remember applauding for a movie?  The soundtrack was beautiful with Peter Gabriel singing the closing song.  Plus, even little children understand the importance given to the Earth in this film.  They picked up on it so quickly that "She needs to be cared for."

That is the message.  The other is how on earth, with everything we've been given to be happy (not that we're put here to be happy), did we became such lazy, miserable, fat people?  

This is a wonderful, thought-provoking movie for all ages.  Don't have kids?  Go by yourself.  It was a joy.

NOTE:  The Ebert & Roper Show has stated that they don't believe the beginning of the film is fast enough to keep a young child's attention.  This is bs.  They also don't think young children are smart enough to follow along with regard to environment or sloth.  I have a seven year old.  Granted, she's a smart seven year old.  Roper obviously believes that our children are as naive as we once were and can't absorb the information.  Roper obviously has ADD and needs to take his Ritalin.

Georgia Street Update!

We've had some pretty severe rainstorms over the past few weeks which was probably started by the extreme humidity that came before it.   Cub posted a few photos on his site of the after-effects and we've all been soaked by all the water.  Still, I'm not going to complain.  Considering how the rest of the country is drenched lately and the fact that a friend's home in New Jersey floated away (as she watched), I'm going to count my blessings.  My plants will be fine, but soggy.  Cub's plants will be fine (and could possibly handle a drought for awhile) but mushy.

Except for old, dead trees, everyone's alive and well in the City and suburbs.

Shed Envy

I have a dream.  

Somewhere to get away from everyone either in Winter or Spring.  A little light bulb for those evenings when I flee the rest of the family - even if it's just steps away.  Cold weather won't be a problem.  I like the cold.  Heat will be a problem.  Therefore, if I have a light bulb, I have electricity and will somehow figure out how to shove a window air-conditioner into a small space.

Problem:  My city would tax the living life out of me for building anything a human could occupy for more than 10 minutes.  Therefore, no shed.  

Shed envy.  Very depressing.

What To Do With A Dead Tree

Because Michigan is filled with so many Ash trees, I was thinking of the one located in Cub's garden and how to work around it.  I found an idea!  String up your dead tree and grow pole beans around it!

(Photos from Future House Farm)

Great Recycling Ideas!

I am a huge fan of anyone who can take throw-aways and turn them into something beautiful.  Little Beach Homestead has wonderful ideas for fencing her garden with re-usable materials.  Old doors as fences.  Who would have thought?  Very cool looking.  She also found an old tool box in her garage and had her husband mount it on their fencing and voila!  Instant eye-candy.

Personally, I'd like to knock down the house next door to mine and use that half-acre as extended farm land and a few farm animals (goats, chickens).  We could have our own neighborhood garden.  Unfortunately, it probably will cost 7-10k to knock down a farm house that's sinking into the ground and one that no one wants to buy.  

Anyone want to buy a sinking old farmhouse on a 1/2 acre that floods every Spring?  40k.

 Bring bulldozer.

Georgia Street Update!

I stopped by to see Cub today but he wasn't around so I took a few quick photos before having to move on to Bellevue Street where I am starting some research into a building there.  It looks as if the rain has helped quite a bit and Cub has planted so much recently that I'm sure the whole neighborhood is anticipating a lush garden by Fall.  This should be an amazing harvest and I hope to be there to photograph lots of happy, little faces.

Here's hoping DYes posters also stop by to see Cub and his family who have worked so hard to make a small dream come true.

Click on photos for a larger view.

Why Detroit MUST Garden

What once was will not be again.  What will be will require many hands.  The wonderful Grace Lee Boggs speaks.

Located behind the old Tiger Stadium, St. Peter's parish and neighborhood friends gather to grow a garden on a street corner.