I have a deep vision of what I want my life to be like. It is pure and intentional - focused on friends and those in need. It requires less of me. Less stuff, less money, less time. I long for something more from my life. More adventure. More community. More energy. I want to be part of an intimate, sacrificial, authentic Christian community. I want to live on less money than we make. I want to consume less, throw away less, need less. I want that deep vision to become reality now. I need it so profoundly. I keep thinking I am not doing enough. I want to see that life - feel that life - be that life. Sometimes I feel so heavy. I think of all our possessions, our debts, our responsibilities, and I just want to do something dramatic to make it happen now.
I was listening to the song below and yearning deeply for a simple, pure life when suddenly I realized that I am living this life. Oh, I am not where I want to be, but I was profoundly struck by how far I have come. How much less I need. How much we are paying off our debts. How much simpler my life is this year than it was last year. I am on a road to my dream. I am moving toward it. Slowly but very surely. The seeds have been planted! What a revelation! Though I cannot see the flower, I see the tender green shoot bursting hopefully from the soil. In that I rest and find peace.
This is my prayer tonight:
Father, Mother, Friend. I yearn for meaning, for simplicity. It is coming! Glory! Hallelujah! Lord, help me to keep moving. Give me peace as I run this race - a restless contentment. In the name of the one who sustains me, Amen.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Worm Composting: The Birth of Worm Farmer Joy
Before I begin, I have a confession to make. I don't like worms. I don't like looking at them or touching them or thinking about their existence. They stay out of my life, and I stay out of theirs. Until now. Today I embark on the adventure of worm composting. Worm composting. Worms. Deep breaths, Joy. You can do this. You can do this! You want to do this!
You may know of the many problems our culture has with trash. Most things we buy come with excess packaging that ends up in a landfill. In fact, six months after we purchase a product, we are only using one percent of what he have purchased. The rest has been thrown away! For additional information, this is a really good article on trash form the Huffington post. Moreover, when organic material such as fruit and vegetables are thrown into a landfill, they cannot decompose properly and end up creating methane gas - the major greenhouse gas causing global warming. Knowing this has motivated me to overcome my dislike of worms and begin composting. Since I live in a condo, I cannot have a traditional compost bin, which is why I am composting with worms.
My first step toward worm farming was to attend a workshop hosted by the Los Angeles County of Public Works' Smart Gardening program.
Wait. My real first step was to tell Scott about my plan, which I failed to do until the night before. Oops. :|
"So there's this workshop on composting at the Huntington tomorrow. I want to go."
"Okay. Why?"
"I am going to buy a worm composting bin."
"No." At this point his eyes are wide, and I think he was waiting for me to tell him it was a joke. Well, I didn't. Eventually we decided that I would keep the worms in the storage shed in the underground parking level. And then I asked him if he wanted to go with me. He didn't, of course. While Scott is gung-ho about nourishing food and green living, there are a few of my zanier projects that are just too far out there for him. But, oh I love him for accepting my zany parts.
Back to the workshop put on by the Los Angeles County of Public Works' Smart Gardening program. It was informative and helpful. I learned that if I don't feed my worms for a months all one thousand of them will crawl out looking for food. I learned that worms attract ants and fruit flies. I also learned that rodents will come if I ever feed them dairy or meat products. Wait. WHAT!?! They crawl out! And that is when the panic set in. Why am I doing this? This is crazy! Scott was right. I am crazy!
After the presentation, I barraged the presenter with a million questions and concerns and worries and irrational fears. I think I totally freaked out on him. However, he calmed me down saying it really wasn't very difficult and not to worry about all the things that could go wrong. So I took my pound of worms and my bin and went home.
Here's what I bought for the low, subsidized price of $65! First, my bin. There are actually two bins. The upper bin holds the worms and soil and has tiny holes in the bottom which let's all the "worm tea" drain to the bottom bin. The bottom bin has the spigot where I can drain out the "worm tea."
I also got a pound of red wiggler worms. Red wrigglers are from South America, live in the top four inches of soil, have hearty appetite, and are perfect for bins!
Next time, we will set up the bin and make it pest proof!
You may know of the many problems our culture has with trash. Most things we buy come with excess packaging that ends up in a landfill. In fact, six months after we purchase a product, we are only using one percent of what he have purchased. The rest has been thrown away! For additional information, this is a really good article on trash form the Huffington post. Moreover, when organic material such as fruit and vegetables are thrown into a landfill, they cannot decompose properly and end up creating methane gas - the major greenhouse gas causing global warming. Knowing this has motivated me to overcome my dislike of worms and begin composting. Since I live in a condo, I cannot have a traditional compost bin, which is why I am composting with worms.
My first step toward worm farming was to attend a workshop hosted by the Los Angeles County of Public Works' Smart Gardening program.
Wait. My real first step was to tell Scott about my plan, which I failed to do until the night before. Oops. :|
"So there's this workshop on composting at the Huntington tomorrow. I want to go."
"Okay. Why?"
"I am going to buy a worm composting bin."
"No." At this point his eyes are wide, and I think he was waiting for me to tell him it was a joke. Well, I didn't. Eventually we decided that I would keep the worms in the storage shed in the underground parking level. And then I asked him if he wanted to go with me. He didn't, of course. While Scott is gung-ho about nourishing food and green living, there are a few of my zanier projects that are just too far out there for him. But, oh I love him for accepting my zany parts.
Back to the workshop put on by the Los Angeles County of Public Works' Smart Gardening program. It was informative and helpful. I learned that if I don't feed my worms for a months all one thousand of them will crawl out looking for food. I learned that worms attract ants and fruit flies. I also learned that rodents will come if I ever feed them dairy or meat products. Wait. WHAT!?! They crawl out! And that is when the panic set in. Why am I doing this? This is crazy! Scott was right. I am crazy!
After the presentation, I barraged the presenter with a million questions and concerns and worries and irrational fears. I think I totally freaked out on him. However, he calmed me down saying it really wasn't very difficult and not to worry about all the things that could go wrong. So I took my pound of worms and my bin and went home.
I also got a pound of red wiggler worms. Red wrigglers are from South America, live in the top four inches of soil, have hearty appetite, and are perfect for bins!
Next time, we will set up the bin and make it pest proof!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Birth Of A Joyful Life
It is 9:30 on a Wednesday night. I don't know what caused me to begin this blog today. There were no epiphanies or revelations. Just a simple desire to share my journey - to inspire and be inspired. This blog has been growing in my soul for the last few months and suddenly, unexpectedly tonight it was born. Welcome.
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