I have deep gratitude in my heart to all of you for supporting me with my initiative in Haiti and for helping to make this possible through your donations, helping to spread the word, and sending positive energy. As I prepare for this trip, I have a sense of being in touch with the oneness of our humanity.
After a few years of dreaming and several months of intentional observation, we've finally started a bit of garden here at our new home! This weekend, we sheet mulched a new garden bed, planted a small guild of edible plants and put up a mini hoop house!
We're excited to announce that the Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario, in collaboration with Sustainable Living Ottawa East (SLOE), will host an introductory course and an 84-hour "Permaculture Design Course" in Ottawa in 2011. Applying the permaculture ethic of people care, we're doing our best to make both courses accessible to a wider audience and to benefit the larger community.
My first trip to Haiti last May was a journey of stark contrasts; the best I could do was breathe deeply, and bring my heart and mind fully to the work at hand. I am noticing the contrasts again today. We've raised over $8300 for my volunteer projects in Haiti (as of January 28). I am in awe that we're $3000 over my original fundraising goal and that support has continued to flow. And, as I read about Haiti tonight, I realise the enormity and scale of transformation that is needed. In the same breath, I am present with my gratitude and my sorrow.
We've raised over $4000 - getting close to the goal of $5300! I'm so grateful for all the support :) (A number of donations came by cheque and Interac, and unfortunately, they don't show up in the red box.)
DONATIONS & TAX RECEIPTS
If you would like to make a donation, any amount is appreciated.
WHAT I PLAN TO DO IN HAITI
I plan on going back to Haiti for 5 weeks in January and volunteering with two organisations, AMURT in Port-au-Prince and Noramise in the North; I am fundraising to make this work possible. At the heart of this, is my desire to support the rebuilding of Haiti, based on a vision of sustainable development that takes care of people and the land.
After watching the film "For the Next 7 Generations" about the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and following a few recent conversations, I'd like to share more here about my spiritual perspective.
So here we are! We moved into our new house a couple of days ago. As we are unpacking, I find myself looking by the windows, taking walks in the backyard and imagining, dreaming, designing...
I've been wanting to have my own place for about ten years now, so this is a real dream come true. I am hoping to be able to experiment a lot and share my trials and errors with my local community as well as the readers of this blog.
I have been reflecting on the oil spill in the Gulf - the tragic impact on communities and ocean, and the call for change strike me as enormous. As I read articles from friends, environmental activists and religious/spiritual leaders alike, I am hearing more and more the resounding message that the spill is a wake up call, urging us to revisit our collective relationship with fossil fuels.
When looking at photos of the oil spill in the Gulf, I felt flooded with despair, sadness and hopelessness; the well-being of the Earth, the water, the people and animals are so deeply precious to me. When I consider the quantity of oil pouring out, I fear sometimes that the gulf between our actions and what we value is too wide. Yet today, connecting continually with the Earth, I feel more peaceful, calm, trusting.
