Tag: regenerative

Posted in General Blogs

Big and Small

Posted on by Robin KellyGoss

Recently I have had the honor of being in a chat group with roughly 100 people, (mostly young, fresh out of college but some closer to retirement age), that have seen fit to uproot their lives and spend 2 years going to simply serve others. This is hope in action. And I couldn’t be more excited.

Many conversations, news reports, and social media posts today are full of fear, revenge, grief, and downright hateful thoughts, but there is not much action. Granted there are peaceful protests, sign making and chanting and I admire those people. Some sentiments I agree with and some I do not, but I fully respect the people doing something, especially if they are actually informed about what they are doing.

I read an interesting blog recently stating that the more news people watch, the less inclined they are to actually do anything about the situation. And yet, ironically, people claim they watch the news so they can be informed and work for change. The blog goes on to counter several points of contention about needing the news for information and suggesting instead real and meaningful conversations with people, books, periodicals – things with actual facts, not sound bites meant to skew one way or the other, as real sources of knowledge and inspiration.

But there are many people taking action in the world in small and big ways. Food sufficiency has always been my passion and it is this that I focus on. Small actions, like our 2 school projects and seed bank in South Africa are small, but to me, meaningful steps in helping the planet by helping people have some sovereignty in their lives. The Regenerative Farm Design course Stephen, Themba, and I took recently in South Africa allowed us to meet many such people. Here’s a link shared with me yesterday by one of them

I encourage you to look around and see what people are doing in small and big ways to affect change. Yesterday I toured a small garden and chicken coop hidden in an overgrown field. Pathways were cut and shade cloth was put on top to detour hawks. There were random tomatoes and peppers thriving among copious amounts of rag weed. The house was a rental and the tenants were not allowed gardens or animals so they carved out a niche in a nearby field working to restore itself to a forest. It was tucked away yet beautiful and made my heart glad, not to mention it is helping to restore the field. It’s small, but it is progress.

On a bigger scale, to the 100 or so young people preparing to head to Senegal in September with the Peace Corps, I salute you. Your contributions are important and life changing not only for the people you will serve but for you. You will leave a ripple of big and small changes that continue to work for good long after you are gone. How about we all work to leave such ripples?

Posted in General Blogs

Great Things – Big and Small

Posted on by Robin KellyGoss

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”

Vincent van Gogh

A series of small things, now that is something I can relate to. On some days, I can dream of great things and large impacts with grand gestures. On other days, I can not. On those “other days,” I try and find a small thing to do.

If I am struggling with a project, relationship, idea, or whatever, I will try and focus on one small step I can complete. If there is no small step that avails itself or I can not muster whatever is needed to do that small step, instead I will find one small joy about that thing and hold steadfast until I can take another step.

Today I am joyful for the relationships I have developed through the work of Mahala Love. I am joyful for the people who show me perseverance and dignity as they make strides in their lives. I am joyful for the opportunity to have met and to call many of these people my friends. 

That great big bundle of joy is what leads me to the next small step. 

Mahala Love – sharing with the world.

Posted in General Blogs

Be Kind, Grow Things

Posted on by Robin KellyGoss

It’s been pointed out lately that I tend to be, “reductive.” I think that’s code for terse, curt, short or any number of other words meaning not only – “to the point,” but most likely, “ too to the point.” Perhaps it is true. I do like a good basic noun-verb combination to start a conversation, with a few adjectives thrown in because I’m Southern by raising. Examples, “pick up your shoes” – Southern version – “Pick up your stinking shoes.”

I think it is in ideas that I tend to be reductive as oppose to words though. What seems to be complicated issues to some people, I seem to think are more simple. If you’re lost, either metaphorically or literally, why flounder alone driving in circles? Pause and ask for directions. When everyone is getting on my nerves, pause, look in the mirror, there is the source.

Here we are in the most confusing times of near history, with a nonstop onslaught of verbiage coming at us nearly 24/7. I find this hard to take. I don’t know why the same story is reported on 73.65 times in a single day, with 18 points of view from 13 people that I can see as having no connection other than someone handed them a microphone and a makeup artist to pat the shine off of their nose. Wait, who is this and why do they have an opinion and where did they get those facts and are those really facts and why do I trust her opinion and who told him to have that opinion in the first place and have any of these people actually searched for a fact on their own or are they merely regurgitating the spew from social media that will keep them existing as a persona, as opposed to be erased if the unpopular view dare be brought in to the light as anything that might beworthyofevenlookingatbutthenwhatabout… You get my point. Does anyone else feel this way?

So, with all of that, I would like to get to my point. Times are strange, people are stranger. I probably don’t understand you, and you probably don’t understand me. But I can still love you, honor you by listening to what you believe, and know you are a person as worthy of your opinions and place on this earth as am I. As we navigate unknown, unprecedented waters, let’s grow together – whether it be community, flowers, food, a government responsive to the folks who elect them, let’s all try and remember that we are neighbors, friends, and family long before and long after the stress and politics and pandemics of the day are over. Let’s just be kind, and grow some stinking things, shall we?

earth heart
Posted in General Blogs

Regenerative lifestyle…

Posted on by Robin KellyGoss

The word regenerative kept popping up, as things will do when something resonates with you. I was telling my kid’s dad that my goal has always been to create a regenerative home and life for our family. He asked me to explain and here is part of my reply.

Regenerative- practices that create abundance; Actions and thoughts that leave you full rather than depleted, Time spent rejuvenating energy, mind, and soul. Time spent with family developing bonds, ideas, and support. Creating a place where people can develop their next level thinking and plan their futures based on their hearts, not on needing to chase the dollar.

The whole permaculture design concept is about this. Permaculture is not just about how to plant a garden, it is about using regenerative practices in your life, for the benefit of yourself, others and the planet. Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share – in its simplest terms.
It’s a systemic design process using natural patterns and rhythms to create abundance- food, joy, community, habitat.

It is definitely taking some stretching in my mind to move these ideas from the garden into daily life, and it’s a process I have barely consciously tapped, as of yet. But as the word, “regenerative” continues to resonate with me, I will continue to bring it into the daily life of myself, my family, and my community.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you do this? What are ways you see to be regenerative in your relationships with others and the planet? 😊