So can’t claim Bill Kortum was a close friend; we only met at meetings and a coffee house, but the life he led deserves reflection and emulation. He was brave; he was honest; he did some very fine work for us all and his beloved California coast. He was the first person to invite me to sit and talk with him about Petaluma and North Bay politics and coastal issues when I moved to town, and I was very touched,… Read More »

New Year After Many Deaths Perhaps I will take up fiction again. Perhaps the life we live is stronger than the dead. Perhaps those who just now passed are sending messages. Perhaps the mourners are a little mad. How to pick up the reins? Don’t even have a horse these days. I see so many wash clothes And dust clothes and underwear That all need cleaning along with Our spirits. How to do this? Walk on a hilltop, a magnificent… Read More »

December 3rd, day before my partner, Wayne Morgenthaler’s birthday, his Dad, Fred, died peacefully at age 97 in the company of wife, Bettie, and eldest son, Ronnie. Two days later, Terran Wulf, a new earthing, came into the world born to Wayne’s son, Arlo (the whole natural birth room was alive with love as I tried to run that high energy out of baby Bella, not quite 2!) We are blessed as Arlo, Marina, baby Annabella and baby Terran all… Read More »

So we honored Wayne’s Mom, Pat, a life-long artist, her house graced by her paintings, at a Birthday Bash at her place recently. It was an obvious step – she’s always a gracious host – and we wanted to re-do the 80th B-Day where about 80 people came to send good wishes and eat fine foods where she had lived for about 50 years in the house she and husband, Fred, built, in LA. Then, she had said “your gift… Read More »

You may be one of the dedicated few with time and money who makes it to NYC for The Largest Climate March in History this Sunday, Sept. 21st. RSVP to https://secure2.edf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2351&search=ad&s_src=s_google09102014_paid&utm_source=s_google09102014_paid&s_subsrc=climate_march_rsvp&utm_campaign=climate_march_rsvp&utm_medium=ad&gclid=CjwKEAjwqO-gBRCEyp2Fufm0lBASJAAZrX-5rIANr1m54lVXzxQcPJqNfuTXB49It5k00IQj1a2VoBoCIzfw_wcB 350.org founder and long-time environmental activist, Bill McKibben is predicting the largest climate rally in possibly, history – and its about time – or way overdue. Still ways for mankind to make it, but it gets weirder and worse the longer we wait to take care of the mess… Read More »

So viewing all the hoopla generated by Sebastopol Grange (our sister/brother Grange; we’re Petaluma Grange), I noticed a day of the 10-day all-over-town event(s) called Sebastopol Village Building Convergence – that actually is staged in Petaluma – Josey’s Garden, 422 I Street going on right now since yesterday (Tues./Wed. 9/16-17). Went to read event copy at sebastopolvbc.weebly.com/ and found a phone for Raleigh Campbell, a Weaving Earth (Penngrove permaculture group) coordinator for the Josey’s Garden installation. Raleigh came to our… Read More »

So I attended the Sonoma Clean Power/Climate Protection Campaign Forum at our Luchessi Community Center this week – low attendance but saw lots of friends among us. Seems the prime purpose of the forum was to gather strength for a yes vote at Petaluma City Council after discussion in Novemeber. We were asked to reach out to our Council members – and I will! I was more or less convinced Sonoma Clean Power is: A. The only sensible program available… Read More »

So a long-time writer for the New Yorker (admit I’ve subscribed many a year!), Michael Specter, just dissed a heroine of mine – and I’m MAD! I work to be mellow in the face of stupidity – but this article does the dirty to basic principles of journalism: posing as a friendly, open-minded and highly literate guy, Mr. Snyder rips apart Shiva’s game plan and slops his own brand of muck on it so most people reading about India’s (and… Read More »

Oh, the Joys of Living in the Country! Hassled by Animals So the Redtailed Hawk sat atop our cinnabar barn, Taunting us with his intent to catch and eat a chicken; He’s still around (maybe a she?) with others of his tribe. I spot scat from the bobcat-chicken killer, run off but never really gone. Then the runt chicken I call Suzi, Began her new habit of jumping on my back To get me to feed her extra as she’s… Read More »

Seems it’s a rare bird who writes actual letters these days, and rarer still two friends so thoughtful and thorough when sorting out what we all need our relationship to the land – and each other- to be. I am thankful these favorite writers and humans, farmers and marvelous poets, Wendell Berry and Gary Snyder, just published their conversation of the last 40 years+ in the book Distant Neighbors. The two were at Copperfields Montgomery Village last month! “A few… Read More »