Today is "Earth Overshoot Day" 2013

Hi Folks- this message came to me thru one of my e-mailing lists and I thought it worthwhile passing along...

August 20, 2013, 12:01 AM Geneva, Switzerland

August 20 is Earth Overshoot Day, the approximate date humanity’s annual demand on nature exceeds what Earth can renew in a year. In just 7 months and 20 days, we have demanded a level of ecological resources and services — from food and raw materials to sequestering carbon dioxide from fossil fuel emissions — equivalent to what Earth can regenerate for all of 2013. Humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year.

For the rest of the year, we are operating in overshoot. We will maintain our ecological deficit by depleting stocks of fish, trees and other resources, and accumulating waste such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans. As our level of consumption, or “spending,” grows, the interest we are paying on this mounting ecological debt — shrinking forests, biodiversity loss, fisheries collapse, food shortages, degraded land productivity and the build-up of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and oceans — not only burdens the environment but also undermines our economies. Climate change — a result of greenhouse gases being emitted faster than they can be absorbed by forests and oceans — is the most widespread impact of ecological overspending.

In 1961, humanity used only about two-thirds of Earth’s available ecological resources. Back then, most countries had ecological reserves. Yet both global demand and population are increasing.  In the early 1970s, increased carbon emissions and human demand for resources began outstripping what the planet could renewably produce. We went into ecological overshoot. Global Footprint Network’s 2012 National Footprint Accounts show humanity is now using ecological resources and services at a rate it would take just over 1.5 Earths to renew. We are on track to require the resources of two Earths well before mid-century.

Today, more than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries that use more than the ecosystems within their own borders can renew. These “ecological debtor” countries either deplete their own ecological resources or get them from elsewhere. Japan’s residents consume the ecological resources of 7.1 Japans. It would take four Italys to support Italy. Egypt uses the ecological resources of 2.4 Egypts.

Not all countries demand more than their ecosystems can provide, but even the reserves of such “ecological creditors” like Brazil, Indonesia, and Sweden are shrinking over time. We can no longer sustain a widening budget gap between what nature is able to provide and how much our infrastructure, economies and lifestyles require.

It is possible to turn the tide. Ecological debtors have an incentive to reduce their resource dependence, while creditors have the economic, political and strategic motive for preserving their ecological capital. Global Footprint Network and its network of partners are working with organizations, governments and financial institutions around the globe to make decisions aligned with ecological reality. Rather than liquidating resources, it is wiser to treat them as an ongoing source of wealth.

their website is: http://www.footprintnetwork.org

I have spent a bit of time just now checking it out and recommend you do so for yourself... I am not familiar enough with the organization to say I endorse it fully, but I do believe this particular message is a good one, that's for sure!

And might I add WILLOW has much to offer us in terms of turning the tide! It is an excellent plant to use for phyto-remediation (cleaning up of soils and water) not to mention all it's other amazing uses.

More on that next time, then!

be very well-
susie
 

Exploring Outdoor Play - anyone interested?

PLC

North Branch Nature Center

713 Elm Street Montpelier, VT

Thursday, August 15, 2013

5:30-7:30

I have been asked to be a part of the panel for the first meeting of this Professional Learning Community (PLC). I will be doing a slide presentation on Willow Weaving & Living Willow Structures as a medium for play and education.

The presentation will be a short and sweet 6 minutes and 40 seconds, following the Pecha Kucha format I mentioned on this blog last month. Plus a time for questions for which I will hopefully have the answers!

If any of you are close by and interested in participating in the series contact Jen Brown 802-245-4900 or jen(at)fourwindsinstitute(dot)org.

Also, if you are interested in learning more about the amazing potential for Willow & Living Willow Structures in our lives, please contact me!

I would love to speak with you and would be delighted to give this same short presentation at your local garden club, nature center, conservation group, library, church, school, permaculture class, CSA farm, heritage center, art center... even just a group of your sustainably minded friends!

It's a gorgeous day in the valley, sun shining, cool breeze blowing.

This is summer at it's best!

love-

susie

More Exciting News!

My structure was chosen as one of seven for a specially choreographed dance by The Montpelier Movement Collective! Info/invite from Helen Day Art Center:

Thursday, August 1ST 2013 - 6PM

Montpelier Movement Collective

The Dance Walk

The Montpelier Movement Collective has structured site-specific
dance performances to accompany the concept and story
of selected sculptures in Exposed. 2013.
There will be seven dance performances in this moving installation tour along the recreation path.
"The Dance Walk" will begin and end at Helen Day Art Center, with a reception following the performances.

Maybe I will see you there?
:-)
susie

Looking East, 6 Degrees North - Photos

Tony, the photo intern at Helen Day Art Center has sent along all their photos of my piece.

So, just wanted to share a few of them here.

I am struck by just how much better they are than mine. Crisper, better color, far more interesting composition and the lighting... just in every way...

Pulchritudinous... how's that for a word?

Thanks Tony and Nathan!

...my billhook, "Betty"...

...hurdle makers knot...

...ahhh, the wonderful world of willow weaving...

...the big opening...

The Pecha Kucha presentation went well last night! I thoroughly enjoyed all the other presentations too-such an eclectic mix of topics, which I think is what makes these Pecha Kucha nights so interesting, educational and fun.

I definitely hope to do another one at some point!

I feel inclined to let you know of two other HDAC Exposed events:

Thursday, July 25TH, 2013 - 6PM

Selby Dance Performance

 

Saturday, July 27TH, 2013 - 12-8PM

Andrew Oesch's one day library

...and that's all for now folks...
have a most wonderful day!
susie

Transition Pecha Kucha

Pecha Kucha, (pronounced petʃə ˈkʊtʃə), is a Japanese word for 'chit chat'. It is a simple presentation style where you show 20 images for 20 second each.

Slides are set up to advance automatically and you talk along with them as they advance.

This format was created by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture in Tokyo.  The first Pecha Kucha night was held in their office space in February, 2003.

Since then, Pecha Kucha nights have gone viral! They happen frequently and regularly in over 500 cities all over the world.

It provides people of any age opportunity to share what they love with others... an artist can share their current work, a wedding cake baker can share their latest creations, a collector can share their beloved collection of otter paraphenalia. Pretty much anything goes!

Yestermorrow Design Build (www.yestermorrow.org) hosted their first Transition Pecha Kucha in June 2009 and have hosted them on a regular basis since.

I am participating in their next Transition Pecha Kucha night, which is tonight (oh my!!! :-), along with 9 or 10 other presenters!!

My presentation...

(woven willow hearts created by trevor leat/ image 'pinned' on pinterest by leatrigg.co.uk)

If you are in the area, please join us for what promises to be a fun and informative evening! The show starts at 7pm...

Yestermorrow Design Build School

7865 Main street, Waitsfield, VT 05673

(802) 496-5545

see you there?
susie

Willow... Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?

 

That is a picture of the willow sprouting on the portion of my structure in Stowe that is representative of the weave used to create living willow structures. As I've said before, this was not supposed to be permanent and therefore not a 'living structure'... some of the willow though, apparently had other ideas. And despite all my attempts to NOT give it ideal conditions in which to live, it has decided to live anyway.

I am really excited about this, tho wondering a bit how difficult it will be to remove the structure in the fall if it is rooted in the ground.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

In the meantime.

Pardon me for saying it again, but I do love willow.

It inspires me. I am encouraged by the fact that it can live and thrive even under the worse conditions. It gives me hope.

On Sunday when I visited the structure, I was in particular need of encouragement. When I saw those beautiful, fresh, little leaves popping out of the willow, I am not ashamed to admit, tears stung my eyes.

The previous Sunday, my friend Amalia and I had stopped by so she could do a little picture taking. We noticed several small Morning Glories just grabbing on to the structure.

(Amalia is a professional photographer whose work is, well... amazing, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, stunning, incredible... are a few adjectives that come to mind. Please, please, please have a look at her website (http://www.amaliaphotography.com ) and see for yourself... it is a feast for your eyes and will give life to your spirit to see the beauty of the earth.) 

It pleased me to no end to see that they are still growing strong, and now 12-18 inches up. I really wanted to plant both Morning Glories and Moon flowers to give the structure a little 'life' - and it was done for me. At least the MG part.

Another tidbit of encouragement.

For moi.

But, if it makes you feel encouraged, it's yours too!

That's a Susie pic... not an Amalia pic. If you visited her website, you probably were able to figure that out all by yourself.

I'm ending this blog with a poem I like alot by Edgar Guest... a reminder for myself, and anyone else facing challenging circumstances...

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit

much love-
sg

Stowe Balloon Festival

Sunday, July 14, 2013
After a wonderful opening for Exposed last night I decided to get up at the crack of dawn and come back to Stowe for the hot air balloon launch at 6:30 am.

It was well worth the effort.
Hope you enjoy even half as much as I did!

two people, sitting in a seat with their legs just dangling! 

I just want to point out that historically, hot air balloon baskets are made of  WILLOW and they still are!

I spoke with the owner of this basket, who said that some years ago they bought an aluminum basket for their balloon, it was lighter, less expensive and seemed like a good idea at the time. The thing was though, that whenever they landed, the aluminum cracked, so they went back to the willow, because it is flexible and gives a little, absorbing the impact of landing. Willow and tradition wins out again over new materials and technology.

 Another good example of if it ain't broke... don't fix it.

be well!
susie