Mindful Living

Get Real and Give Thanks

Posted on by Jean Campbell

Notes to myself This summer, I jumped into rebuilding the art career I'd set out to achieve 45 years ago, so I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do. As you might have gathered if you've read any of my blog posts, I am totally in love with gardening and sustainability. I love writing and talking about gardening and sustainability. I've got multiple garden plots I tend and half a book written about sustainability. This is the life I've been dreaming of for years. I'd imagined that when I... Continue reading

Dia de la Muertos – time for harvest

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  I began this post the evening of Nov. 1, the Dia de la Muertos. I have never participated much in this tradition. I've always tended to honor these kinds of things internally, rather than placing much focus on tangible objects or physical actions. I do think it is a really cool practice, though, and am all in favor of folks celebrating the lives of those they've lost in this positive way. It's just not how I do. Today, on the Day of the Dead, I pulled up dying plants and cut back... Continue reading

Allium reincarnation

Posted on by Jean Campbell

I don't know how a vegetable might earn karma points, but you can often persuade a remnant to offer a little more good with a second life! Onions are a great example. Next time you cut open an onion, set aside the bottom bit. You know, the part with the dried-out roots still sticking out. This little piece of refuse has the potential to become not one, but several new onions. Note that this process does not work with every onion. I'm not certain of the rhyme or reason for success. Maybe it's... Continue reading

It’s that time of year… my annual Dandelion Rant

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  What's the deal? Where did all this dandelion hate come from for a plant that adds nothing but value and fun to our otherwise earth-sucking grass lawns? I personally find them delightful. I eat some, I dry some for salves and soaps, and I give some to my bunnies, but I leave plenty of those bright, lovely sunshine heads for the early pollinators who need them. The roots make a lovely tea, but I tend to leave those. They do so much for the dirt with their super-long,... Continue reading