Post by grunt on Dec 25, 2009 6:27:17 GMT -5
I want to wish every one a Happy Holiday, regardless of the creed you follow. May you all realize how blessed we are to be able to gather here on this forum. It means that, while we may all have wants that may or may not be satisfied, now and in the future, the fact that we are all able to read this, here, is proof that our needs are more than met. What ever country you are living in, at what ever standard of living you may have, we here are all more fortunate than the majority of the worlds peoples.
The fact that we are on this forum also indicates that we are all able, to a greater or lesser degree, get our hands in the dirt, and maintain connection with the life force that drives us, what ever name you want to give it. Even unbelief is affected by it, or there would be no drive to bring forth new life in the soil we touch.
The goodwill that is evidenced on this forum is something that I think we should all try to foster elsewhere in the new year ahead of us. The freedom with which all here share seeds should also be transferred into any other forums that we may follow. Yes, there will be those that take advantage of it, but I think the sharing attitude will spread, as it has on this forum in the two+ years I have been here.
We do not own seeds, we merely have stewardship over them for a brief while, and should be trying to share that stewardship. It is the only way to ensure the survival of the tremendous diversity that is represented in the varieties that we have encountered, and those that we have not yet discovered. As Ozarklady has pointed out, we cover a wider assortment of plant forms than any other forum I am aware of, and in a more open and giving way than I have seen elsewhere. Yet we are only scratching the surface of what is there. I have a lousy memory for where I read things, and often do not get the numbers right, but I do remember reading (somewhere) that the number of varieties of vegetables available in North America is now about ~10% of what was available, commercially, at the turn of the last century. Some of the varieties have completely disappeared, some have merely dropped into obscurity. They should all be actively sought and rescued if possible. Of themselves they may be of little or no particular interest or use, but they all contain the potential of contributing to solutions for problems that we may not even have now.
As usual, what I started out to say, has wandered from the point considerably, but I will leave it as is, because it does touch on things that I have wanted to say at various times in different threads here.
Back to the original purpose of this post = Happy Holidays to everyone, regardless of how you celebrate it. May you all have dirt under your nails for many years to come.
Cheers
Dan & Val
The fact that we are on this forum also indicates that we are all able, to a greater or lesser degree, get our hands in the dirt, and maintain connection with the life force that drives us, what ever name you want to give it. Even unbelief is affected by it, or there would be no drive to bring forth new life in the soil we touch.
The goodwill that is evidenced on this forum is something that I think we should all try to foster elsewhere in the new year ahead of us. The freedom with which all here share seeds should also be transferred into any other forums that we may follow. Yes, there will be those that take advantage of it, but I think the sharing attitude will spread, as it has on this forum in the two+ years I have been here.
We do not own seeds, we merely have stewardship over them for a brief while, and should be trying to share that stewardship. It is the only way to ensure the survival of the tremendous diversity that is represented in the varieties that we have encountered, and those that we have not yet discovered. As Ozarklady has pointed out, we cover a wider assortment of plant forms than any other forum I am aware of, and in a more open and giving way than I have seen elsewhere. Yet we are only scratching the surface of what is there. I have a lousy memory for where I read things, and often do not get the numbers right, but I do remember reading (somewhere) that the number of varieties of vegetables available in North America is now about ~10% of what was available, commercially, at the turn of the last century. Some of the varieties have completely disappeared, some have merely dropped into obscurity. They should all be actively sought and rescued if possible. Of themselves they may be of little or no particular interest or use, but they all contain the potential of contributing to solutions for problems that we may not even have now.
As usual, what I started out to say, has wandered from the point considerably, but I will leave it as is, because it does touch on things that I have wanted to say at various times in different threads here.
Back to the original purpose of this post = Happy Holidays to everyone, regardless of how you celebrate it. May you all have dirt under your nails for many years to come.
Cheers
Dan & Val
