Category Archives: the South

Life in the word.

Posted on January 4, 2017 by

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, conservation, home, resilience, spirit, the South | 2 Comments

The pleasures of okra.

Posted on August 28, 2013 by

If I had a dollar for every time somebody, emboldened by my Southern accent, asked me a question about okra — “What is that?” when they see it growing (once somebody asked, “Is that marijuana?”), or “How do you cook … Continue reading →

Posted in attention, food, gardening, gratitude, the past, the South | 8 Comments

The pleasure of collards.

Posted on November 3, 2012 by

As the days shorten and daylight “savings” time – what a name! – is about to make oncoming winter even more official, I come in from canvassing for my chosen presidential candidate and turn to the stalwarts still waiting patiently … Continue reading →

Posted in food, gardening, gratitude, the South | Leave a comment

Bittersweet.

Posted on October 18, 2012 by

You pull up to the little grocery store in a distinguished area of a small west-Georgia river city, near the country club and a ladies dress shop named after a Confederate novel.  There are beautiful old homes here, and old … Continue reading →

Posted in community, food, the past, the South | 6 Comments

Common ground: politics, water, and life.

Posted on October 16, 2012 by

Checking my email on what is going to be my last full morning in Alabama for a while, I found some very troubling news: fracking may be coming to our beautiful little corner of northeast Iowa. You might say it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in community, conservation, corporations, Driftless region, frac-sand mining, fracking, politics, resilience, spirit, the past, the South | 7 Comments

Moving home: (re)thinking the organic South.

Posted on October 9, 2012 by

Sometimes I think “home” in my mobile life has become less a specific place than a kind of place where certain conditions obtain — the sense of comfort, practicality, and freedom that comes from being able to move around on … Continue reading →

Posted in community, conservation, food, gratitude, politics, resilience, self-reliance, the South | 6 Comments

Roots.

Posted on May 9, 2012 by

This stem of Hibiscus mutabilis, a.k.a. Confederate rose, flourishes in a Mason jar on my kitchen counter, ready for repotting.  Its mother plant, originally a cutting from my parents’ yard in Alabama, is resprouting too.  Last summer I planted a … Continue reading →

Posted in body, community, gardening, politics, spirit, the past, the South, women | 5 Comments