Some folks looking at a landfill look down their noses.
Yet, I can’t help but regard “trash” and wonder,
what if?
What if all of those legless chairs, busted blenders,
tattered clothes, and dented fenders
had been patched instead of pitched?
Photo by Infrogmation via Wikimedia Commons
Are you as tired as I am of how toss-away we’ve become?
Then you’ll love the idea of a Repair Café.
Launched in Europe a few years ago, this reconstructive revolution is sweeping the globe, rescuing all sorts of useful stuff from death-by-dumpster.
“Lots of people have forgotten that they can repair things themselves, or they no longer know how,” says founder Martine Postma. “Society doesn’t always show much appreciation for the people who still have this practical knowledge, but the Repair Café is changing all that.”
Repair Cafés are free meeting places that are all about repairing things together. They furnish tools and materials to repair clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, and more. Plus, visitors have the opportunity to connect with fix-it specialists who’ll lend a hand and share their know-how. It’s an ongoing learning process, Postma says, and valuable skills are getting passed from person to person. She believes that the Repair Café environment teaches people to see possessions in a new light and to appreciate their value.
Photos courtesy of Repair Café Pittsfield, Massachusetts https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Repair-Cafe/349694531801567?ref=stream
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Lynne Parmenter!!!
Lynne Parmenter (Sister #5089) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert Level Herbs Merit Badge!
“This year, I have planted six types of herbs: lavender, Italian basil, pineapple sage, oregano, parsley, and thyme. In the past years, I have grown herbs and always dry them to use during winter months and will continue to do so. I like to use them fresh during the summer and fall months. My family and friends have always taken some home with them, both fresh and dry.
I have grown mint and chocolate mint. With these herbs, I use them in drinks during summer and fall seasons, sharing with family and friends. Once dried, I shared them and we use them in many recipes. The chocolate mint was delicious in the crock-pot cakes when we were home and in the Dutch-oven cakes we made camping. This year is the first year growing lavender. I will dry it and include it in the grapevine wreaths I make in fall—which I give away—and I also want to make some sachets for fresh scents.
I have always done well growing my herbs. This year, I had to grow them in containers on my deck, but in the past, I have had them grow over their beds and when my husband mowed the lawn, you could smell their fresh scents. I have already used the herbs that I have grown this year. This is the first year for pineapple sage, and I enjoy using it when I prepare and cook pork. So delicious!!! I look forward to continue growing and using herbs. It certainly is enjoyable and relaxing.”
Nancy Chaney, mayor of my wonderful little town of Moscow, Idaho, was invited to attend the National League of Cities (NLC) Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties (LMCTC) meeting, and to be THE speaker to introduce First Lady Michelle Obama yesterday at the White House.
That’s right. THE White House. And THE mayor of Moscow, Idaho.
The celebration highlighted elected officials and their roles as participants in the Let’s Move! initiative across the United States. Thirty-nine officials—from mayors, to county commissioners, to councilmen and women—were invited to attend the event.
Mayor Chaney says of the event, “It is my great honor and pleasure to introduce our Nation’s First Lady, the incomparable Michelle Obama. I am awed by her intellect, her grace under pressure, and by her willingness to tackle a goal so daunting as solving childhood obesity in a generation.”
Nancy moved to Moscow in 1980, and has served as Mayor since 2005 after two years on the City Council. She has worked as a nurse, archaeologist, editorial and administrative assistant, and small business owner.
Mayor Chaney was also appointed in 2012 as one of 15 members of the National League of Cities (NLC) Nominating Committee that was responsible for recommending a slate of officers and board members to lead NLC in 2013. The NLC provides technical assistance for the the Let’s Move! initiative with an overall agenda to help city leaders build better communities.
What’s the Let’s Move! campaign?
Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. A total of 330 cities, towns, and counties from 46 states and the District of Columbia, which collectively represent more than 56 million Americans, have committed to the initiative’s five goals.
Here is Mayor Chaney as she was introduced at the podium.
She had a fabulous speech. And, she’s done some great work with the Let’s Move! program, earning our city 3 out of 5 medals. NLC has awarded more than 1,000 bronze, silver, and gold “medals” to recognize local elected officials who have completed each goal. Does Moscow love its mayor? It certainly does. And she made us proud today!
While Etta Jane is awaiting giving birth at the WSU Veterinary School, our attentions are turned to the other bovine beauties at my farm. We caught Sally O’Malley this week (you may remember “Scratching Post”) getting her itch on with what’s left of this dilapidated tree. Do cows purr?
Oooo how she was enjoying it. You could hear her smile.
Then, suddenly, who comes tearing across the field with gale force? None other than Ms. Maizy, who is one of the cows I milk every day. With an eyes-closed “huff,” she knocked Sally off her tree. “Can’t you read?”
Maizy is “herd boss” around here and quite a bit larger than most of my herd. Oh, and the one leading the pack when they all get into mischief. Maizy is the one who’s figured out how to open our gates (making it so I have double locks on everything).
3 …
2 …
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Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
