For the contrary, how does your garden grow?

Dear Friends-
I never thought I'd see the day when I would become a gardener. I'm really not the sort of gardener my parents are. I plant ideas and let concepts grow. That's really my forte: communication. I like to see ideas spread like wildfire, and I like to teach people about how much easier communication can be if they "seed" a conversation with "good vibes" beforehand. Is that the hippie in me talking?
I was such a pacifist as a kid that I rebelled whenever my parents wanted me to weed the garden or go pluck the dandelions out of the front lawn. A la Machaelle Wright, I thought dandelions had a right to live, just as much as the grass did, and I dreamed of planting a nice furry yellow lawn right in the middle of the neighborhood, where grown men poisoned bees, birds and other wildlife with toxic weed killers. I looked forward to a lawn gone to seed with fluffy floaties infiltrating the perfect green velvet of the holier than thou weed bigots. They wanted me and my dandelions out of the neighborhood. Well, in my dreams. Meanwhile, M & D sent a sullen daughter out into the front yard with the forked dandelion digger.
Anyway, as gas prices soar and so goes the price of everything else, including groceries, I have decided to become a gardener, in the interests of budgeting and self-preservation. Since we all know that it's unlikely that the price of anything is going to go down, and that the powers that be have set their sights on $8/gallon gas prices, we have to do something. Planting a garden is one of my solutions to rising prices, and it's also my way to get natural stuff in my body, instead of all the preservatives and unpronounceable junk in today's foods. Frankly, life was a lot easier in Houston, what with Central City Coop and Whole Foods and Central Market. But here in farm coun try, it's a little more difficult, believe it or not. I am grateful that some things are cheaper here, and that there is less pollution, but it is much more of a challenge to get the basic food items I used to have, so cheaply and so easily found in the city.
Good news is, my parents are farmers. So when they moved back into their house, they planted fruit trees immediately (cherry, peach, pear), and we all have gardens going. I have a bean plant, some pepper plants, and radishes rising, although I planted a bunch of other things too. We're late in our planting, so it may be pot luck as far as what comes up. And of course, we are dealing with ME, not the sort you want planting your garden!

But anyway, we recently had a mini-family reunion, and all the beautiful 80 year old ladies (and I am not kidding!) were reminiscing about their childhoods, and I just thought, "We are going to have to go back to that." What a concept! Living the sustainable, earth-responsible life. Native Americans have been doing that forever, and a lot of other folks too-like poor people, the world round! Could you survive all by yourself, without the modern day conveniences? Could you feed and shelter yourself?
I think reality TV host Jeff Probst and producer Mark Burnett need to do a version of "Survivor in the City" or "Survivor Down on the Farm" (well, they did that with the kids last summer!) and see if these people could survive as homeless people in the city or as farmers out on the Plains. Could you? What would happen if it were just you and the elements? That's the way life was, once upon a time, and just how resourceful are you?

On thing is sure; Mother Nature is making herself heard lately, and because of that, I think people are beginning to think twice and three times about where they stand in the scope of things. We have to get down and dirty at some point, because we could use and abuse ourselves right out of existence. The good news is, that although we are animals, we have brains, and we can communicate, so we have some advantages in that we can make conscious choices to conserve and caretake.
I like Machaelle Wright, because she believes that all living things have a right to existence, but that we have to listen to, respect, and communicate with each other. Machaelle is an unusual person in that she has done research (check out http://www.perelandra.com) on co-creating with wildlife and nature, and she believes she communicates with them, and that they listen. For a whole new look at life, I suggest reading her autobiography Behaving As If The God in All Life Mattered. That will change your vi ewpoint on what's going on with earth changes, upheaval, and storms as well as global warming. I reject a recent email that I received saying that Mother Earth was "purging" lately, which to me seems such a Westernized view that people are being punished for something. Come on, now!
As an astrologer, I guess I view life as a cycle, and Earth as a planet does not qualify storms or earthquakes as "bad" or as "purges". And if you think God is involved in it, why would God punish the poor and not the "wicked"? Seems to me there are other places that should have gotten the old "heave-ho", if that's the case, and I won't bore you with my list of places that should have been "purged", but suffice it to say, they are alot closer to home. Really, that's really rude of me or anyone else to say, because we are talking about the loss of life here, and these people are someone's family members. How about some compassion here?
As I heard someone mention on the radio yesterday, "it is God's will," and then he said, "but I haven't figured out why yet." One thing I do know is that it's making people re-think their connection to Mother Nature, and that can only be a good thing. I've always felt that if we were smart enough to screw it up, we're also smart enough to fix it. And in either case, Mother Earth doesn't care. She'll do what she does: revolve, evolve. The question is, will you?
Plant your garden, sing to your plants, and grow.

Gotta go!
If you want to take one of my surveys on "Love & Age", go to: http://www.loveinloveout.com/Surveys.html
If you want to find out about improving your Love quotient, go to: http://www.loveinloveout.com/Love_Gods___Goddesses.html
If you want to know all about Soulmates, go to: http://www.propheticeye.com/Soulmates.html .

I also now have my Election predictions and latest World & Local predictions online, so have fun surfing! Check out the World predictions, because I did predict the earthquakes & a tsunami, but to be fair, I thought that the problems with Tibet were worse. I will have new Middle East and USA ruminations online later in the week. To check out the future, go to: http://www.propheticye.com . P.S. I want to reiterate that astrology is NOT a psychic science. It is a science of forecasting, based on planetary positions, more like weather forecasting. I'm just reading maps when I do it. It works, though!!!
http://www.propheticeye.com

Love ya,
Andrea
If you need a consultation or reading, please contact me by emailing me back at the address above, or call 713.301.9843, and leave a message.

In need of a website?
Have you been putting it off because of the time and expense? Don't wait any longer! I can give you an inexpensive but effective and attractive looking website for a low dollar figure within a couple of days! Every business or service needs a website these days to make a statement. A website can give a new business or service the credibility it needs! Ask about my quick website services, and if you buy one, you'll get a free email account linked to your web name! Call me, call me!!! 405.375.3803 or email me at booklady@communicateok.com .

Featured KPFT Program of the Week: Century of Lies
Tuesdays, 11:30am-Noon. Dean Becker of the Drug Truth Network delves into the truth about the drug war via interviews with judges, scientists, doctors & authors to encourage listeners to investigate the Century of Lies. This show also has a regular installment of Government "Drug War Facts" from Doug McVay. http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/

Logon to http://www.kpft.org and click on "Listen Now!" in the upper right hand corner. I suggest listening on your computer at http://www.kpft.org .---Andrea

Find KPFT at 90.1 FM, online, 24 hours a day. Please donate at http://www.kpft.org and click on "GIVE NOW". You can listen live online at this same address. Your work day will never be bored while you are listening.
You can also hear Alternative Radio programs directly by logging on with your computer to http://www.alternativeradio.org . Would you like to get some REAL NEWS for a change, without having to leave the United States?

News Feature "Iran: All Options on the Table" featuring Scott Ritter
George W. Bush proclaimed, "The action and policies of the Government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States." That was part of executive order Bush issued extending the national emergency with respect to Iran. The leaders in Washington and those that would replace them frequently chant in unison that when it comes to Iran: All options are on the table. Iran is virtually encircled by American military forces. It has not threatened the U.S. So why would America attack? Seems nutty, right what with Iraq and Afghanistan? But Tehran has always been in Washington's gunsights.
Scott Ritter is a former Marine intelligence officer and a veteran of the first Gulf War. He served as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq for seven years. He's an expert on weapons and arms control. In the lead up to the attack on Iraq, Ritter openly questioned whether Iraq had any weapons of mass destruction. He is the author of Frontier Justice and Waging Peace. His latest book is Target Iran.
Where recorded: Boulder, CO Date recorded: 18 Jan 2008

You can download these programs or purchase them on CD at http://www.alternativeradio.org .
Activate!!! Help us get RESULTS!
RESULTS is a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization committed to creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. RESULTS is committed to individuals exercising their personal and political power by lobbying elected officials for effective solutions and key policies that affect hunger and poverty. RESULTS Educational Fund is committed to educating the public, the media, and leaders about issues related to poverty and hunger in the United States and abroad. We hold public forums, train citizens in democracy, hold media conference calls to share the latest information, and produce quality oversight research to determine the effectiveness of programs for the poor. RESULTS Educational Fund is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Watch RESULTS' new video "Everyday Heroes" to quickly learn about how RESULTS works to empower citizens to speak out powerfully against hunger and poverty in the U. S. and around the world.
Our vision is of a world where persistent hunger and the devastating impact of poverty no longer cripple the chances of individuals and families to sustain themselves, thrive, and contribute their talents to the world in which they live - where all people have a fair chance at success. A 1976 report by the National Academy of Sciences reported that we possess all of the resources, structures and technology to end hunger in a single generation, but that the political will to make it a priority is missing. We envision a world where citizens actively voice their concerns to their elected officials and thereby choose the policies and priorities of their governments, and we work toward a world where the end of hunger and the worst aspects of poverty has become an international priority.
E-mail: results@results.org Address: RESULTS Educational Fund, 750 First Street NE, Suite 1040, Washington, DC 20002
Telephone : RESULTS (202) 783-7100 RESULTS Educational Fund (202) 783-4800. Who To Go To: Christine Naylor, Executive Director, cnaylor@results.org. Automatic monthly donations initiation or changes: Glynda Featherstone, gfeatherstone@results.org
Major Gifts, Planned Gifts, Grants, Foundations: Glynda Featherstone, gfeatherstone@results.org Grassroots Fundraising: Gwen Garcelon, ggarcelon@results.org
Activate more!!! Be selective when you buy gas.
Thanks to Ed Griffing for giving me this info. To find the cheapest gas in your area, go to
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx and plug in your zip code. A map will come up with the cheapest place closest to you. In addition, please check out this list of oil and gas companies. I suggest that you pick the one that is most suitable for you and support that gas station. The following is also from Ed:
The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor. An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis...
This is Andrea speaking: George Bush who has been pals with the Saudi royal family forever is currently visiting with his buds right now. Since both families have been in the oil and gas business together, do you really think he's asking for them to lower the price of oil? Come on, now! And the Bushes have been arms dealers since Grandpappy Bush, so that's something to think about. And a reminder that of the 9/11 hijackers, 15 were from Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one from Lebanon, and one from Egypt. Zero from Iraq, zero from Iran, zero from Palestine, zero from Syria. Hmmmm.. ...

These companies import Middle Eastern oil :
Shell.......................... 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco......... 144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels
Amoco............................62,231,000 barrels

Here are some large companies that DO NOT import Middle Eastern oil: Sunoco, Conoco, Sinclair, BP/Phillips, Hess, ARC0, and Citgo All of this information is available from the Department of Energy. Each is required to state where they get their oil and how much. AND DON"T FORGET TO DRIVE 55, if you can't ride your bike or take the bus!
Green Action: Live like there's no tomorrow! Live the sustainable life!
In Houston, visit http://www.sustainliving.org/. Visit there to find out MORE!!! The following is from the Sustainableokc.org website.
Live Responsibly
What does it mean to live responsibly? It means living with a minimal impact-including using fewer natural resources, reducing waste, and considering the quality of life that future generations will experience when making your own lifestyle decisions.
You can start off by measuring your ecological footprint, an estimate of the amount of land needed to support you given the choices you make in life. The average American uses more resources than available. How do you measure up? While lots of behaviors affect the size of your ecological footprint, three biggies stand out. If you want the biggest bang for your buck (or time), try changing these three things:
1. Green your residence. You can "green" your home in a lot of ways. Increasing energy efficiency, using recycled and reclaimed materials, and landscaping naturally are three examples. Browse these websites and you're sure to find a wealth of information. In our neck of the woods, we have local chapters of the US Green Building Council and the AIA Committee on the Environment doing great things. Wanna go all the way? Get your home LEED certified.
2. Green your transportation. We all hate filling up at the pump. The cost, the smell, the guilty conscience... So cut back! Ride your bike. Take the bus. For goodness sake, walk! If you must drive a car, try to combine errands in a single trip, carpool, and buy a fuel efficient car (a hybrid is a good bet-just make sure to check the mpg's). If you still drive a big SUV there may be hope for saving your poor soul, but it's getting slimmer by the day.
3. Green your food. Love food? We do too! And so does the earth, especially when it's vegetarian, locally-grown, and organic (in that order of preference). Try slowly reducing the amount of meat you eat because it takes a lot more natural resources (especially water) to produce meat than veggies. While you're at it, buy locally grown. Not only is it fresher, it's much more earth-friendly. Consider the fact that the average food item you buy at the superm arket has traveled 1500 miles to reach your plate-that's a lot of carbon emissions. When you buy locally, you'll be supporting the local economy and eating fresher and healthier. And don't forget that your own garden is the A+ of locally-grown!

Read this Book!
Here's a great book for your teenagers: You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me by Aunt Laya Saul. Aunt Laya covers everything a teen has to deal with: subjects like beieving in yourself, trusting yourself, defining your boundaries, failure, regret, drug abuse, alcohol, sex and sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts, and relationships of all kinds. When I read the clips from her book, I wish I had her book when I was young! Heck, I wish I had it as a married person!
If you want to check it out, go to her website at http://www.auntlaya.com or you can order her book from Amazon.com by plugging in "Aunt Laya" in your search.