Finally, the Stove is Back In the House

Living without a hearth, got old really fast. We had a jolly old time the first few nights sitting around a fire, roasting hot dogs and sausages, but the cold food diet gets old rather quickly. The past month or so we had lots of lettuce wrap sandwiches, tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad and plain old salad. for a fellow whose Paganspace screen name is Saladman, you might expect me to be okay with a diet of nothing but salad. Quite the contrary, other foods have their place, in fact, I love a wide variety of salads, as part of a wider menu. i am looking forward to the baking of gluten free breads, the making of occasional casseroles, stir frying several handfuls of vegetables, etc. The way we positioned the stove in our new kitchen allows the cook to see from down along the river to the street in front of the house. It is now possible to include the chef in the flow of normal conversation throughout the first floor and not ever feel too far away from the warmth of the flame on the burners.

I have written extensively on the cultural aspects of gathering around fire, whether it is for cooking, warmth or ceremony, fire touches us in ways that other elements cannot. The fire in our on-demand water heater is sequestered inside a tiny box smaller than many suitcases, and double insulated from our exes by the appliance shell and a jacket of water inside a thin copper bladder. In the furnace, it is even more remote in that it occurs inside a larger box away from prying eyes under the heat exchanger for the unit. On the stove, below the oven and under the broiler flame, the dancing magic of fire lends a warmth to the home that the others cannot. Heck, I've roasted meat and hot dogs, even made toast directly over the gas flame, much like a primitive crouched above a smoky fire, but without the soot and smoke. What luxury, to have fire at the command of a single knob! They say, the best parties always end up in the kitchen, so we hope to have many wonderful gatherings in the new space that we have created, both for our home and the budding not-for-profit, ECO-Tours of Wisconsin Inc.

Our tiny organization has surpassed the 160,000 tree mark, this year planting for the first time in cooperation with the City of Green Bay Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. The space that we have created has not only benefited our tiny home immensely, but allows for more than a dozen folks to gather comfortably to discuss future plant-ins, educational programs and potluck meetings. If you are near enough to get to green Bay, let us know and we will at least put the tea pot on for you, share a tour or develop a full day program specifically tailored to your interests. As we reach the end of our construction project, we are reminded of the many ways that we are blessed and the many ways we can all give back. Those who are blessed with a hearth can always share the gift of warmth and good cheer around a fire.

We would be honored to share our time with folks who would like to help us plant trees, explore sustainability or just enjoy the natural areas around our place. Even though we would consider ourselves in center city, the corridor of over 110 acres that we live along as well as the Fox, East River System that flows through Green Bay provide ample opportunity for exploration on flat water by canoe, on foot or by bicycle. Blessed are those who give, for without them there would be no receiving. If we know you are coming we might even make a gluten free cake!
 

ECO-Tours Place Sugar Maples In Park

Today marks a turning point for ECO-Tours of Wisconsin Inc. Our first-ever city sanctioned planting of ten sugar maples along the East River Parkway in Green Bay. Seven ecotourists came and went during the operation, which involved digging trees, some twice as tall as participants, hauling them out into final positions and lovingly coaxing them into specialized holes, custom cut to conform to the large root systems. We even had a special guest who was riding an electric bicycle with the battery in a backpack. Amazing technology surrounds us and the creativity in using it is the only hold u[p to achieving sustainability. Our first ten trees set the stage for larger projects and more attention from local residents. To date, the loose amalgamation of friends and co-workers at Citizens for a Better Environment, who started planting trees together took thirteen years to plant their first 60,000 trees. In just the first six years since organizing officially, and accepting donations, we have planted another 60,000. In the scope of things, ten trees don't sound like much, but they will take up thousands of gallons of water into their tissues, especially during the spring thaw. In time they will tower over the houses and keep our neighborhood warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Our guests were mostly school children who worked incredibly hard for modern-day young adults. One commented on how cool it was to give back. Indeed, the lions share of the wealth, true wealth now, not that filthy lucre, is given away every day.

I am reminded of the first time I met folks calling themselves Latin Kings, they sent a girl running after my friends and I to punch one of us. She ran down the slowest guy and punched him square in the chest, so we had to go back and see what was up!? The leader was hot at first, and even threatened us that he had a gun inside and was not afraid to use it. We talked a bit and he was duly impressed with our attire. My own costume was a studded dog collar with baby doll parts hanging from it, leather jacket, t-shirt, and jeans, one of the other two riders always looks like Mr. Natural, he's just not always truckin', the third guy always dresses like a straight, button-downs only and dress slacks. We must have made a sight. We were asked, "You folk?"
We all nodded. "How many in your gang?" We all asked in unison, what do you mean?
"If you got in trouble, how many would help you out?" We turned to one another, looking quizzical, and guestimated, fifteen or twenty, then we all agreed, thirty if you gave us a couple of days to let them all know. These kids were taken aback and recoiled slightly at the response. before half a second elapsed though, the leader asked, "Can we be in your gang?" to which we said: "No, we don't threaten people with guns or send people to punch people to get in our gang, you have to be willing to help everyone, not just your friends. If you want to be in our gang, you would have to care about others, not hurt them." then we rode off and left them to consider what king of gang they were going to become.

The few dozen non-profit groups that I have been associated with over the years shaped me and reminds me daily that there are nearly infinite resources for positive change, yet we often languish for the lack of vision and someone to stand firm and hold the rudder steady so that the rest of us can set the sails. Without a helmsman, all is lost. Volunteers run helter-skelter making ineffectual change as they drift along. In the absence of a good guide, a well crafted and succinct mission statement can help, but there is nothing, as George Clinton said best, The Awesome Power of  A Fully Functioning Mothership! Rather than allowing the fadishness of Environmentalism to wax and wane, we need constantly blossoming and deepening our eco-ethics, our environ-mentality as it were. Perhaps these ten trees will speak to the little leaguers who run by under them to their games, or the parents, or the families who walk the trail nearby. All I know is that less than ten minutes after planting one of them today, a male cardinal was enjoying a new perch, and lovin' every minute of it!

If you would like to help ECO-Tours fund more tree give-aways and ecotours, consider sending a gift to us at 1445 Porlier street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-3334. Each tree costs about ten dollars by the time we buy it, pot it up, weed and water it for a few years, plant it out, water it in, protect it and weed it several times after planting. Our specialty is well-suited trees to each unique planting site, so our survival rates are excellent. With each tree potentially costing that much, we have a special interest in taking care of the trees we can afford to buy. Secure digital donations can be made through paypal by using our account number, tnsaladino42@hotmail.com We are also working on a revised business plan for taking ohe tours to a whole new level, being able to run tours by kayak, canoe, bike or hike. It will involve a bit more cost, but will open up more opportunities for more people getting out into the field with us. To book a tour, call us:(920) 884-2224. We will create a unique tour for you whenever you can get to Northeast Wisconsin.