The Earth

I have been a suburban or rural homesteader since 1983 and have practiced organic gardening using principles of sustainable agriculture since that time, relying primarily on the research and work of Ecology Action of the Mid-Peninsula in California. In addition, I have raised sheep, goats, chickens, and turkeys, and have grown herbs and wildflower/herbal ground covers. I’ve lived for long periods of time without central heating (in the Pacific Northwest, where winters are cold and rainy) and my water has come from a well on my own land since 1991. I was born into a family of fishermen, hunters, gardeners and mountain people and feel a deep connection to the earth, the ocean, the hills. Love and respect preclude exploitation; this is as true for the natural world and for relationships between animals and human beings as it is true of relationships between human beings. Whatever you exploit, you will not respect; whatever you exploit and disrespect, you will ultimately destroy. Again, this is as true for relationships with the earth and its creatures as between human beings.

I support:

  • Phasing out our dependence on carbon-based technologies in favor of exploring and funding alternative energy research into renewable energy sources, especially wind, hydro and solar power and geothermal energy. If many citizens came to rely on these energy sources, they could, in turn, sell them back to the power grid, meaning the grid would be invested in continuing to support new, renewable and sustainable sources.
  • Phasing out nuclear power as an energy source. It is too toxic, too polluting, and too risky to human and animal life and to the earth itself.
  • Providing tax incentives and microloans for startups of small local farms, urban and suburban homesteads, neighborhood gardens, food co-operatives, small local businesses, consumer co-ops, and for consumers who buy and sell locally.
  • Promoting education in the practices of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, low-till and no-till gardening, double-dug, no-rototiller raised beds, small-space gardening and heirloom seed preservation, in universities, colleges, and via county Extension Programs available to local communities;
  • Providing incentives for employers to encourage telecommuting and flexible hours;
  • Ending drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and designating it permanently as a wilderness;
  • Moratoriums on new offshore oil and natural gas drilling;
  • Maintaining the protections of the Wildlife Endangered Species Act ;
  • Fighting global deforestation;
  • Negotiations and meetings with leaders in China, India and throughout the world with the goal of researching and ending global warming and dependence on fossil fuels;
  • Ending environmental racism; no toxic dumps in the back yards of the poor, indigenous people and minorities.