I’ve thought loads about planting seeds—seeds I wish to plant and naturally develop– the brand new varietal of blue mustard inexperienced, as an example.
It’s the factor to consider in fall– harvesting and planting.
However what else? What if I may plant—something. Something in any respect.
What would I wish to develop? What would I wish to plant?
I wish to develop lengthy rooted vegetation that stretch to my neighbors’ home– to see if everyone seems to be okay subsequent door, and throughout the road, and some homes down by the railroad tracks.
I need these roots to pop up with vegetation, and possibly true completely happy meals. So, individuals could be completely happy—and fed.
There are such a lot of individuals hungry—who can assume with out meals? One in 4 youngsters goes to mattress hungry… twenty-five p.c…and ten p.c don’t know the place their mattress is…the place they’ll sleep.
I bear in mind once I was in Istanbul this summer season there was a girl sitting together with her legs splayed out on the street and he or she was going by way of a bag of restaurant left overs—possibly? — an enormous black rubbish bag open between her black stockinged legs…and he or she was sorting scraps of leftover bread. She had a small pile of bread scraps to her proper hip, that she was including to.
Subsequent to her was a child carriage with two infants in it—possibly a yr outdated every they usually had been nostril to nostril within the carriage, asleep.
I wish to plant some seed that feeds the world.
However I don’t must go to Istanbul to see that… I bear in mind it due to her black hijab flowing round her and the blue mosque outlined behind her and the 2 infants, after all, nostril to nostril.
However I can see the identical factor – totally different lady totally different youngsters –once I get off the 405 and drive below the over cross on my approach to work within the Valley and I see tent cities and there are ladies and there are kids and there are hungry youngsters
I wish to plant seeds of motion. I wish to plant seeds of fullness. I need my vegetation to burst open with pizza and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, scorching chocolate and ice cream.
It’s so arduous to be on this planet. It’s so arduous and I went to Sprouts immediately, a slightly high-end pure meals retailer, the place I purchased the pumpkin spice merchandise, I inform myself I gained’t fall for again- however right here I’m going with pumpkin spice pancake combine and pumpkin spice candy potato chips and pumpkin spice stuffed, gluten-free cookies. I imply all of these items is so costly actually—after which once more, I purchase it as a result of I do work arduous and I’ve no time to exit to eat and I’ve to carry meals to work, and I don’t eat wheat… and there are nonetheless individuals hungry, ravenous, and I take into consideration that lady in Istanbul so typically and people two nostril to nostril infants and that mosque behind her—Allah shield her, Jesus shield her.
Defend us all goddess of the fireplace Hestia– throw your seeds into the wind and imbue them with magic in order that the world is fed… the right way to do it?
Why aren’t we doing it? We criminalize giving meals to the homeless in Florida.
And that is the time of harvest. There’s a lot and we share so little
Earth air fireplace water, my lecturers. I’m a witch of the weather.
The best way to bend the arc of justice? Oh Martin, the arc of the ethical universe is lengthy …nevertheless it bends in direction of justice.
Spell the wand and bend the arc on this time of yr when the vegetation are ripe, the corn yellow, the pomegranates purple.
I throw my seeds. I forged my lot. Possibly I purchase completely happy meals.
–Marie Cartier
With due to Queerwise efficiency group, September 2023
Notice: Criminalizing feeding the homeless isn’t just occurring in Florida. You possibly can study extra right here.