Just for fun I'm going to share part of the to-do list for today.I try to leave some space in the margins of my life for the unexpected or the "who knew it could take this long?!" experience.
1) Fire permit for Mendota Heights -- tribal elders wish to ceremonially light a sacred fire. The coals will the be transported to start other fires, much like the way that the Dakota's fire was spread to the other members of the Seven Council fires. Submitted
2) Finalize and submit the traffic engineer's plan submitted to the state regarding road and highway closures for the last hoop on getting the Highway 13 and Highway 55 route details confirmed Check
3) Get several golf carts reserved Waiting for call back
4) Find another "water buffalo" because one of the tanks they were planning to use is unsafe for human/animal consumption. No luck so far
5) Find a different camping area for the horses and riders for the 15th ad 16th evenings. I wonder how many could fit in my yard in Bloomington. Right. Check
6) Lunch at the Eagan Rotary club Wonderful
7) Distribute filming requests because a documentary film crew is accompanying the ride and we need every community they go through to sign off. Well, at least I already have everyone's phone and email address. Waiting
8) Change flight information for two New Zealand bushmen who provided an expired passport number Getting close
9) Answer emails and go find out how many people are behind the blinking light on the office phone answering machine Check
10) Put out fires, even ones I don't currently know are smoldering but will identify throughout the day. Check
11) Identify five more host families for our international guests
Three down- two to go!
12) Explain the need to protect biodiversity for future generations :-) Keep reading...
Because Jesus chose to only manage twelve disciples at a time, I have always tried to supervise less than twelve people at a time... and to keep my daily list to less than twelve items. So these are my twelve for June 8. :-)
Our generation considers itself pretty progressive. We're about things like inclusion, sustainability, building-green, carbon footprints, human rights, cultural sensitivity. We want to save the whales, baby seals, oil covered birds in the gulf, volcanic ash covered birds, preserve and exhibit of the artifacts of King Tut, historically preserve landmark buildings (Fort Snelling falls in this). People protest about climate change and animal rights... Sarah McLaughlin sings about second chances while we see photos of sad puppies and kitties in animal shelters waiting for an adoptive home. There is no lack of people caring about preserving things and showcasing treasures, as defined by the viewer.
So I have two questions.
1) Do we truly want to celebrate/protect diversity? Or do we want everyone to be assimilated, to be just like everyone else and have everything taste the same? (probably easier if everyone would think just like us...)
2) Do we want the "American Indian" in the museum or do we want them as neighbors?
If you haven't heard, scientists are working to fill the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (also called the Doomsday Vault ) to protect seeds for the worst case scenario and from the process of mechanized farming. Interesting program on NPR I heard en route to home from Grantsburg Wisconsin yesterday... What if in the future farmers didn't have seeds to plant food? What if every farmer started buying and planting the same seeds and therefore all variety became extinct? What if genetically engineered seeds are deemed unhealthy at some point in the future and we need to roll back the clock ? Will there be any pure seeds from the fruit and veggies and grains as God made them in twenty years?
I'm not a farmer and currently do not plan on become one. My veggie garden and berry plants are healthy but I wouldn't want to live on these alone! So because I'm not a farmer, I am dependent on someone else to choose what to grow, harvest, ship and sell to to grocers/farmer's markers. My choice is dependent on the choices of others.
I'm no "foodie" but I know that different types of apples have different looks and distinct tastes. I choose grannies for making a tart pie, a golden delicious in my fridge to slice and dip in caramel, and buy cider made from honey crisps. Those are my favorites but nothing is like picking a warm one of any variety off the tree in the orchard. I've never personally thought about taking the seeds and saving them from the core because it was the best apple I've ever eaten. But I'd sure miss it if they went away. And if orchard owners know that when bees share pollen between different varieties that the crops will be even healthier and yield more fruit.
My analogy: If we value the beauty of all the colors and variety of apples rather than wanting each apple to look and taste the same in the future, then we need to invest in ways to help preserve biodiversity today. And I believe that the diversity in people and cultures is even more precious. We all have a richer human experience not in spite of, but rather because of the variety. But that means we will need to work harder just try to peacefully co-exist. I definitely think that our cultures and traditions and languages and music and stories and faith and holidays are extremely important to teach to our children. In some small accommodations, we can help each other to perpetuate what makes humanity so special. Not just saving a few for doomsday or historical documentation but actually giving some space and help to grow. And we will be healthier because our children grow up next to each other and learn from each other.
One final thought. Each of our cultures have parts of our history we wish could be undone and we each have leaders that have nearly destroyed a whole crop. If I found some bad apples of a particular variety, I wouldn't suggest that we cut down the whole tree or just plant enough other trees to crowd it out. God made all kinds of apple trees. Let's help tend to the whole orchard.
1) Fire permit for Mendota Heights -- tribal elders wish to ceremonially light a sacred fire. The coals will the be transported to start other fires, much like the way that the Dakota's fire was spread to the other members of the Seven Council fires. Submitted
2) Finalize and submit the traffic engineer's plan submitted to the state regarding road and highway closures for the last hoop on getting the Highway 13 and Highway 55 route details confirmed Check
3) Get several golf carts reserved Waiting for call back
4) Find another "water buffalo" because one of the tanks they were planning to use is unsafe for human/animal consumption. No luck so far
5) Find a different camping area for the horses and riders for the 15th ad 16th evenings. I wonder how many could fit in my yard in Bloomington. Right. Check6) Lunch at the Eagan Rotary club Wonderful
7) Distribute filming requests because a documentary film crew is accompanying the ride and we need every community they go through to sign off. Well, at least I already have everyone's phone and email address. Waiting
8) Change flight information for two New Zealand bushmen who provided an expired passport number Getting close
9) Answer emails and go find out how many people are behind the blinking light on the office phone answering machine Check
10) Put out fires, even ones I don't currently know are smoldering but will identify throughout the day. Check
11) Identify five more host families for our international guests
Three down- two to go!
12) Explain the need to protect biodiversity for future generations :-) Keep reading...
Because Jesus chose to only manage twelve disciples at a time, I have always tried to supervise less than twelve people at a time... and to keep my daily list to less than twelve items. So these are my twelve for June 8. :-)
Our generation considers itself pretty progressive. We're about things like inclusion, sustainability, building-green, carbon footprints, human rights, cultural sensitivity. We want to save the whales, baby seals, oil covered birds in the gulf, volcanic ash covered birds, preserve and exhibit of the artifacts of King Tut, historically preserve landmark buildings (Fort Snelling falls in this). People protest about climate change and animal rights... Sarah McLaughlin sings about second chances while we see photos of sad puppies and kitties in animal shelters waiting for an adoptive home. There is no lack of people caring about preserving things and showcasing treasures, as defined by the viewer.
So I have two questions.
1) Do we truly want to celebrate/protect diversity? Or do we want everyone to be assimilated, to be just like everyone else and have everything taste the same? (probably easier if everyone would think just like us...)
2) Do we want the "American Indian" in the museum or do we want them as neighbors?
If you haven't heard, scientists are working to fill the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (also called the Doomsday Vault ) to protect seeds for the worst case scenario and from the process of mechanized farming. Interesting program on NPR I heard en route to home from Grantsburg Wisconsin yesterday... What if in the future farmers didn't have seeds to plant food? What if every farmer started buying and planting the same seeds and therefore all variety became extinct? What if genetically engineered seeds are deemed unhealthy at some point in the future and we need to roll back the clock ? Will there be any pure seeds from the fruit and veggies and grains as God made them in twenty years?
I'm no "foodie" but I know that different types of apples have different looks and distinct tastes. I choose grannies for making a tart pie, a golden delicious in my fridge to slice and dip in caramel, and buy cider made from honey crisps. Those are my favorites but nothing is like picking a warm one of any variety off the tree in the orchard. I've never personally thought about taking the seeds and saving them from the core because it was the best apple I've ever eaten. But I'd sure miss it if they went away. And if orchard owners know that when bees share pollen between different varieties that the crops will be even healthier and yield more fruit.
My analogy: If we value the beauty of all the colors and variety of apples rather than wanting each apple to look and taste the same in the future, then we need to invest in ways to help preserve biodiversity today. And I believe that the diversity in people and cultures is even more precious. We all have a richer human experience not in spite of, but rather because of the variety. But that means we will need to work harder just try to peacefully co-exist. I definitely think that our cultures and traditions and languages and music and stories and faith and holidays are extremely important to teach to our children. In some small accommodations, we can help each other to perpetuate what makes humanity so special. Not just saving a few for doomsday or historical documentation but actually giving some space and help to grow. And we will be healthier because our children grow up next to each other and learn from each other.
| Name | Ripening Date Dates are approximate | Eating | Cooking | Sauce | Pie | Juice | Apple Butter | Storage |
 Gala | mid August to early September | X | X | BEST | X | X | X | Must refrigerate; even then only keeps for a few weeks |
 Lodi | Mid July | X | GOOD | Must Refrigerate | ||||
 Mollies Delicious | August | X | Must Refrigerate | |||||
 Jersey Mac | August | X | X | OK | ||||
 Earligold | August | X | X | X | X | Must Refrigerate | ||
 Akane | August | X | ||||||
 PaulaRed | mid August to early September | X | X | X | X | X | ||
 McIntosh | September | X | good | X | X | |||
 Ginger Gold | September | |||||||
 Honeycrisp | September | X | X | good, but watery | X | BEST | X | |
 Jonathan | mid to late September | X | X | Very good | X | X | X | |
 Golden Delicious | mid to late September | X | X | Very good | X | X | X | Should Refrigerate |
| Ultra Gold | mid to late September | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
 Cortland | mid to late September | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Jonalicious | mid to late September | X | X | Very good | X | X | X | Must Refrigerate |
 Red Delicious | mid to late September | X | good | X | ||||
 Jonagold | mid to late September | X | Very good | X | ||||
| Jubilee | Late September to early October | X | X | X | X | |||
 Mutsu, also called Crispin | Late September to early October | X | X | X | X | |||
 Keepsake | Late September to early October | X | X | X | ||||
 Northern Spy | Late September to early October | X | X | Very good for storing | ||||
 Shizuka | Late September to early October | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
 Braeburn | early to Mid October | X | X | X | X | |||
 Rome | early to Mid October | X | X | |||||
 Sundance | early to Mid October | X | X | X | X | |||
 Blushing Golden | early to Mid October | X | X | X | X | X | ||
 Stayman | ||||||||
 Enterprise | early to Mid October | X | X | |||||
 Melrose | early to Mid October | X | X | Very good | X | X | X | |
 Stayman Winesap |
mid to late
October | X | X | good | X | |||
 Granny Smith | mid to late October | X | X | X | ||||
 Macoun | mid to late October | X | X | |||||
 Liberty | mid to late October | X | X | |||||
 Pink Lady | mid to late October | X | X | good | X | X | X | |
 Suncrisp | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | X | ||
 Yates | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | Stores very well | ||
 Fuji | mid to late October | X | X | BEST | X | Great keeper; stores well in garage or basement | ||
 Black Twig | mid to late October | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
 Arkansas Black | mid to late October | Baking | too hard | Great keeper |
