More pictures from DC

At the New Haven railroad station, excitedly waiting for the train

Union Station, Washington, D.C.

In front of the Airbnb where we stayed - a very nice apartment in a rowhouse, 2 blocks from Capitol Hill

On Tuesday evening, we went out for a walk around Capitol Hill

In front of the Library of Congress

 The Capitol

Meeting with Nora from NRDC at our Airbnb on Wednesday morning before going to meet with politicians.

Ready for action

Inside one of the Senate buildings

This sign we walked by says: "A time comes when silence is betrayal", Martin Luther King, Jr. So true, on so many levels.

Peace

Look for the helpers

Back from Washington, DC. The girls had a really productive day on Capitol Hill, delivering their message and letter to 5 congressmen and senators, expressing their opposition to seismic blasting and oil/gas exploration on the East Coast of the US. Everyone they met with was very encouraging and supportive, and the girls felt inspired.
It was back to back meetings all day, and by the end everyone was exhausted, but feeling really amazing to have had this opportunity to make their voices heard in D.C.

I will post more about it, and as you can imagine I have tons of pics and videos, but for now here's a link to NRDC's postings (they've been posting on Instagram, Facebook, Tweeter, Snapchat, and possibly other platforms I know nothing about).

Please add your voice to theirs and TAKE ACTION: http://on.nrdc.org/2tyFr1v

 In Senator Murphy's office

This quote, right above where they were sitting, fits perfectly. They, and others like them, are the helpers.

Peace

Videos from NRDC posted on Instagram

NRDC just posted three video segments from yesterday of Sena, Julia and Sylvie on Instagram. It's three videos in one post, so for those not familiar with Instagram, make sure to swipe if you want to see all three.
(If the link does not work, just go on Instagram under nrdc_org).

Preparations

Yesterday, waiting at the train station in New London, for Dr. Kershaw from NRDC. 

 She came for the day from NYC.

The girls had their meeting and a very productive session with Dr.Kershaw, in preparation for the trip to DC.

Dr. Kershaw took lots of videos and pictures, which will all be part of a story that NRDC will share on their social media platforms, such as Snapchat (I didn't even know what that was until yesterday), Instagram (this one, I know), and probably Facebook. I'll post links when I have them.

Sylvie is the youngest member of the group, 7-years-old, and very passionate. Unfortunately she will not be able to go to DC, but it was great that she was there yesterday.

Today we're all packed up. This is my stuff.

Have a good week everybody, and I'll leave you with this:

Clothed in these bodies,

at these times,

in these places,

under these circumstances.

With loaded pasts and uncertain futures.

We reach out to each other

for a connection.

Something

that goes beyond.

Peace

So much beauty all around

Aiyana helping with evening chores in the pasture

 Growing wild

A little hiding spot of mine

Peace

CSI Youth Group going to DC to meet with politicians

Just about a year ago, Sena, Aiyana and I went to New York City to meet with NRDC (Natural Resources Defence Council). That meeting went really well (see pictures from that day in this post), and since then, NRDC has been very involved and supportive of Sena's work and the youth group she started, Cetacean Society International Youth Group (CSI YG for short). They've acted as advisors and helped Sena and CSY YG prepare for public events, and they've even sent a representative to come down and speak after the movie showing of Sonic Sea, which CSI YG organized.

Now that Trump proposed to open up the East Coast to seismic mapping (which I already wrote about in this post and on Facebook), NRDC and CSI YG are working together again. NRDC is actually sponsoring CSI YG to go to "the hill". When they first said that, I said "what hill"? I guess that's their lingo, since they do so much work at Capitol Hill.

So, CSI YG will be going to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C! They're very excited. They will talk with politicians and ask them not to allow seismic mapping on the East Coast of the US.

NRDC has a branch in DC, and one of their people there is working to organize meetings for CSI YG with "key political figures". Two other people from NRDC, one from NYC and one from the West Coast, organized the entire trip, as far as getting CSI YG down to DC, finding a place to stay and all the logistics. I am really moved by NRDC's support, generosity and commitment.

As far as CSI YG, there will be 5 girls going: Sena, Aiyana, Emma, Ella and Julia. I am also going with them as the adult. We are all so excited.

NRDC is also planning a social media campaign around all this. They have a communications specialist on it, and they plan to record the girls before, during and after the trip. Someone from NRDC in NYC is actually coming here tomorrow to record CSI YG's meeting in preparation for the trip. They're planning to distribute what they put together on their social media platforms. I will definitely share here when anything is available.

So for now, everyone is very busy working to prepare for the event. We will be taking the train to DC on Tuesday morning, getting there in the afternoon and hopefully have a little time to do some fun stuff. We'll be sleeping in a beautiful Airbnb that NRDC found for us, walking distance from Capitol Hill. Wednesday is booked all day for Capitol Hill. We'll be getting back to CT on Wednesday night.

Peace

This morning, talking about how I feel

I think I got my parents worried with my last post / poem, so this morning I made a 5 minute video sharing how I've been feeling and why. It feels weird, sharing how you feel with anyone out there, and I am afraid of negative comments and criticism, but then again, not doing so contributes to stigma and de-normalization of something that we all deal with, so that's why I do it.

Peace

Co-creator

Get comfortable with despair.

That empty feeling in your gut,

that's always slinking in,
announcing that the universe is indifferent to your suffering.
That feeling is real.

Chase it away, and like a faithful dog,

it will return.

I know.

Provide your own light, you must

Such that you can continue.

Allowing that there's much you do not know;

Allowing that,

though foolish is to hope,

You're gonna do it, anyway

(If nothing else, this life is an adventure).

You must remember you have much to give.
You are a co-creator with life,
in ways you'll never understand.
And that's more than enough.

And do remember there's no prize

Except for being here,

Except for life itself.

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light"

-Dylan Thomas

Peace

Harvest pictures and some good news

All this comes out of the the Earth. Literally. Isn't that incredible?

Peaches

 This steak and salad were one of the best lunches I ever made, and the quickest.

Zucchini, cucumbers, onion, pepper, beans, celery, dill.

 BFF - tomatoes and basil

And two pieces of good news I wanted to share:

One, I read that China will stop accepting American trash by the end of 2017, due to pollution and contamination issues. I think that's great. We'll have to deal with our own trash (unless we find another country, too poor to say no, and start contaminating their soil and water). It's too easy right now for people to throw things "away". Where is "away"? If it were in our back yard, we'd have a different view of consumption and disposable things.

And two, it seems like there are whales right in the waters off NYC. There have been several sightings in the past week or two. Sena said let's go.... But. we're going to DC soon, which I will write about in another post soon.

Peace

Saturday pics and a video

Ed, lying down and reading his book by the Fenton River, where we spent a few hours on Saturday. He's been working really hard, and been quite stressed with his 2 jobs, so I am glad he got some time to relax. We're so lucky to have such beautiful places so close to our house....

And that's me, standing at the edge

I've haven't called my parents in quite a while... I have some good excuses, but that's all they are, excuses. But in any case, I hope that they, and you, will be glad to see another farm video (my mom told me that they make her feel closer to me, which is very nice), so here is my Tuesday walk around the field.

Peace

Take my hand

So take my hand,

and take these words

and take this gaze

that sees you as you are

Beneath those waves you try so hard to brave...

Nobody ever knows

what's in another's soul -

the struggles they are fighting,

the suffering,

the loathing, the oppression.

I reach out to you - take my hand

I see you - you're beautiful

And take these words -

It's all I have to give.

Inspired by the death of Chester Bennington.

Peace

A few kind words to shift it

I want to share parts of an article I read this morning on compassion. This article made me think of an incident that happened to me earlier this week, when I was a mess. I had had a hard few days, and I was doing errands, feeling very raw and on edge. I was in the chocolate aisle at the food coop (got to, right?), and this guy who works there came up to me, and told me in a very simple, sincere way, how much he liked my Shundahai videos, and thanked me for making them. It's not what he said, but how he said it, with kindness and openness, that in my raw state, made me almost start crying. His small act turned my day around, and made me feel appreciated and much lighter than before. I felt like I had just connected with someone in a genuine way, and that devastating loneliness that had oppressed me and made me feel nauseous for the past few days, was somewhat lifted. So I made sure to tell him how his act of just saying a few kind words to me had made a difference in my day, and I thanked him for it. I think that too often, we don't let people know how much their positive actions change things for us for the better. So I was sure to let him know. It was just a small incident, very small, but it stayed with me because it really demonstrated how little it takes to shift that heavy, oppressive inner state that we all sometimes find ourselves in.


Here is the article on compassion. I took out a few paragraphs to share here.

"The ultimate journey of a human being is to discover how much our hearts can encompass. Our capacity to cause suffering as well as to heal suffering live side by side within us."

"True compassion is not forged at a distance from pain but in its fires. We do not always have a solution for suffering. We cannot always fix pain. However, we can find the commitment to stay connected and to listen deeply. Compassion does not always demand heroic acts or great words. In the times of darkest distress, what is most deeply needed is the fearless presence of a person who can be wholeheartedly receptive."

"Some people, carrying long histories of a lack of self-worth or denial, find it most difficult to extend compassion toward themselves. Aware of the vastness of suffering in the world, they may feel it is self-indulgent to care for their aching body, their broken heart, or their confused mind. Yet this too is suffering, and genuine compassion makes no distinction between self and other. If we do not know how to embrace our own frailties and imperfections, how do we imagine we could find room in our heart for anyone else?"

Peace


 

In times of destruction

In times of destruction,

as things fall apart,

and some around you can no longer bear their suffering -

In times of destruction,

as your mind spins, and tries to pull you under -

Stay close to what nourishes your body and soul,

Stay close to anything you love.

In times of destruction,

be close to life,

and out of your innermost,

Create!

("In a time of destruction, create something" is a quote from Maxine Hong Kingston that inspired me).

RIP Chester Bennington, from Linkin Park! Very sad to hear the news of his death. Peace to his family and loved ones.

I am finding my peace in my daily work, in my connection with the Earth, and in sharing with all of you, so I want to share my latest video, on Making Peach Jam.

Peace

Personal = political, economical, social, spiritual, etc.

In our current economic paradigm, an activity that does not generate economic growth is not seen as valuable. For example, growing food to take care of one's community; taking care of the earth; raising and teaching children; taking care of elders - all fundamental activities, are non-growth generating and therefore not valued or properly remunerated in financial terms. As Vandana Shiva says, a healthy forest, that cleans our air and keeps us and the ecosystem healthy is not valuable; but cut it down for timber, and now you're generating growth. This is a model of exploitation of resources, which leads, as we see clearly now, to environmental destruction, impoverishment of most people and enrichment of a few, and many other social/political ills.

Many of us have been taught to dissociate the personal, political, economic, spiritual spheres, but in reality they are intricately bound together, at an every day, nitty-gritty level of our lives. All of our actions have implications in all these spheres, and so the good news is that we don't have to go out there and be a revolutionary in an upfront kind of way, we can quietly and thoughtfully make a huge difference just by the way we live our daily life.

So what can we do?

One - realize that our current socio-economic-political system is failing most of us, (I want to say all of us if you account for environmental damage), and that taking care of the earth, our families and our communities are essential acts.
Two - realize that every time you pay for something, you are supporting everything that led to getting that thing to you. For example, every time you eat, you're supporting the entire food production system behind the food you put in your mouth. That is huge. You may be supporting something destructive, or quite the opposite. I know we all have too much going on (which I would say is another consequence of our current system), but we must live with awareness, and make conscious choices aligned with our values. We all have great power to change things by voting with out dollars.

For a more eloquent insight into this, Vandana Shiva wrote a great article in The Guardian a few years ago.

Peace

What love is - as taught by the things around me

A light in the falling darkness, guiding our way home

Openness, showing our innermost

 Conectedness - many small things coming together to create something beautiful

 Growing alongside each other in togetherness and cooperation

 Vulnerability

Love is primordial, fierce, life-giving.

Peace

Mid-July tour of vegetable production area

As you know, my old camera broke, and so, last week, I put out a message on social media, asking if anyone had an old cell phone they no longer needed, with a working camera. I was very pleasantly surprised by the number of responses I received. Thank you so much to everyone who responded! I am moved and grateful for your  kindness and generosity.

So I ended up with Barb and Ernie's iPhone 5S, and this past weekend, I made a video showing a tour of our vegetable production area. I am excited to be able to make my little farm videos again and to share with you what's going on at Shundahai.

I also want to thank those who said kind words to me and encouraged me to keep sharing what I'm doing here on the farm, like my mother and some friends. I'm not trying to sell anything, or get anything from anyone, I just want to share something that means a lot to me, so it makes me very happy to know that someone else appreciates or connects with what I do, or simply enjoys what I put out. Thank you!

Peace

Sustenance and beauty

From the Earth.

Volunteer sunflowers in the greenhouse. What a nice surprise!

I identify with this one, always looking for the light...

Ecchinacea came up in the field and was also a surprise. The girls planted seeds years ago but they never came up, so we totally forgot about them. This year, I noticed some unusual plants near my herb patch, and at first I almost pulled them out thinking they were weeds. Then, I decided to watch and see what they turn into as they grow, and to my excitement they turned out to be beautiful ecchinacea plants. That's how it is when you plant a seed, whether it's in the ground or in your heart or in someone else's heart - sometimes nothing happens for a long time, but then, with patience something may bloom. Patience has never been my strong point, and I still struggle with it, but this Ecchinacea plant taught me something.

 Tiger Lily growing wild. Beauty is always wild - don't try to tame it.

 Peach insanity

Zucchini, cucumbers and basil harvested this morning. Made some kick ass pesto with the basil and my alpine cheese, which I made last winter.

My garden and all the beauty and abundance I see all around soothe me, but I'm still aching over the death of Chris Cornell, and others like him, too sensitive to deal with the world.

"I'd give you everything I own"

Soundgarden, Blow up the outside world

Peace

The Book Barn, Niantic

Sena, Aiyana and I went to The Book Barn, one of our favorite places down by the shore. I've always loved second hand book stores, and The Book Barn is the best. Great atmosphere, beautiful gardens, pet goats, and lots of books. Could easily spend a day there. The girls love it too....Check it out if you haven't been, it's a short drive off I95, exit 74.

I spent quite a bit of time in the poetry section, and got myself some more Rumi:

This heart is like a candle

longing to be lit.

Torn from The Beloved

it yearns to be whole again,

but you have to bear the pain.

You cannot learn about love.

Love appears on the wings of grace.

-Rumi, Whispers of the Beloved

Somehow

How else can you know someone,

How else can you help someone,

Unless you, yourself,

Have been broken?

Unless you've been intimate with pain,

and fear,

and darkness,

And yet still managed

To hold the light within you

Somehow.

Pictures from the 4th of July weekend

Ed's parents have a cottage in Rhode Island, right on the water (an inlet off the ocean), and the girls usually spend the 4th of July with Grandma and Grandpa, watching fireworks and having fun. This year, I went with them right after my Friday deliveries, and stayed until Saturday, when Ed came down and I went back to the farm. It was really nice to be by the ocean again. Here are some pictures:

Aiyana reading on the deck

I didn't bring much stuff at all - I love traveling light, and everything I had fit in a small handbag- but I did bring a couple of books and my journal. They go everywhere with me. It was lovely to have time to read, write and relax.

Misquamicut beach - it was late afternoon by the time we got there on Friday, and we had the beach to ourselves.

 Aiyana

Sena. She's now officially registered to take her first college course: English Composition, at MCC, starting in late August.

 Early morning on the pond - view off the back deck of Ed's parents' cottage.

Every shell and rock and piece of seaweed I see at the beach looks beautiful to me.

I wish you could see yourself as I see you,

Your struggle makes you beautiful,

although you are in pain...

I want to cut the chains that bind your heart

to make it light again,

so you can laugh, and be set free

If I could.

Peace

Functional in a dysfunctional society

What does it mean when you are functional in a dysfunctional society? Or in a dysfunctional family, or any other social unit you're part of?
What is the cost of this this kind of functionalism, and what point does it take a toll on your physical, mental, emotional integrity?

These are some questions I asked a clinical psychologist, who counsels adults and children in her practice, and who came to our farm about a month ago. I think she was very uncomfortable with my questions and never answered them. I didn't mean to make her uncomfortable, just wanted to talk about things I've been thinking for a while.

She was happy to talk about problems with individuals, but didn't really know where to go with my line of thought. After all, her job is to help people fit in the system, and function within the system, and I don't mean that in a bad way. I know that professionals like her try and do help a lot of people. But I do think that when problems arise for people as they interface with the social system they're part of, it's worthwhile looking not only at the person who's experiencing trouble, but at the system that they're interfacing with as well.

Peace

Take what is beautiful

Another sweat lodge last night. Two in two weeks. Now there will be a spell without any...Wrote these:


Then I got up
Covered in dirt from lying
against the earth.
Sage and twigs tangled in my hair,
My clothes soaked,
Face streaked with salt from sweat, and tears,
Smelling of herbs, fire and resin,
Soothed by earth and water.

I prayed for you.
Then I got up
and walked into the world again
to do my work.

----------------------

If you can,
From every situation in your life,
Take what is beautiful
And leave the rest,
unless you can transmute it.

Take what is beautiful,
Not in a greedy way,
Put it inside you, nurture it,
Let it change you, lighten your heart,
Then pass it on to lighten others.

And leave the rest.
See it, understand it,
Have compassion for it,
Transform it if you can
But don't let it harden you, embitter you
Don't pass it on.

Be careful with your heart
What you let in,
The great alchemist,
Take care of it.

Looking for an old cell phone

Good morning, everyone,

In the spirit of reusing and recycling, I thought I'd put out this message:

I'm looking for a used cell phone to use as a camera only. I don't need or want it as a phone, because I have my old-fashioned house phone and that's plenty. But I think that cell phones have good cameras, so I want to use it as a camera. I don't need the latest model, an older one will be good enough for me. So if you have one that you no longer need, and want to sell it or donate it, please let me know. All I care about is that the camera be in good working order.

I actually bought a second hand phone about a month ago, and was very happy with it, until the camera feature stopped working late last week. I took it back and the guy said there was a hardware problem, so he's going to reimburse me. But I'm still kind of bummed about it, because I was liking it, and it was just right for what I needed. I loved taking pictures and making my little farm videos and sharing them.

So please let me know if you have anything and how I can get back to you. You can reply here or reach me at:

ralucamocanu@yahoo.com
253 Maple Rd
Mansfield CT 06268
860-429-0695

Thank you, and
Peace

Apprivoiser

There's a word in French that I love: apprivoiser. I first read it years ago in The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In English it was translated as "to tame", like when the fox says to the little Price "apprivoise-moi" and it got translated into "tame me". I don't think that is the meaning Antoine de Saint-Exupéry meant to convey. To tame implies dominance and an unequal relationship, whereas apprivoiser,especially as used in The Little Prince, and as I understand it, is much closer to: befriend, find affinity with, build intimacy with. If you read The Little Prince in English and "to tame" was the translation for the relationship between the Little Prince and the fox, go back and re-read it with this new translation I'm talking about and I think you'll get a different meaning out of it.

Lately, this word "apprivoiser" has been on my mind, and I came to see it as a key to building close relationships with humans, animals, plants, and with anything, really, that you spend time doing and care about. In fact, I've come to believe that the only way to really know anything is to build this kind of relationship with it.

We're here to build intimacy

with life, and with each other.

Intimacy meaning:

Getting to know, feeling in tune with, trusting, feeling affinity towards,

"Apprivoiser".

Instead of:

controlling, demanding, pushing.

Intimacy with our own life,

and those things and people that we invite in it.

All of which will gently yield their secrets

when befriended.

Peace

A plea

Last night I had a dream about whales, as I occasionally do. I was out in the ocean and I saw two whales, one of which was OK; the other was ridden by a very small man who had stuck a harpoon in its back. I knew that this huge creature, which looked so fearsome and intimidating to me, was going to be killed by this little man with his harpoon, and I felt that when it died, it would somehow take me and the rest of us along with her.

So, that being my disturbing dream, I thought it was a pretty good metaphor for all kinds of environmental issues.

For whales in particular, I feel that I must put something out to inform everyone who does not already know that the Trump administration is proposing opening up the Atlantic Coast to gas and oil drilling. If you have seen Sonic Sea, you know how destructive seismic mapping, associated with offshore drilling, is for marine mammals and the marine environment in general. If you have not seen it, NRDC has a short summary of how seismic drilling impacts animals in the ocean, and at the bottom of the same page you can also find a Take Action button that you can click to state your opposition to this proposal.

Please take action today, as public comments will be closed shortly.

This is a 2 min video put out by NRDC about the effects of seismic testing in the ocean.

Thank you so much. The oil industry will lobby hard for its interests. We must lobby for ours.

Peace

Peach trees at Shundahai on Independence Day

I made a short video last night of a walk in the orchard, focusing on the abundant peach trees.
Also, if you haven't seen it yet, a few days ago, I posted another short video telling the story of our 2 quince trees.

I do like sharing what's going on on the farm, and it makes me happy to think that someone else may be enjoying it too.

Peace

Straying

Sweat lodge

Lovely lodge last night. I really needed it...

I picked this small bouquet of wild flowers for it, and wrote the lines below in anticipation.

Thank you for my life,
Thank you for this day.
Thank you for my teachers.
Thank you for my blessings,
Thank you for my difficulties-
May I learn from them.

Let me rest, close to the earth.

Let me smell the fire,

feel your fiery heat,

Let your waters cool me,
And your breezes cleanse me;

Let me rest in you.

Take me back, just for a while,

for I am tired.

Give me strength to go back out and speak the truth, kindly;

Give me strength to stand in crowds of misled men, again;

Give me strength to hold close to my heart, beauty and love, 

My only saviors.

Hear my prayer:
Lighten our hearts,
Guide us to transform our pain
so that we may walk forward in a kinder way
to ourselves and to each other.