year of the potato!

Did you know?

The potato comes from the Andes, in South America, where it has been consumed for about 8,000 years. It was first taken to Europe in the 16th century by Spanish adventurers interested in its medicinal properties.

There are seven recognized potato species and more than 5,000 potato varieties still growing in the Andes. Potatoes play a critical role in the local farming economy there as well as in the cultural life of the Quechua and Aymara communities who grow them. These farmers still take advantage of its medicinal qualities. The juice of their local varieties helps to control nasty coughs, for example.

The nutritional value of these superior indigenous varieties is also impressive. Unlike the fat, white, starch-filled varieties used to make French fries, the small, colourful, and pockmarked types in the Andes are full of protein, vitamin C, and important antioxidants. And they taste a lot better!

http://usc-canada.org/what-you-can-do/potato/

The Story of the Two Wolves

One day an old Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson. He said, "There are two wolves fighting inside all of us - the wolf of fear and hate, and the wolf of love and peace."

The grandson listened, then looked up at his grandfather and asked, "Which one will win?"

The grandfather replied, "The one we feed."

http://www.georgianicols.com/wolves.html

giving

"You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."

Kahlil Gibran

aid is not enough - the complexities of humanitarian emergencies

hey - check out the new events posted under 'other events'. i've been helping to coordinate an upcoming event with ivan gayton @ rhizome cafe. it is going to be a thought provoking night! hope to see you there.

aid is not enough - the complexities of humanitarian emergencies
date: Friday, December 21st
time: 8pm - 11pm
location : Rhizome Cafe 317 East Broadway
cost: $5-$10

details: Ivan Gayton - logistician and project coordinator with
Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders will deliver a dynamic & interactive presentation on the complexity of aid work in the absence of functioning social structures. Ivan will also be screening his new video The Borders Question

your heart

"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your heart."

Charlie Parker

meditation

Meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with virtue. The more familiar our mind is with virtue, the calmer and more peaceful it becomes. When our mind is peaceful we are free from worries and mental discomfort, and we experience pure happiness. If we train our mind to become peaceful we shall be happy all the time, even in the most adverse conditions. But if our mind is not peaceful, then even if we have the most pleasant external conditions we shall not be happy. Therefore it is important to train our mind through meditation.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso--The Meditation Handbook

food ~ environment connection

"If every American went completely meat-free for one full day per week, the effect would be the same as taking 8 million cars off the roads."

- Environmental Defense