Rights of Rivers

Rights of the Rivers (This is a slightly revised version of a keynote talk I presented at the annual gathering of the Apalachicola Riverkeepers on 3/26/16.  It’s longer than usual!) You cannot live in the Southeast without noticing how rivers define the places where we live. They bring us fresh water and so much more, but their geographical delineations of bioregion are among their most magical qualities.  I first noticed how the rivers embrace us in the early 1990s, when I traveled … Continue

On My Knees

The beautiful urgency of the garden has brought me to my knees. Spring harvest and spring planting require that  I turn away from the concerns of our suffering world for the hours it takes to grow our family’s food.     Rows of Garden of Eden pole beans shake free from their brown seed jackets so they can climb.  The tomatoes are still orderly, restrained by the cool of these nights. I keep pace with their growth by pinching off side shoots and tying … Continue