Cut Off From Global Markets, Cuba Invents a New Agriculture
By Donella Meadows
–June 12, 1997–
It’s hard to believe anything we hear about Cuba. Some people, especially those in official positions, want us to believe that Cuba does no right, others that it does no wrong. I’m hearing fascinating stories from folks who have visited there, folks who are biased too in various ways — who isn’t? If even half of [...]
Dear Folks: November 26, 1995
Dear Folks,
Nearly always when I sit down to write this monthly letter to you, it’s a Sunday. I have been immersed in farm activities, and I am suffused with happiness — my normal state when I’ve spent a day or two putzing around outside. So I usually start off with farm stuff, descriptions of nature and animals and gardens and [...]
The Song of June in the Country (With a Lesson in Ecology)
By Donella Meadows
–June 15, 1995–
The slugs ate the sprouting zinnias right down to the ground.
So we put nine ducklings into the garden to eat the slugs.
The ducklings ate the slugs and then they ate the spinach and trampled the peas. So we moved six ducklings down to the pond and left just three to patrol slugs.
The raccoon circled the garden [...]
Dear Folks: April 28, 1995
Dear Folks,
Slowly, haltingly, tantalizingly, spring creeps toward the farm through all of March and most of April. Until this week we were marking time, moping at the gray, stormy weather, wandering outside on the occasional nice days, kicking at the ground, poking for signs of life, and making up work to do. Too wet and cold to till the garden. [...]
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Sheep and Men
By Donella Meadows
–December 22, 1994–
As rams go, Wally was a real gentleman.
Rams defend their territory by backing up to get a good run going, putting their thick necks down, and charging at anything they regard as a threat. Once, before we had Wally, I was walking heedlessly across the pasture and suddenly found myself flying through the air, both sneakers [...]
