One of the best essays I've read in a while. Amazing how fundamental Christianity aligns itself with capitalism in order to oppress and control the masses, which is the exact opposite of what Christianity is supposed to do.
Also, amen to "May we be moderate in consumption, but not in criticism and organizing"
I really enjoyed this! I've been thinking about water a lot as I've developed a home edible garden over the last few years (beginning with a garden bed inherited from the previous renter). I'm in NC, a humid and historically water-rich state, so the water concerns are a lot different, but still, rapid population growth, drought, and aquifer degradation has been adding strain to the water supply and quality (water contamination is also an issue that unfortunately feels very common across the US). The water demands of a vegetable garden, especially for individual gardens at individual homes, are a lot (especially as it gets quite hot here, though not Arizona hot). There is a culture of home vegetable gardening here and an informal economy of resource sharing to reduce consumption (e.g., cutting down bamboo from neighbor's yards to use for trellises, community seed and plant libraries) and people often share what they grow, at least, but I still think about the water a lot and what level of "production" makes the most of my water use (I love my rosemary, thyme, and oregano for their ability to thrive with rare watering).
I was wondering if you've encountered Natalie Koch's book, Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia? I read Matthew J. Haugen's (of Terrain) interview with her last year and it was really interesting. I can't link in a comment, but the newsletter title is "Natalie Koch on arid empire, camel colonialism, and desert imaginaries," from Jan. 7, 2023.
This was a good read. I have not gardened much here in the Phoenix area, because it would mean using even more water--and my own enjoyment doesn't seem to be an adequate reason, not when we already have a pool and a tiny plot of "lawn." I am already wasteful enough. And yet choosing not to garden means my experience of living here is less connected to this place. Temperate and disembodied?
Stunning and so necessary.
Thank you so much <3
One of the best essays I've read in a while. Amazing how fundamental Christianity aligns itself with capitalism in order to oppress and control the masses, which is the exact opposite of what Christianity is supposed to do.
Also, amen to "May we be moderate in consumption, but not in criticism and organizing"
Thank you so much!! It really is amazing how Christianity is used to oppress and control--in ever changing (and also the same) ways.
I really enjoyed this! I've been thinking about water a lot as I've developed a home edible garden over the last few years (beginning with a garden bed inherited from the previous renter). I'm in NC, a humid and historically water-rich state, so the water concerns are a lot different, but still, rapid population growth, drought, and aquifer degradation has been adding strain to the water supply and quality (water contamination is also an issue that unfortunately feels very common across the US). The water demands of a vegetable garden, especially for individual gardens at individual homes, are a lot (especially as it gets quite hot here, though not Arizona hot). There is a culture of home vegetable gardening here and an informal economy of resource sharing to reduce consumption (e.g., cutting down bamboo from neighbor's yards to use for trellises, community seed and plant libraries) and people often share what they grow, at least, but I still think about the water a lot and what level of "production" makes the most of my water use (I love my rosemary, thyme, and oregano for their ability to thrive with rare watering).
I was wondering if you've encountered Natalie Koch's book, Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia? I read Matthew J. Haugen's (of Terrain) interview with her last year and it was really interesting. I can't link in a comment, but the newsletter title is "Natalie Koch on arid empire, camel colonialism, and desert imaginaries," from Jan. 7, 2023.
This was a good read. I have not gardened much here in the Phoenix area, because it would mean using even more water--and my own enjoyment doesn't seem to be an adequate reason, not when we already have a pool and a tiny plot of "lawn." I am already wasteful enough. And yet choosing not to garden means my experience of living here is less connected to this place. Temperate and disembodied?