Who, me?

I'm always surprised when someone asks us to share elements of our lifestyle with others. I guess I don't really think the things we're doing are such a big deal. Today, for instance, two groups of teenagers came over to tour our grounds. They are attending Peace Camp, a week-long day camp sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church. It's not a religious program, but kids learn about wonderfully important things like social justice, diversity, and environmentalism. I can't wait until Zephyr is old enough to attend.

Anyway, my plan was to keep the kids occupied indoors so Jon could give the tour. I was in the kitchen, wondering what was so special about the way we live. I could just hear the excited gasp of the teenagers as Jon charred a piece of wood by placing it in the dish of our solar water heater for a few seconds. Suddenly, I stepped back and realized I was mixing some whole grain pancake mix while steeping some tea bags for a delicious beverage called Herbal Tea Cooler. Oh. Maybe we really are, as Monroe would say, Earth People.

Jubilee started asking for Dada, so I let the kids out and followed the group. With Zephyr in his tie-dye and Jubi in her bare feet, they looked the part. Jon talked about our solar water heater, solar oven, shade cloth over the windows, greenhouse, intensive gardening, clothesline, composting, worms, rain catchment, gray water, electric bike, and biking in general. He closed with an impassioned speech explaining that yes, we probably save money this way, but it's not really about money; it's about reclaiming life. Why work 60 hour weeks to buy things, when you could work less and have time. Time to play with your favorite people, focus on personal interests, live an examined life. They seemed to get it. I hope the solar brownies I served up weren't too distracting.