The project begins!

Last week I wrote that I would challenge myself to really uncover how I would like to earn my future living...this week I will begin the process of peelin' that onion! ....hmmm cheesy segway into my first thing that I would like my future to hold (looking for a better term than "thing")

Agriculture:
For the past few years I have really immersed myself in agricultural issues. I have somewhere along the line been drawn towards the path from which both sides of my family stem - farming. While I was born into a farming family, we exchanged rural life for urban life when I was very young. I didn't grow up on the farm and am thus lacking a vast amount of farming skills and knowledge.



So why do I want to do something with farming if I don't know how to farm?

True, I have no idea how to run a tractor (though I am experienced at sleeping on the floor of one by dad's feet), but nor do I want to. I am looking at farming on a different scale; on a local, small, and urban scale. Backyard farming, community gardens, Small Plot INtensive (SPIN) farming, and permaculture.

I have always been really connected to my food. So understanding the system it comes from is important to me. While hot topics in agriculture are focussing on how to feed the world population, I believe we should also be focusing on how to feed the world WELL. It's about quality, and knowing where you food has been and how it has been produced (with love?!)

So there it is...something my future MUST contain is an active role in agriculture! While it may or may not become my professional role, I won't be satisfied with a life without it.

Uhm, about this future business?!

**woops, computer problems = lack of blogging!**

Hi honeys!

Normally, the events of a week or two would not be very exciting; however, the past few weeks have been filled with pretty exciting opportunities, many changes, and some last-minute decisions ("Really Micki? That is so out of character though!")...I know. I know. 

Andrew is off to Italy tomorrow! As always, it is bitter-sweet. Very excited for this opportunity for him and so, sooo proud of him. He always works hard to get where he is going and I know Italy will be a fantastic journey for our boy Andy =)

The next few weeks will pass quickly enough for me as school finishes in three weeks and then final exams will take me through to mid-December until I make the journey home again (just in time for sugar cookies, ginger bread, my mom's spiced wine, and the traditional Scottish Christmas cake I am determined to make this year *help!*)!

My other update is about an opportunity that I have stumbled upon - I have applied to be a team member with the Global Youth Network on a social justice trip that will take me to Northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Western BC to live on First Nation reserves to better comprehend the social issues such communities face. In observing these situations I know I will be greatly affected and hope that it will provide me a better understanding for the problems that are present here, in Canada. While the GYN mainly targets 3rd world countries, I applied for the Canada trip as I have felt strongly that while international aid is important, we also need to focus on self-healing ( as I might put it if Canada were a person).

Good news came yesterday that I was selected for this team. It is going to be a lot of work, but good work!
I'm hopeful that these new changes will be directing me toward a more clear future - as I struggle at the mo to find myself in my future.

I know nobody ever knows exactly what their future will be....but I often feel many have a better sense of it than I do. It's been challenging for me to envision what my future looks like lately so I have designed an experiment: The next few blogs I am going to be writing about things that are important to me, things that I want my future to be comprised of! Perhaps from this, it will become more clear where I should be and what I should be working towards....and perhaps not, but at least I will have tried!

Your thoughts, wisdoms, and good vibes are always welcome. I hope you're all well =)

Lots of love xxx

P.S. In other news, tomorrow I am helping the Bee Farm on the Guelph Campus can their honey!!! A dream come true....mmmmm can't wait for some amazing local honey! <3

Reflection leads to appreciation

To start this off again, I suppose I need to account for all of the great things that have happened in the last year. It's funny how we always think nothing much happens each day...but when you look back on it, things really seem to accumulate. This is what life is made of and I feel really grateful for the life I have. Reflection always leads me toward appreciation.

Last summer (and a few posts to the south of us) I took a course on Permaculture. Since then my mind has been really honed in on urban agriculture and social improvement. I completed my fourth year at U of Saskatchewan where I got to do a fourth year project with the Ministry of Environment, designing a forest management plan for the Island Forests of Northern Saskatchewan; and then I got my dream summer job as a tech assistant with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, where got to assess environmental projects and learn more about watershed protection and planning... oh and Andrew and I skipped off for a little trip to Costa Rica somewhere in there too!

Rooted (the environmental club I head) also had a busy year - we held a free, 3 session, crash course on permaculture in Saskatoon and completed 5 backyard conversions in the city. That means 5 households are now producing much of their own foods (some even have chickens now to produce their own eggs!), and are focused on implementing a no-waste/closed loop lifestyle!

**Pictures to follow**

And this leads me to where I am today. Today I am sitting in the big old brown chair in my lovely little basement suite, across the park from the University of Guelph (Ontario). I found my way here after being drawn to this city's progressive policies and engaged student body - both of which I love. Guelph is a beuatiful little city and is really homey. Even though I finish school in December, I hope to make my way back to Guelph again...

But come January, I will be off again!
A few months living in Rome will be a great way to finish off my degree! I plan to take a language course, hopefully get a little job, and eat a LOT of pizza =) those are some good goals. I also plan to continue trying to figure out what I am to do with myself afterward... there is a lot to be lost in at the moment but one thing gets me by -- It always works out in the end.

Well, that was a lot of reading and a lot of writing but next time we can start from a more recent point.

Take care...errr, I mean, CIAO!

x

Blog-ON!

It's been over one year since I have written on my blog and I am feeling that now is a good point to write again. Until recently I didn't feel like there was a lot for me to write about, but then I thought more and more about the past year and am feeling exhausted already just thinking about all there is to write! I'm not sure to whom, but that's the beauty of a blog - there might not be anyone reading! These posts don't have to be substantial breakthroughs or strokes of genius each time, but looking back on my blogging days from last year made me realise how much I personally get out of blogging.

Looking back has also really shown me how each day does count. This will serve as good motivation to blog more frequently...so I can look back again and remember how each day meant something.

So here is to another year of blogging, friends! Let me know if you have a blog going too - I'd love to catch up on your lives too =)

From she, who loves bees - take care!