This is a slideshow about how we started to cultivate an ancient relationship with plants going way way back in time. We travel from native California to the terra preta of the Amazon to the highlands of the Andes to the three sisters peoples of the Americas to the north south divide of China and modern industrialized chemical agriculture and organic agriculture too that feeds the worlds people today. Tucked in there we give thanks to pioneer farmers and inventors like Henry Ford, John Froelich, John Deere, Jethro Tull (not the rock band the person) and others who sent us down the path of the motor and engine. In this way you see the connections that bind us and the changes over time. Also, we follow the trajectory of the primary carb plants of civilization through the ages from acorns to yucca to potatoes to corn to rice to wheat and everything else that keep us going day to day. Plants!!!
Somewhere between Sonora and the Gila River they was havin a dance before the hard of sight monsoon Rain found his groove and Thunder sat up from prayer the Toad the Velvet Mite and the Horn Lizard knew it was bout to go down they all convened at the puddle about to become a flash flood they knew that Wind was the MC, and to follow his cue
Everybody that could shake and move was on the coiled and woven dance floor even folks you dont usually see together you know arch enemies polar opposites sworn rivals ‘never gonna talk to her again’ kinda peoples they was celebrating the coming of Rain some dressed up, others came casual natural they danced the polka, the cumbia, and the wiggle jiggle make it up dance there was ms stinky and mrs venom oh yuck nasty rotten ugly and ahhh sheer delight sparkling beautiful a lil bit on the heavy side Señor Buck and kinda short and stocky for a lion Mrs Concolor a rancher and his mama and so on
Under the vatto that is vatto watto not vato vatto is Oʼodham, vato is Spanish one is a thatched structure in the desert with wood poles and no walls the other is like dude bro essssssssse under the vatto are the musicians today they are singing about drinking wine made from Saguaro drumming on about the yummy deliciousness of Prickly Pear fruits rasping away at Mesquite pods made into flour fiddling Oak acorns into being and blowing harmonica flute and saxophone tunes until Rain sheds his load and Thunder starts clapping
As usual Spider was up to the same old tricks tryin to steal the eagle feather droppin in for a toke with the cool kids imagining that it and only it was the one weaving the universe into being silly Spider with the eight eyes but still poor eyesight… what are we gonna do with you Spider?!
And in the well tended field laden with Pumpkin and Melon Bean stretching tendrils atop Squash blossoms and Corn silk are the naughties that are at every party always just chilling and hanging at the margin you know who you are! if this was school you would be at detention if this was work you would be off the payroll but this is a fun dance is all, so laugh and be merry you know who you are!! Pack Rat, Jack Rabbit and Coyote!! and Cottontail, I know you are in there somewhere! Show yourself!!
There are worlds above and below us baskets sitting atop baskets and more baskets all thick with goods the entrance to the underworld is shown here by the tiny round house of a mound guarded by Gopher and Gopher the gate to the upper worlds is best accessed by prayers and pilgrimages up to ancient caves and mountain peaks next to Ocotillo and Agave, somewhere in the very quiet sand grain rock outcrop of time
Well Sun bout risen Wind is leading the way can feel the dampness and electric buzz in the air Rain magic starting in a moment gonna duck in the house to stay dry stare out the window and watch it all come down
Gratitude and references Thank you to the Tohono O’odham, the Akimel O’odham, the Hia C-eḍ Oʼodham, and I’itoi Thank you to Michael Chiago Sr. and his wonderful artwork Thank you for the words and work of Juan Dolores, Susanne Ignacio Enos, Dean and Lucille Saxton, and Amadeo M Rea Thank you for the songs of countless beings and the smiles of the Ancestors
Synthetic pesticides are sometimes grouped by their ‘chemical class and structure’, and site of action on the pest. These pesticides include the organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and others. Most of these are nerve poisons that kill bugs and other creepy crawlies. Some of them work on or with the chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, others work on electrical gates on the nerve itself. Since we covered the action of organophosphates and carbamates in a previous discussion https://missionazul.com/2018/04/14/103-plants-nerves-acetylcholine-poisons-horticulture/, this one here is about the organochlorines. Let’s go!
Ol buddies riding on the point of the spear articulate the following:
Inspired by their words, actions, and the Yakumama fighting for lil kids and all the creatures that depend on water I scratched and smeared this one painting into being for all that matters and is of consequence hoping that the light of rainbows songs of spirits and unity of peoples can push back and recycle the streams and torrents of pollution illness and death
Some days when I am out about on the slopes covered with coyote bush a lil fella pops to the top of the shrubs and starts singing its heart out a cute little sparrow with black and white streaks on its head yellow bill whistling sweet tunes with a happy trill near the end
Well a gentleman from the Cal Academy Dr Luis Batista used to sing them songs of birds and not just the white crown’s tunes either heck, he seemed to me able to speak the language of all the winged creatures as if he belonged to the tribe of birds and angels more so than to the tribe of earth bound people really cool guy
I got images of him driving along sonoma roads head out the window pointing, looking up at the skies greeting his colleagues another one is him walking in his garden in the moonlight unadorned with clothing talking to his collection of cactus and plants
(did not actually see this; his pardner told me about this as we were moving plants)
At one point he told me of his adventures going south of the border and the Mexican navy taking him out to this island where a rare dove lived specifically, the Socorro Dove Zenaida graysoni and his efforts to conserve and protect birds
Got asked to do some art for his institute this one he worked on with Helen Horblit his chum in these nature and life endeavors not sure we ever made any shirts or nothing like that pictures just sat in a folder until this spring broke and I heard that familiar voice of the white crowned sparrow which in my totally uneducated ornithological ear sounds like ooooou wee wa she wee wa she wa swee swee swee
And, later, with ears and eyes wide open go take a walkabout on San Bruno Mountain along the ridges in Pacifica or up and down the trails of Marin Headlands its for sure you will hear the birds in abundant activity saying things like ouro hee hoo ouro hee hoo kee keee keeee errr coooo coooooooo queeee ah queeee ah and so on
and overhead spot them ravens swirling and falling croaking and laughing riding them thermals
Mission Azul 