Marigolds & Tears

Peace. I say this time and time again, but working with Mother Earth (Tonantzin) changes us. It ignites this fire within us that we just can't ignore. Bear with me as I speak of  something close not only my heart but my soul. 

As the summer comes to an end, we have been talking about phasing into our Fall crops, which dee expanded on in our last blog. (Tlazos a dee!)


We change, we move, it changes, it moves, but we must find the balance. Balance.

As we continually do our tasks, we step back each time and think of how things have changed, express our words of gratitude to the cosmos, to each other, shed a tear or two because we are overcome with emotion for the tasks we have completed that has no words to express/share/even write.

Last week we sat down to plan our crops for the upcoming season, and if you know me on any level I have talked about this at one point or another, greens in the fall, phasing, etc. As we thumbed through the pages of our catalog, did some on-the-fly research, the day began to escape us. We literally became CONSUMED in the work that we do. It was an eye-opening thing because we were gifted with the opportunity to do such work and we made so many plans. We debated, we giggled, we talked about things we wanted to offer our households and our community to enrich our lives.

Altar decorated with Cempasuchil flores

In the midst of discussing companion planting, herbs to repel pests, etc. We came across Marigolds or Cempasuchil in spanish. (Which is the flower of most used to decorate during dia de los muertos, Nov.1 & 2, a sacred day for many brown people that honors our past loved ones.) I began to become short of breath and had to turn away from my sister because F*#%! We talk about being in tune with things, building connections and there it was staring at us in the face.

Our ancestors knew these things, and somewhere along the course of history this knowledge wasn't shared with us. It moved me because I know in October I need marigolds. I see them in art, in stores, on altars, in cemeteries, and I know that it is a sign of acknowledging my ancestors, paying homage to the dead and respect. I didn't know it was used to keep Fall crops healthy. It sounds funny now, but tears are filling my eyes as I try to type.

I feel such a strong connection with muertos, and it just moves me that we will have the opportunity to experience Marigolds in the Original Jardin. I feel truly honored and gifted by the cosmos for this.

Paz,
Gritona 

Mictlancihuatl y Mictlantecuhtli

Above you can see the different energy representations from the underworld, Mictlancihuatl is the female represntation and Mictlantecuhtli is the male. The light/dark dark, the feminine/male to balance themselves. I felt it would be appropriate to share that part of myself here. It has been burning in my mind since Saturday.

Stink Bugs!! & Other Things

There were three main tasks on this visit: clean/replenish (with compost) Amaranth bed, do something about stink bugs, and compost.

Pests: STINK BUGS!!
Last time I wrote I briefly mentioned stink bugs. We have noticed there has been a large number of them on the corn. After some research on both parties we learned quite a bit, here are the essentials.

Stink bugs use their clypeus to penetrate and suck nutrients out of crops!! (similar to what a mosquito uses to suck blood.) No es bueno. Some of their favorite crops to eat are sweet corn, amaranth, okra and tomatoes (three of which we have!)

We actually saw a baby stalk have the life sucked right out of it. It was so sad to see it go from green to pale yellow and crusty. We decided we would remove the stalk, and possibly put it in the compost.

Some of the methods we read about included:

• pesticides (of course)
• spraying the plant with a lemon/water mixture
• drowning the bugs in a soapy water solution
• plant sun flowers to deter them from the crop being eaten

Some of the solutions were eliminated right away because we run an organic garden that has sunflowers in it. We strayed away from the lemon/water mixture because of the acidic properties and decided to go with drowning the bugs in soapy water. (helpful hint: they move slower in the morning)

We rolled up our sleeves, put on our gloves and got ourselves some bugs! At first my sister and I stared at each other, each anticipating the other one to begin. I don't know who did it, because the garden was soon filled with yelps and shrieks of  having to grab those bugs. If we accidentally squashed the bug with our hands we understood why they were called stink bugs. I got terrorized as one "screamed" (fluttered and hissed loudly) in my ear, it was one of those feelings, where you think they are crawling all over you at one point. *shudders*

We will have to give the garden some time to digest what's happening to it, but the research hasn't stopped! Natural predators include:

• Lady Bugs (which also fight aphids-but thankfully we don't have any of those!) *cross your fingers*
• Mini Wasps (parasitic size)
• Ants
• Ladybird Beetles
• Lacewings

OTHER NEWS:

After the dirty work was done we stopped and noticed our seeds had sprouted! All the commotion from the bugs had deterred us from noticing. It was a beautiful thing to see.

More updates soon!

Peace,

Happily Sore

This past weekend has been on my calendar for weeks. I have patiently awaited and thought of what my feelings would be like after we had the chance to get back in the garden and use the space again (thank you Deecolonize).

Friday I awaited for word of our hermano coming to town to help us on this mission we have made for ourselves. My sisters and I giggled and waited chatting the evening away, while these emotions of excitement were rolling inside of me. As predicted, once our hermano came we spent the hours of the night talking and vibing with each other. I listened intently to the knowledge in the room, and the jokes being made, and it made me feel good to be surrounded by other conscious people. We talked about health, the garden, materials to learn, made plans to exchange other information, and spoke of the past the "good ol'days".

We were going to turn the ground, change what life had sprouted since the last occasion and prepare the space for our bigger plans: a milpa of the three sisters (corn, bean and squash) and a few other foods. We made plans to do what we have manifested for so long- becoming self-sufficient.

Saturday we gathered for breakfast, my sister prepared migas (sin huevo) with cebollitas, tomate, chile and aguacate along with some tasty fruits for us so we can have a hearty breakfast before we began. There was an overcast in the air, no direct sunlight, but it was pleasant to work in. The three of us got started. Just three. We were like the three sisters, only the los tres hermanos working side by side, doing what was necessary to be done.

We passed the time joking and catching up with each other's lives. The energy was good, and flowed naturally as we worked.

The morning we spent working to "clean the area" and turn the ground, and begin to till the land.

Family and friends floated in and out throughout the day sharing either their experiences, awe or memories of farming. That was cool, we even got some of Nessa's TopCake Cupcakes (an up and coming business out of the barrio).



Meanwhile, we discovered a wide arrange of WORMS! (ewww, YUCK!!)

Grub worms: are not not good for the garden. They are usually found in grass, and signs of them usually reflects the yellowing/browning of grass.(Grub worm right)

We were curious about "Rolly Pollys", I did a little research and found out that, they are NOT good for young plants, because they like to eat them, as well as vegetation that is dying. Once a plant matures, these small pests are no longer appealed. Some solutions involve: beer, chicken grit, grits, banana+boric acid. I am still researching methods and will report soon. (pic below)

Needless to say, as most of us learned as children, Earthworms fertilize the soil to help make plants and crops healthy.

We had the chance to learn more about the decolonizing of Yolquiahuitl, and how he has come to where he is in life, as well as the significance of his name. We hand an awesome lunch and time to joke around some more.

After lunch we formed the rows of the garden, and I won't lie, towards the end we kept sitting down and the aches and pains were starting to show themselves. BUT we went onward, and when we finished the sun was gone, the dark settled in and a tear fell. We had done it and it was amazing.

This morning I woke up sore, but very happy. Yesterday, we began the chapter of a new lifestyle and I can't wait to see it.

Thank You to Yolquiahuitl, with your faith in us and willingless to lend a helping hand to be our talachero, we were able to begin. I wanted to tell you that you are a breath of fresh air and help generate the thoughts, emotions and hearts of original people in all of us. You are living up to your name, and I am thankful for all that you share. I await your return and look forward to celebrating the harvest with you.

Peace and Love, Gritona