Dirttime.org

Some Like It Raw

yael — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:49:57 +0000

I threw a little celebration party after I finished my first year of teaching, and although I have a big living room I noticed that most of my friends were hanging out in my tiny little kitchen. The relative proximity of food and alcohol may have had something to do with it.

Anyway, one of my guests asked me if I had any milk to go with her scrumptious dessert. I told her that I did have milk, but let her know that it was raw. Needless to say, she didn’t drink any… but it did spark conversation about pasteurization, homogenization, bacteria and bovine growth hormone. Since I’m sure many of you would rather spend your Friday nights discussing something else, let me break it down for you.

WHAT IS IT?

(more…)

My Heroes Have Always Been Cyclists

yael — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:11:20 +0000

I can’t really remember when I first learned how to ride a bike. I do remember my childhood bicycle, a pink one with a white basket with a flower. I also have fond memories of racing down a very very steep driveway and hitting a neighbor’s big giant plant. I learned that my handlebar breaks did not work very well and that I needed to peddle backwards to stop, which is kind of difficult when you are careening forward. But of course I kept riding.

One sad day, my parents gave away my bicycle—
(more…)

teaching

yael — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:15:23 +0000

Many of my dedicated readers have asked me why it has taken so long for articles to go up on the site. Indeed, I did promise that articles would be posted monthly. However, I also started my first year of teaching on August 7th. The past four months could most easily be classified as trial by fire, and if it wasn’t for the support of countless people around me I think I may have been swept away in the whirlwind.

Teaching is the hardest thing I have ever tried. Easily.
(more…)

Rest in Peace

yael — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:58:00 +0000

On November 2nd, I will be attending the All Soul’s Procession for the fifth year in a row. Inspired by the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the Tucson procession has existed since 1990 when local artist Susan Johnson grieved the passing of her father with a ritualistic performance piece-celebratory and creative. The Procession as I know it is Tucson’s biggest holiday, a huge street party with thousands of angelic and ghoulish beings descending the streets to mourn and celebrate the life and death of their loved ones. The parade culminates with ritual burning of slips of papers filled with prayers, dreams, hopes and wishes which are carried through the streets in a large urn. Then the celebration begins with performance art by fire dancers and fire spinners and a large, crazy afterparty.
(more…)

Water Is Life

yael — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:27:06 +0000

When I was in high school, a canvasser for an environmental organization came to my door to raise money to clean up our city’s tap water. I quickly informed him that my parents were not home and that his organization’s minimum contribution amount exceeded my monthly allowance. However, I volunteered to write a letter to my local representative on the issue although I was too young to vote. I ran to the computer so that my letter would be ready for him to pick up by the time he was done soliciting donations in my neighborhood. As I was typing away, it dawned on me that I wasn’t exactly sure what was even in the drinking water. I now realize I was probably in the majority.
(more…)