Celebrating Cyber Monday!

…by turning off the cyber and turning on the Made By (Your) Hands.

#OCCUPYXMAS

Building resilient neighborhoods

As part of writing a book about this topic over the next several months, I’m enjoying the links folks are sending me from around North America related to this idea of bridging the emergency preparedness movement to the sustainability movement. “Preppers and Permaculturalists” is the phrase I’ve been using recently to describe the book’s content.

Locally we are heading into voting season which triggered an acquaintance to send this post about a San Francisco event talking about opening up government in addition to the ideas of building resilient communities and neighbors helping neighbors. Hit the link to listen to the podcast if you like to geek out on this as I do.

Are you a slave to your iOS device?

Yes, it is a big deal about the Apple upgrade and iCloud is useful for those of us trying to do many different things in many different places, but consider who is serving whom in your relationship with your smart devices.

Personally, I like Randy Murray’s suggestion on how to break your online addiction:

You don’t have to be a slave to your devices. They are there to serve you. But you are there to serve your garden.

Of course, I end up using my smart phone while gardening frequently for reminders on when I’ve sown specific seeds, reviewing notes on last year’s garlic harvest, listening to NPR podcasts, looking up directions on assembling a greenhouse, or completing work telephone calls while weeding.

Hat tip to one of my favorites blogs: Minimal Mac.