Three Cheers Empire

More later on this, I'm sure. But given the historic nature of this evening's events in New York, I think it's important to heartily praise the State of New York for just passing legislation to legalize gay marriage.

It is incomprehensible to me that a country that aspires to equality as a foundation can somehow justify the differential treatment of some against others. New York - by legalizing marriage for all via the legislative process (as opposed to the less-than-democratic judicial process) - has made vital progress in this regard.

The conciliatory effort to satisfy both sides through civil unions was simply to reiterate Plessy v. Ferguson by other means. And New York's statement tonight is reminiscent of Brown - that separate but equal is inherently unequal.

Now is time for the President to make a statement on this - to affirm the centrality of equality for all. To do anything otherwise, I'm afraid, is to simply to decree - no matter what the rationale - that we live in a society whereby people may be treated differentially by the state.

(Photo credit: http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/06/all-eyes-on-albany.html) 

Micro farm, augeo community

A number of communities around the country, large and small, have embraced the notion of urban agriculture. The popularity of community gardens has grown hand-in-hand with involvement in CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). A reaction to the industrialization and homogenization of American agriculture, it is an emerging understanding that we don’t have to go the way of travel-proofed and tasteless hothouse tomatoes, nor deflating and desultory Jonathans. There are alternatives and – through CSAs and community gardens – they are accessible. Varieties long (ever?) missing from your Safeway shelves are now re-emerging: reintroducing us to shapes and tastes concurrently familiar but strange.

 The growth in community gardens and CSAs is, I believe, also driven by another major factor: the opportunity to connect, to create community. We are, in so many ways, disconnected from each other – not even to mention with regards to the food we digest. Opportunities…forums…institutions by which to make connection are, in scattered places throughout the country, being enthusiastically embraced. The CSA and the community garden are ways to simultaneously create community while eating more healthily. To learn and meet and know who grows our food, in the case of the CSA; or, with the community garden, to create connection by pulling weeds next to your neighbor. It is, perhaps, sustenance via gastro-social connection…

These notions are, of course, nothing new. However, this did seem a good opportunity to highlight my neighborhood community garden: Flatirons Neighborhood Farm (http://flatironsfarm.org/). The primary portion of the farm is located on a privately owned lot, set amongst the houses of established residents and transitory college students. I pass by this every day on my way to work and it is a model site: the raised beds were as flat as could be, and the irrigation system is very impressive indeed. Putting aside the taste of their vegetables, simply doing what they are doing – the process itself of planting by and for community – makes this neighborhood a better place.

While the farm seems largely located on the above-mentioned lot, it is expanding in intriguing directions.

As can be seen in this picture, vegetables are now being planted in various median strips around the neighborhood. To me, this seems so wonderfully subversive. Instead of having the useless, water-sucking grass strip demarcating sidewalk and road, can you imagine if we all grew produce in these areas? In the same sense that decentralized energy – i.e., solar on every rooftop, etc. – threatens the utilities – can you imagine the potential of better utilizing our private greenspaces? What does Giant – what does corporate agriculture – do if we all begin to grow our own crops using the hidden areas available to us?

All this said, an interesting issue is raised, practical and somewhat ethical, if one is to logically extend out this vision. A tension develops between CSAs and the community garden/individual grower, because an increase in individual agriculture may mean less market for CSAs. Reach for community then becomes, perhaps, a fracturing thereof.

Snowpack, Undone

While the Front Range – Boulder, Denver, etc. – had a fairly dry winter, the high country received exceptional amounts of snow. Cold temperatures and late season snow resulted in an end-of-season snowpack the likes of which have not been seen in decades. Only now are the last of the passes being cleared. While this picture was taken a few weeks ago, Trail Ridge Road (running through the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park) only recently opened for the summer. (Photo courtesy of Daily Camera)

The result of this year’s snows, at least during the winter months, was great skiing and winter sport opportunities. Now, however, it's a different story: threatened flooding throughout the spring. Here we have Boulder Creek this evening: well above regular levels, but not yet at flood stage. Communities around the state and through the west are girding themselves for well above normal flood conditions.

While this year’s flooding, or potential flooding, may be a result of high snowpack – these are the conditions the mountain west can expect under conditions of climate change. Regardless of the amount of snowfall through the winter itself, warmer temperatures in the spring will mean earlier melts. This will result in increased floods in the spring, and less water for downstream communities in the late summer. The costs incurred – from flood damage and subsequent water scarcity – could be considerable. At the very least, dam and reservoir operators will have to change how they do business – again, more costs.

 How will we as a community – local, regional, and national – respond to these changes? Will we simply move forward, reactive and unthinking, writing cheques as we go? Or do we make the individual and collective decisions and changes about how we’ll move ahead?

East, West, Up, Down

Today, a slight deviation from the strict Boulder commentary.

I recently returned from a trip to the east coast where I hiked New Hampshire's famed 'Presidential Traverse.' This is a hike through the White Mountains that visits many of the state's presidential peaks: Mt. Washington, Mt. Madison, Mt. Monroe, etc etc. I was aware - having read my Bill Bryson - that hiking in NH's White Mountains is no joke: it's above treeline, the winds are strong, and the temperature can drop quickly. Nevertheless, I reckoned I live in Colorado now! - it can't be that bad... These initial inclinations were somewhat dashed by the following light-hearted signage:

I will say, having now hiked the Traverse more or less successfully, that this route matches many of the best out here in the west. The alpine environment was pristine, beautiful and raw. The vivid greens of spring contrasted eloquently with the subdued but expressive hues of above-treeline.

I reckon that the hike is also as rugged and dangerous as any I've done out west. In addition to both the massive winds and the potential for significant drops in temperature, the clouds and fog will frequently roll in and cut down visibility to the cairn in front of you - at best... While my hiking buddy and I avoided the worst of that, the notion of trying to find the trail while navigating boulder fields, and with near vertical valleys dropping off just a few yards away is, to say the least, sobering.

To sum it up, this hike - and New Hampshire's alpine environment, in general - certainly belongs in the pantheon of great American walks. While not necessarily in terms of elevation, with regards to beauty and a severe environment it rivals much of what Colorado has to offer.