Fall Harvest: Complain or Rejoice?

We can complain because our rose bushes have thorn, points out Abraham Lincoln, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

Is the glass half empty or half full? Or as John Halcyon Styn’s Grandpa Caleb says, it’s a beautiful glass?

As the season changes from summer to fall in the northern hemisphere, as we near a lunar eclipse on Sunday, and as Lord Ganesha roams the earth removing obstacles during his birthday celebrations, it is a good time to reflect on how we are viewing the world, our world. What are we harvesting this autumn? What actions are we taking to make the world a more wonderful place? What are we setting in motion?

This Wednesday, all are welcome to Art City Gardens  197 Dubbers on Ventura’s westside to a seasonal harvest celebration including speakers on permaculture, community gardens, food sharing, and more including some poetry by me. Invited but not confirmed speakers include Surfrider Association, VCCOOL, 350.org and even John Halcyon Styn. Activities gardening, dancing, meditating, and writing plus a potluck. paired with plenty of inspiration for ways to go move from seeing the thorns and the empty glasses to nurturing roses, cleaning glasses, and more.

Organizers say: Come assist in harvesting, pruning and planting No experience needed, just a willingness to participate! 4pm-dark thirty, then dance under the stars till 9ish. Enjoy Music by DJ CountryFresh & fire pit gathering. Bring drums, snacks to share, liquid refreshment and your deep community spirit to keep our planet Green!

Art City’s garden is a “perimeter garden” which means you don’t see a whole plot of land when you arrive… walk around the edges–there’s lots of basil, kale, tomatoes, herbs to be harvested… fall & winter crops to be planted. Mulberries come springtime, apples year round… Come see, learn, feel this unusual garden in a land of giant stones! www.artcitystudios.com

There will even be some mud cobb so that can make small clay Ganesh  Patron Saint of Artists to place on our altars and carry to the sea on Sunday.

Art City is located at 197 Dubbers off Main Street between Ventura Avenue and the Ventura River and next to the Ventura River Bike Trail.  From Main, head away from the ocean on Olive, turn left on Rex and you’re there. Very limited on street parking; best to park at Vons (on Main at Ventura Avenue and Olive) or the strip mall behind Vons.

This event is free and open to the public; donations accepted.

As you may recall, I led the Winter solstice Ritual this past December. Wednesday I will be there at 2pm with my Ventura College students. As an Art Citizen (meaning I had a studio there for three years), I will lead a tour and introduce people to Art City Gardens and Studios and we will do some writing too. From 4-6pm or so, enjoy poetry and speakers. About 545pm, I will lead a sunset walk, talk and writing activity through Art City.

If you can’t make this event, you are invited Weds Sept 30 at 2 or 5pm to Color Garden on Poli at Chestnut for a living history performance of Theodosia Burr Shepherd, to learn about Color Garden from John Wilner, and to hear about other community garden and other groups. Then we will walk to the Botanic Garden behind Ventura City Hall. Bring water and a sunhat. Free but donations accepted.

Image top is a detail from “Beauty” (2009) by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo, caretaker of a tradition as one of only a few westerners trained in the rare Buddhist art of silk applique thangkas,  His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave his blessings to Leslie’s work and encouraged her to make images that speak to the spiritual aspirations of people across religions and cultures. Pictured is one of her Weekly Wake-ups which provide a thread of inspiration to set each week on a path to awakening. 

Second image is by Buddha Doodles.

Check out more of Human–The Movie here: http://www.human-themovie.org/

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