Podcast #240 – Gifts From Our Elders


From the cast aluminum pot we got from Amanda’s great aunt that we use for every soup we make to the knowledge about passive solar energy that keeps us comfortable year round, and for hundreds of other legacies in between, we stand on the shoulders of the giants who have preceded us. Literally and figuratively, they help us see the truth.


In today’s podcast we merely scratch the surface of the many ways our elders have supported us, strengthened us, inspired us, and taught us. It’s a fun trip that touches on the way we bought the farm, the chair I used to study for law school, my departed mother’s shoelaces, and Amanda’s Dad’s harmonica.

Listen – 21:11

Here’s the Wikipedia article on what I call “two sleeps,” also called “segmented sleep” and “bifurcated sleep.”
And here’s a good summary of the Three Sisters gardening method.

I'm sitting in Mama's chair (the one that got me through law school) reading one of Uncle David's books, with Mama's and Daddy's dictionary stand over my right shoulder. Beside me is Aunt Peggy's organ with Mama's Cokesbury hymnal and Amanda's Dad's harmonica on the music stand. Leaning against the organ is one of our "Whistle Stop" chairs from Daddy's office. On the organ bench is the quilt hand-sewn by Amanda's grandmother and great grandmother. Sitting on the quilt is Aunt Ione's pot. Most of the small objects on the organ are from Amanda's family, but she would need to tell you about them. The one I recognize is the doll her Dad brought back to her from his tour of duty in Korea.

I’m sitting in Mama’s chair (the one that got me through law school) reading one of Uncle David’s books, with Mama’s and Daddy’s dictionary stand over my right shoulder. Beside me is Aunt Peggy’s organ with Mama’s Cokesbury hymnal and Amanda’s Dad’s harmonica on the music stand. Leaning against the organ is one of our “Whistle Stop” chairs from Daddy’s office. On the organ bench is the quilt hand-sewn by Amanda’s grandmother and great grandmother. Sitting on the quilt is Aunt Ione’s pot. Most of the small objects on the organ are from Amanda’s family, but she would need to tell you about them. The one I recognize is the doll her Dad brought back to her from his tour of duty in Korea.

The Longleaf Breeze Perennial Farm Calendar

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