pole beans

they got a late start and struggled for a while because our lattice was too flimsy. but we fixed that with this massive tripod.

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zucchini

I didn't know how to convey to you how big this zucchini was so I gave it to Mr B and took a picture

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The garden overflows

As an example of how the garden is coming along here are the peppers MJ picked this week. tomatoes are on the way. the first batch should be in later this week.

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test

can I post to my blog from my new phone...answer "I think so"

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Firstfruits

Spinach, Arugala, Radish

Russell Bazaar

Detroit is full of empty factories.  The exodus of manufacturing from Detroit that began in the 1950's was in part due to the lack of space for new factories.  Suburbs and other states offered free land to companies that would build new factories outside the city rather than rehabing old ones.

The Russell Industrial Center, finished in 1925 made auto bodies, then later became a hub for printers then abandoned.  History

In 2003 It was purchased.  Now it is the Russell Arts Bazaar.  For around thirty dollars a week you can rent a stall to sell whatever you want.  And people sell all sorts of things.  Clothing-used, new, designed by the seller, computers for 200$, furniture, music, food.  There's a dollar cafe where everything is a dollar.  The sandwiches aren't half bad.  There's a guy who sells fruit, and someone who sells water bottles, and several jewelry stores.  There's also a shop devoted to selling conspiracy theory DVD's including all 5 episodes of "A Damn Shame".  On the weekends the place is hopping.  They have an art gallery with regular shows.  The next one is by a well known graffiti artist in the area.  Every first weekend of the month there is an art fair (apparently some months are better than others).  They have open mic night a couple times a week, and then there's the exhibition hall--on Saturday when we went down there they were setting up for a "professional wrestling match"  I couldn't convince Age and MJ to stay for the fun.  It was only 5$ a ticket for front row seats.  

Then aside from the bazaar there are great arts events.  Like the Michigan Hot Glass Workshop.  We haven't been yet, but it's in the plan.  The great thing about an old, big, factory is that there is so much space, you can fit all sorts of small businesses into it. Like The Highway Press.

Kill the Illuminati

I met this guy the other day.  He's 24, and he doesn't have consistent employment.  I'm not sure what he actually does for money.  Not sure I want to know.  He dropped out of high school at 15 after bouncing around 3-4 different schools.  One he got kicked out of, one he was just bored.  He's a bright guy though.  Mentally agile, given an opportunity I'm sure he could have finished high school gone to college and made his way in the world.  He's also one of the nicest people I've ever met...always smiling.

Anyway, so he was asking me if I could answer some questions for him.  He wanted to know if we were really experiencing hell on earth.  I had no idea what he was talking about...long story short...he loaned me this DVD to watch.  I have since talked to some people who have grown up in Detroit in less than wealthy circumstances and apparently this DVD is pretty popular.  It's called "A Damn Shame" and there are five, two-hour installments.  I only watch about half an hour of one of them.

So it turns out that Detroit is a hotbed of modern conspiracy theorists.   It's all about how the Illuminati control the world.   I learned so much about them.  They killed Tupac for starters, and Michael Jackson. They also put their symbol on the back of the one dollar bill.  The Masons control who becomes president...I actually thought this one had died with the election of a black president since when I first heard these theories they focused heavily on how only white men could become president.  And their ultimate goal?...to bring about and maintain hell on earth.

Ridiculous right, how could anyone believe this...the thing is though, I got it.  I saw why it's so popular.  The narrator talks about hopelessness, oppression, poverty.  It speaks right to the feeling of the inevitableness of poverty among the underclass of this city.  The lack of opportunities.  To grow up in poverty in Detroit is not a hopeful position.  If I didn't have an education I'd probably believe it too.

But it takes the truth of oppression and poverty, and twists it.  The video says there is this one group oppressing us, holding us down...when what is really holding this city is the sin of millions of people.  The small choices of everyone.  The choices of rich folk out in the suburbs who have given up on the city, and the choices of some of the poor here in the city who choose alcohol, drugs, and sex over staying in chool and getting a job.   It is the weight of the collective decisions of millions of people that makes the problem of poverty so intractable.  If it were just a few illuminati, we could just take them out and poverty would be gone.

So this video gets passed around-bootleg copies making the rounds in Detroit.  And I think it actually brings a modicum of hope to some, because it makes things simpler and it gives an answer...just get rid of the illuminati.

Things you might see if you wander around Detroit

One thing about Detroit is that it has unique features you might not find in other cities.  Other places don't necessarily have so many interesting sites. And this is all in an afternoon.

Where else can you move into an abandoned building today just by calling a number.

Where else can you find a church named after the pastor?

I grew up driving by crosses on the side of the road at most sharp turns.  Thismemorial takes it to a whole new level.  It is in memory of a girl who died two months ago when she crashed into this tree.  Apparently they brought out all her belongings and stapled them to this tree. 

Mr. B doesn't like to sit in his stroller for long periods of time.