No time for a coffee post this morning…I’m sitting here making some copies for the muscadine vineyard workday at the Bettini Farm a little later this morning, and I have a squash casserole in the oven for the potluck lunch (and deviled eggs in the fridge), and I have to go to the Farmers’ Market to pick up my groceries. Since it is A&T’s homecoming, this will be a challenge, so gotta go!

Andy Goldsworthy fans, please take note of this very, very cool global art project:
World Beach Project

Guess I’ll have to go find a sandy beach on a lake or river in the mountains, since we don’t have pebbles on our beaches. Or go up nawth. I think that I recall pebbles on the beach at Topsail, but I think they were washed up from some construction project.

NORTH CAROLINA RAW MILK ACTION ALERT
From Ruth Ann Foster
Greensboro, NC Chapter Leader and Raw Milk Coordinator
October 19, 2007

BACKGROUND
On September 7, 2007, the NC Board of the Department of Agriculture (NCDA) adopted a rule requiring the addition of a charcoal colored dye be added to all raw milk sold as pet milk. This rule was then sent to the NC Rules Review Commission (RRC), which assessed it during the past month.

UPDATE
RRC attorney Bobby Bryan evaluated the rule and determined that the Ag Department had followed correct protocol and does have the statutory authority to mandate this rule. Therefore, it was his recommendation to the Commission that they accept the rule.

Before voting on October 18, 2007, the Rules Review Commission heard testimony from Kathy Davis, an organic pet milk producer. Kathy is one of only two pet milk producers registered with the Ag Department. Kathy emphasized the need for organic colostrum and milk for the beef industry and other farmers. She addressed the issue of protecting her organic certification and how the addition of dye would cause her product to be adulterated.

The Commission then called for a response from David McLeod, NCDA Assistant Commissioner for Policy, Communications, and Legal Affairs. Mr. McLeod reiterated the illegality of raw milk in North Carolina and how this rule was to deter its consumption. He stated that the dye chosen met organic standards. However, we have recently learned that NCDA has never contacted Kathy Davis’s organic certifier Amy Griner, despite Amy’s requests to determine the composition of the dye to give it approval.

The RRC was amused by the fact that there are only two pet milk producers in the state. Sadly, it is not the role of the Commission to evaluate the necessity or fairness of a rule. They merely follow the rule making protocol outlined in the Administrative Procedures Act.

It was obvious that the vote was a difficult one for the RRC as they reluctantly made a move to vote. The result, after a few moments of deliberation, was in favor of the rule. Fortunately, their vote does not make this rule active, yet. The Commission stated that they were very impressed and thanked Kathy for her articulate and passionate presentation.

WHAT THIS MEANS – NO DYE YET!
The NCDA was surprised by the scope of our objection, which they did not expect! Because the RRC received our numerous letters of objection, the rule has been successfully delayed for review in the next legislative session.

In May 2008, Senator Kay Hagan will introduce a bill to block this rule. If Senator Hagan or any other legislator were not to introduce a bill at that time, the dye in pet milk rule would automatically go into effect in July 2008. Meanwhile, pet milk sales remain LEGAL and require NO addition of dye.

Clearly, the NCDA’s attempt to thwart us with this rule has not only heightened public awareness but also increased support. Many have become disconcerted by the ridiculous bureaucratic efforts intended to restrict our freedom of choice. Public interest is vital for gaining legislative endorsement. Having two bills in the upcoming legislative session should garner more attention from our senators and representatives. Our work continues.

ACTION TO TAKE
Contact your state senators and representatives to make them aware of this pending rule. Refer to the talking points provided to convey your objections.
To find your legislators go to http://ncleg.net/ . On the right side bar type in your nine digit zip code.

Many thanks to Kathy Davis for her excellent testimony, and to all of you who work so diligently to make clean raw milk a legal food choice in North Carolina.

Yours Sincerely,
Ruth Ann Foster

TALKING POINTS FOR OBJECTION TO RULE NCAC 09E .0116

General
* This rule is intended to penalize people not pets.
* Raw milk is a natural food or feed designed to be consumed in its natural state. It is not manufactured.
* Addition of dye is adulteration.
* FDA estimates that only .5% of milk is consumed raw
* This rule deters NC farmers from realizing income from pet milk sales while consumers may purchase raw milk from South Carolina where it is legally sold
* There are two raw milks – one that must be pasteurized due to poor quality milk from confined animals, and the other which consumers seek from grass fed, healthy animals on pasture
* There are only two pet milk producers registered with the NCDA

Consumer Awareness
* Consumers who purchase pet milk know what they are buying. They do not confuse it with grocery store milk.
* Consumption of raw milk is totally legal
* Raw milk is legally sold retail in 12 states
* With restrictions in 22
* Sold as pet milk in 5 states
* Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Washington require dye in pet milk
* However, these states ALSO allow raw milk for human consumption

Raw Milk Safety
* The FDA estimates there are 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths per year from foodborne illnesses
* The majority are caused by contaminated Produce, 38%
* ALL dairy – pasteurized and raw, accounts for less than 1% of these illnesses
* All pathogens reported to be found in raw milk have been identified in pasteurized milk after pasteurization
* Pasteurized milk has caused numerous major foodborne outbreaks including our nation’s largest Salmonella outbreak which caused 200,000 illnesses, 3,000 hospitalizations, and 18 deaths

Raw Milk Safer than Pasteurized Milk
* During the past 25 years there have been NO outbreaks from Listeria in raw milk
* In that same time, Pasteurized milk has caused four major outbreaks resulting in 305 illnesses and 61 deaths from Listeria monocytogenes
* The 2000 Listeriosis outbreak in Winston-Salem was associated with contaminated cheese – the raw milk tested NEGATIVE for the pathogen

No food or drink is immune to contamination.
Raw milk is the ONLY food to be made illegal.

Thank you for all your kind comments and thoughts the last few weeks. They have really helped.

Saturday and Sunday last week I spent a lot of time in my studio. One thing I worked on was painting over sheet music to be recycled in a interactive peace journal for a class group project. You can still see the music underneath and there are places that I left unpainted that I thought had words that might make good prompts. The other pages are from a beautiful old children’s book about birds. The pages in the journal are all recycled from books and paper I found on the free shelf at Edward McKay’s. Of course, now I’m worried about our choices - is this old paper going to hold up? I guess that the way to look at it is that it just needs to at least hold up through the end of this class!

Today I’m going to paint a few more and join pages into pairs by gluing strips of construction paper down the middle where they will be folded. I made a couple of pockets from a old CD package and I’m going to make tags from card stock that we’ll attach raffia ribbons to. The tags will have prompts on them and be put in the pockets.

Anybody that has a favorite quote or idea for a prompt about peace is invited to leave it in the comments!

The four of us are all working on different aspects of the book, so others are doing the cover and binding it and putting together a creativity kit for people to add their own thoughts in many ways.

I also finished the first “fabulously ugly” scarf and I think that it will be quite pretty, although I’m afraid that it might be too thick and stiff. The yarn packed down a lot more than I thought it would even though I was not beating it, just pushing it into place. I’ll see when I take it off and wash it. It took a long time, but that was fine, because I needed the comfort of the steady rhythm this week and last. I’ll begin the second one today, and weave it more loosely from the beginning.

Tuesday, I found it impossible to get out of bed and go to work on time. I finally rolled in late that morning and got an appointment with my favorite nurse practitioner that afternoon. So, I’m in the middle of changing medications. Effexor, this time. If anyone has any experience with this, would you email me at slowturnfarm [AT] gmail [DOT] com? I had some problems with nausea yesterday - just would like to know if you’ve had a lot of problems with side effects and how effective it has been for you, especially if you have anxiety/panic disorder.

The rest of the week went better. Sandy started his new job Wednesday, and it looks like he will be happy there, although he will miss his friends at his old job.

We finally got some rain yesterday, but it was not nearly enough. It would take a tropical depression sitting on top of us for a week to make a dent in this drought. I haven’t checked my rain barrels but I think that it was enough to fill them. Even though I’ve whined that it does require rain to make a rain barrel functional, they are still worth it because of the efficiency of directing your water to where it can be used the most, and it doesn’t take a whole lot to fill up those barrels.

Sandy zeroed in on a deal on a Mini Cooper and was very close to buying it, but our mechanic thought that the transmission felt “funky” and warned us about the high cost of maintenance and taxes, etc. I think that we’ve settled it between us that we need to look at a car that fits our income. It was really cute, though. I’m going to be making the payments on this car since Sandy pays the house mortgage, and I was not happy with the quote on the monthly payment. I am going to Italy next summer, and not on credit.

Last night was a wonderful evening. We were invited to the Goat Lady Dairy for one of their monthly farm dinners. The reservations for these dinners fill up within a couple of hours on January 1 every year. Steve invited us to join them back in August, but the space where they have the dinners is not air conditioned and that was during our record heat wave. The dinner was rescheduled, and the weather was perfect. The rain had stopped, but had cleaned the air and settled the dust. There was a beautiful sunset and a breeze and the stars came out between patches of drifting clouds.

The five course dinner was marvelous - all from their farm or nearby farms, with samples of goat cheese and pickled vegetables of different kinds, soup with swiss chard and other veggies, sorbet, whey-fed pork and potato gnocchi, and panna cotta. Chocolate goat cheese truffles and coffee were served on the patio afterwards. We took a bottle of Foggy Ridge hard apple cider with us, and met some folks who were delightful company and invited us to sit with them at their table. I hope that we’ll meet these folks again.

I would have taken photos, but those expensive batteries that I bought for my camera that were supposed to last 7x longer? Dead as a doornail after only a few shots. I’ll get back to my photography later.

Here is the cover of Shuttle, Spindle, and Dyepot magazine (the official publication of the Handweavers Guild of America) from Summer 1998, when it published an article about John and his work. At the end of this post, you’ll find links to the article, which I scanned, and other links that I found about John on the Internet.

From 1993, for the Greensboro Weavers Guild “Whimsical” exhibit, John presented a woven shirt and a snake. John really liked snakes.

He is not in many of the Guild’s photos because he took most of them.

Here’s an excerpt from the introduction (exhortation?) he wrote to Greensboro Weavers Guild members about “Let’s Be Whimsical,” the group project/exhibit that the Guild undertook in 1993-1994:

To me, the word whimsy strongly suggests the word freedom. I like that idea. We as artists and crafts people need more freedom. Working in the medium of fiber we are all too often faced with restrictions and constraints of one kind or another…

Throughout history artists and crafts people have had to deal with their own set of circumstances and limitations. Many of their limits were self imposed as many of ours are today. We can gain a great deal of artistic freedom by observation and thought followed by action. We all want to grow and explore new avenues as we create. We probably all realize that nothing is really “new” under this sun. But we really can bring our ideas and materials together in fresh and curious ways - in visually intriguing and thought provoking ways.

For an invigorating and inspirational exercise I like to examine the stuff of the past. Past peoples, past cultures, past movements, etc. A virtual treasure trove of art objects and solutions to visual problems is out there, waiting for us to learn from and enjoy. It can be so satisfying and almost overwhelming to witness the range of artistic expression that has gone on in the past. These objects belong to all of us, many may seem outlandish or “whimsical” but each serves as a bench mark for all who seek freedom of expression. Enjoy the images.

We went up to Virginia to be with our family for the holidays. One evening we went out for a drive to view the holiday lights. As we took off my brother-in-law who was driving announced that for safety purposes he was issuing ‘back seat driver’s licenses’ to all passengers! Wow! What an idea! I must do that for our guild members!

My dear guild members, under the auspices of our Greensboro Weavers Guild I am pleased to issue your well deserved ‘Artistic License.’ Use it in good health and ‘Whimsically’ of course!

Thank you, John. I believe that I’ll dig out that license, dust it off, and put it to use.

John Skau Links:

“John Skau in 3-D”, Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot, Summer 1998 (in jpg format, sorry!)

Page One
Page Two
Page Three

Cranbrook Academy of Art - his alumni online exhibit

American Art Company - John discusses his work; click on the photos to see larger images.

Peninsula Fine Arts Center - a description and photo from a 2006 exhibit.

Wexler Artist Gallery - three more photos of his work

Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville

“Rock On” at Theatre Arts Galleries in High Point

Artists rally to help one of their own, News and Record, June 12, 2007. There’s a wonderful photo of John weaving a basket in this article.

John’s obituary and guestbook in the News and Record, in which he is described also as “a stay at home dad, cook, and bottle washer.”

To be continued as I find more stuff…

This won’t be a long one, since I slept later than usual (damned cats kept us awake between 5-7 a.m., throwing up and fighting) and there’s not a whole lot else to say since I let it all out a couple of days ago. But I like a routine, and this coffee post is a pleasant one.

I’m treating myself this week - I bought some fair trade hot cocoa mix from the co-op and I mix it with my coffee and a little extra sugar and of course, raw cream. Yum. It’s like drinking dessert for breakfast.

I’m thankful that I didn’t have class this week and I’m thankful that we didn’t schedule any Slow Food events or get invited to any parties this weekend. The next four weekends will be busy. When it rains, it pours. I’ve learned that I can’t just decide that I will be ready for it, but I’ll push through it if I’m not. It’s all good stuff. And I have medication!

Last night Sandy and I went to Saffron and I had salmon tikka masala and naan. He had lamb jafrezi (I know that spelling isn’t right). They were both delicious.

Today, after my market visit and a trip to the drugstore and probably Deep Roots, I need to sit down and paint some pages with gesso for my group class project. We’re making an interactive journal about peace that we plan to leave at the retreat for people to read and contribute. I have a lot of sheet music that I picked up out of the free section of Ed McKays and I’m going to leave the borders and maybe interesting spots on the page but white out the rest so that people can write on them.

Earlier this week when I hit the free section I picked up four little volumes of a “Pictorial Knowledge” set from the 50s that has illustrated articles for children about different subjects, including nursery rhymes with the traditional illustrations. Or at least the illustrations that struck a chord with me. Now if I could just find a copy of “Captain Kitty”… Anyway, old encyclopedias get me very excited (just call me “Princess Nerd”) because we had three sets at home and I read them all through several times between bookmobile visits. Recently they had some of the same edition of The Book of Knowledge that I remembered from childhood, but I managed to resist lugging those home.

Maybe you could call me “Princess Packrat.”

What I’m really lusting after is the 1952 World Book set at Mama’s house. Maybe I’ll hit her up for them.

Yes, I’m mentally ill. But I’m harmless.

Here’s an update from Ruth Ann, copied from an email. If you’d like to get raw milk updates by email, contact Ruth Ann Foster at eatreal@gmail.com.

I’ll also let you know here if we need to send letters again about this issue or when other raw milk actions are requested.

Hi All,

The Rules Review Commission is scheduled to vote on NC Department of Agriculture’s adopted rule for dye in pet milk this Thursday, October 18, 2007.

There are two potential outcomes for this vote:

1. If the Commission votes in favor of the rule -
Our letters, which have been received by the RRC, will successfully delay the rule and force it into legislative review scheduled for the May 2008 session.
Senator Hagan will introduce a bill to block this rule at that time.

2. If the Commission votes against it, the rule is DEAD.
This will not be the last attempt to thwart us. Senator Hagan is aware of the need for legislation to prevent proposed rules like this in the future.

The RRC meeting does not usually include public comment but will allow one or two speakers with prior permission. Kathy Davis, a certified organic pet milk producer registered with NCDA, has offered to testify. Her testimony will include a letter from her veterinarian detailing the dangers of adulterating pet milk with synthetic chemical dye.

The RRC meeting agenda is very full as they consider numerous other rules. Thankfully, our rule is the first vote scheduled. Here are the meeting details for anyone who is interested in attending. It is not mandatory that we all attend. I will update you after the vote.

Date: Thursday October 18,2007
Time: 9:30 am
Place: Methodist Building - the Assembly Room
1307 Glenwood Ave (just off Wade Ave.)
Raleigh, 27605

Thanks for all of the letters written opposing this rule. We gather more support as the public awakens to the risible degrees taken by bureaucrats to “protect” us and prohibit our freedom of choice. Let’s hope this one backfires on the NCDA so Commissioner Troxler can keep his mustache white!

Best,
Ruth Ann Foster

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your comments more than you know.

I feel better tonight, and I think that’s a result of me finally admitting the guilt I felt about John and his illness, and my inability to help. I’ve either been obsessing about it silently or repressing it for months now.

I went out to lunch with Charlie today, and he is such a treasured friend. I’m lucky to have him as a mentor. He has dealt with an enormous amount of loss this year and we have always discussed it with honesty. I told him a lot about my problem that he did not know and I think that we’ll be better friends for it. Usually I replay everything I say in that kind of conversation later and wish that I had kept my mouth shut, but this time I feel comfortable and relieved.

We talked a lot about the leadership of our Slow Food convivium and I think that we are both going to step back and let some others take the lead. We have strong opinions about how we like for things to be done and the course we’d like to see taken, so it will be a challenge for both of us. One of the things that was discussed early in the year was re-organizing the structure so that we have a board. I think that we are going to call a meeting soon and try to get that process underway.

And if it doesn’t work out, maybe we just have to accept that Greensboro isn’t ready for an active Slow Food convivium.

He and I also have to hash through my capstone project for my M.A., since he is my advisor. I wasn’t very happy when he basically told me to rewrite my whole introductory essay yesterday. Quite frankly, the last fricking thing I want to do right now is to write a formal essay. About big ideas. My brain can barely handle basic hygiene, nutrition, getting myself dressed properly, and making to work every day right now. Every day I have to talk myself out of calling in sick.

But I feel better about that too, because our conversation gave me a foundation for a new essay. Yeah, that essay was crap. I know it. I knew it when I sent it to him.

Things will get better. That’s the difference between this bout of depression and the last one. I thought, for a while during that one, that I’d never pull out of it and that I was heading for a loony bin of some kind. This time I feel sure that I’ll get better. I just wish it wasn’t taking so damn long.

My friend died today.

I knew it was coming soon.

I wanted so much to visit him, support him and his family. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was afraid that I would break down and be another problem. I couldn’t make the drive by myself. But I could have ridden with someone else. Now it’s too late.

He was such a great guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was an article in the newspaper about him soon.

His work was internationally known. He used recycled materials from the furniture industry and he did plaited sculptural basketry.

He would have loved the hats. He would have been so genuinely excited for me, getting back into the swing of things!

He totally supported me back in the 90s when I was trying to be more serious about weaving. I wanted him as a mentor again. I told everyone at John C. Campbell Folk School about my friend, so proud that he was my friend, and how I was going to reconnect with him. When I got back in early April, ready to call him up, the first thing I heard about was his terminal brain cancer.

When I’m in better shape, I’ll scan some of his artwork and post it here. I think that I saved everything that he’s ever given me.

As you might imagine, I’m kicking myself pretty hard right now. I know I deserve it, and I know that I don’t deserve it. It’s enough to give you a raging headache. Or just rage. And it’s been in the background for months now.

One of his best friends told me once that you have to be a friend to have friends. I’ve never forgotten that bit of wisdom, but somehow I’ve found it impossible to follow through.

I loved him though. He was a wonderful person.

Just wanted to remind Greensboro residents that tomorrow is primary day, and Joel needs your votes.

This city needs someone with long-term vision.

This city needs some brains that are not stuck in a rut and are willing to do what is needed in our rapidly changing environment.

This city needs some public servants who understand the needs of small businesspeople and the importance of livable, sustainable neighborhoods.

This city does NOT need any more real estate developers that allow rezoning in every instance that a developer requests it, and it needs people who recognize their tricks in starting high and renegotiating down to get what they wanted in the first place. It needs people with a vision of our quality of life.

This city needs honesty, transparency, and respect for its citizens.

Vote for Joel Landau.
www.joellandau.com

(He understands the importance of good, clean, and fair food, too.)

District 1 voters, if you’re interested: I’m voting for Luther Falls. I was very interested in Tonya Clinkscale, but the fact that she is in real estate bothered me too much.