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About Vicki Lipski

Vicki Lipski lives, writes, and attempts to garden permaculturally in Loveland, Ohio. She writes about climate change, and the transitions it will require, at www.writeaboutwarming.blogspot.com.

Permaculture works

By April 19, 2013
nasturtium

Based on the latest maps from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it appears that the eastern third of the country should be in good shape this year insofar as rainfall is concerned. For someone saddled with completely infertile soil, that’s good news. In my opinion, it’s bad enough to have to deal with unending amendment of the soil, without having to feel guilty because I’m watering all the time! I just closed the spigot on my rain barrel last week, with hopes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Permaculture, Transition Tagged With:

Reassessing Arctic oil

By March 18, 2013
shell-arctic-drilling-ad

Shell Oil will discontinue drilling for oil off the coast of Alaska during the summer of 2013.  According to Marilyn Heiman, Director of the U.S. Arctic Program of Pew Trusts, “[Shell] had some safety and management challenges that I don’t think they had fully thought through.” Shell, along with every other oil company out there, has a lot to learn about drilling in the Arctic Ocean. I'm no expert, but in my opinion, the first thing they need to learn is respect. It’s not that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy Tagged With: , , ,

Always the last to know

By February 27, 2013
Climate Change

Quiz time, readers: what do the US Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, the Transportation Department, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Energy Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce, the Government Accountability Office, and the CIA have in common? It’s a long list of government departments and agencies, and they’re all getting something right. Now brace yourselves. They’re all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Secrets of the trait

By January 28, 2013
No GMOs

Picture this:  You’re an organic farmer in – well, pick a place. Your neighbor also farms, but not organically. As neighbors go, he’s a pretty good one; the two of you talk about the weather at the feed store, and he’s been interested in your agro-forestry sideline. By the same token, Monsanto’s visited your county multiple times, and your gut tells you he’s one of their hot prospects. Hoping to avert catastrophe, you’ve been straightforward with him, asking that he advise … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Consumerism, Economy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Capitalism Papers: Fatal flaws of an obsolete system

By November 29, 2012
register

Self-interest lies at the root of capitalism. This self-interest is a thoroughly predictable, steadily consistent feature of the human landscape and can reasonably be viewed as a solid foundation upon which to build. Self- interest can serve as both motivation and a salve for weary spirits. Kept within commonly-accepted bounds, it acts as a spur against laziness, and a hopeful haven for unrealized dreams. When happiness is the goal, self-interest makes an unerring guide, almost never … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The stealth president: When climate change is the issue

By October 16, 2012
Obama

By January of next year, Barack Obama will have been president for four years. We'll know by then whether or not he’ll be president for an additional four years. Election years are frequently a time of taking stock – talking about where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, how far we have yet to go. When a subject becomes taboo, as climate change very nearly has, the matter of taking stock becomes infinitely more difficult. How do we assess the president’s performance in the matter of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , , , , ,

A GMO is a GMO is a GMO

By August 30, 2012
Image: David Dees Illustration.

Quick: name the one issue about which Democrats, Republicans and even Independents all agree.  No, not alpaca farms. Yes, I know everyone would like to have one, and yes, baby alpacas are cuter than the dickens.  Try again. What’s that? Everybody agrees  genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that food processing companies put on our kitchen tables should be labeled? Is that your answer? Well, when you’re right, you’re right, and you are SO-O-O right. Please understand that the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country

By July 26, 2012
Sunflower woodcut

Peter Bane’s handbook, while not quite encyclopedic, is nothing if not authoritative. I can honestly say, without fear of exaggeration, that I hold my head a little higher as I stride about my miniscule fiefdom, now that I’ve read The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country. The stones Bane leaves unturned are few and far between. Once you’ve digested the author’s ruminations on mapping, patterns, and garden elements, perennials, water, soil, plants, crops, seeds, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Smart ALEC?

By May 31, 2012
aposter

The trend is obvious. Those who have, want more. The idea that their greed may cause others to suffer clearly carries no weight. The world is on the carving block, the voluptuous predators stabbing randomly in order to find and carry off the best parts. Corporation-run fascist nations rush northward in a race to grab newly accessible fossil fuels in an ice-free Arctic. The Really Big Banks, which now more closely resemble casinos because of the absence of regulation, play with taxpayer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: , ,

Teaching climate change denial

By March 1, 2012
Never Mind the Science

Why would an organization call itself  The Heartland Institute (HI)? To me the heartland of America is our country’s center – the Midwest and the Great Plains. The stereotype of this region arouses pictures of farm country, where good, honest, hardworking folks lead sober, unsophisticated lives. My suspicion is that the HI would like to piggyback on the values just described. This is, of course, a subliminal message which goes unstated on their website. There you'll find them saying … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , , ,