#it is an important part of the art ecosystem. plus i had fun and was myself!

[onesnoopyaday]

Breaking news: Neighborhood dog enjoys a peaceful summer night's sleep under the stars <3

Snoopy #15

16/10/2024

[mushiemellows]

You write a lot of Sanji and Nami in your fics for someone who doesn't talk about them much specifically in their relationship to Robin, I'm curious as to your perspective.

Oh yeah! I don’t totally know why I don’t post more about them specifically, but I think it comes down to fact that I like Fandom Sanji (and a lesser extent Fandom Nami) significantly more than I like the actual textual sanji hahaha.

As for their relationship to Robin, I think that she holds them in particular value in terms of the ecosystem of the crew. That is to say- gossip. Robin is Shit Stirrer #1, but she’s the gossip source. She’s the eyes and ears, but she needs to send it on to the next wave, and that next wave is Sanji and Nami. They’re how the gossip really travels, and she gets to play that game to her advantage. Control the flow of information.

I think that’s why they feature heavily in both fics that I write. In Staying Right Here, I really like the trying to write her as having a balance between her desire for a bit of secrecy and her soul’s deep need for a fucking kiki. She’s a chisme queen, but I don’t think she ever likes the idea of the gossip being ABOUT her, so she controls it. But then I, the temporary author, get to turn that eye back on her. And Nami and Sanji get to flounder without their usual source.

I think the fun about sanji and nami is their ability to look back at her. The fun part when I was drafting out the order for What Makes a Man was asking how each strawhat would find out the information Robin was trying to hide, and the stumping point was ‘how do you hide from someone with observation haki like sanji has”. And the answer is-you don’t. So sanji finds out essentially first. I like the juxtaposition of the WMM Sanji to SRH Sanji because I can play with two big sides of his character that I actually uhh enjoy hahahaha. (Plus, the function of Sanji in SRH ch3 is to stand against Franky’s gender. I intentionally use demasculinizing phrases like boy and puppy because I’m trying to make Franky sounds bigger, stronger, manlier in comparison.)

It’s kind of similar for writing Nami. I spent a long time exploring the little sister angle in SRH (and there’s still more to go, she’s going to get Robin back for the trickery in a big way, just wait) but I also needed to crack that tension in WMM by giving her a chance to just fuckin. Scream.

In a lot of ways, Nami and Sanji remind me of both of my younger siblings irl. We’re not always 100% on the same wavelength, but when we need to get information flowing we work QUICK.

There’s this (not to get too political) through line of communist themes to Robin. Many hands working together is like, the most classic visual metaphor for classic communist art. But she controls ALL the hands working as one. It stands out in comparison to her plot centering on isolationism and her desire to separate herself. The love as presented by Nami and Sanji are these two undeniable claws that keep her in the system, keeps her hands working with OTHER PEOPLE’S hands. She can’t work entirely in a self-enclosed ecosystem.

I think Sanji works best when his love is actually endless and unconditional (I know that like, it is. In a way. But all of Sanji’s Certified Worst Moments come for when his love for people stops very, very short). And I think having someone who will not hesitate for her is so deeply important for Robin. THE sanji moment will ALWAYS be running after that train. And it’s nami who gets to that plaza second. That’s it, that’s them. They’ll follow robin wherever she goes, they won’t let her go any time soon.

I’ve always had a hc that Robin and Sanji wrote to each other during the time skip. I assume the revs and the Kamabakas have a good communication network, and I feel like it would have kept her sane. Talking to him, the action of kitchen gossip, that’s like one of the most primordial forms of human connection. Same with late night Nami gos. They’re these deep grooves of love and conversation, and she values them with her whole heart.

[project-pnf-404]

Checkpoint and important updates 2!!: Electric boogaloo!!

Heyo guys!! Long time no talk. So, I’ve got some cool update stuff to show you guys. I’ve been doing a lot of blog “housekeeping” since the end of the last event. (don’t worry it hopefully won’t be boring update stuff lmao as it includes some new supplementary content). So, first and foremost, thanks to the inspiration from @koppais-smallest-nerd I’d like to let you guys know that I am now adding screen reader access to all future posts!!! This one included. At the bottom of each post under the, “read more”, image descriptions for all images will be added! Screen reader accessibility will also be added to all previous asks on the blog. However, getting through all of them will take a tiny bit. As, of this update, the first 4 asks have had image descriptions added. As well as all the supplementary content in between where applicable.

I’d also like to show you guys some supplementary content for the blog. Between these dashed lines are in character day 1 log entries written by the rest of the crew. 

———————————————

———————————————

I originally wasn’t sure if I wanted to put these extra day 1 logs on the main blog or not. But, I’ve decided that all supplementary content that may be story related will remain on the main blog for the foreseeable future, while BTS content will end up on PNF-404-Plus.

That being said since the end of the 1st event and my time away from the blog a lot has been going on when it comes to the blog.

For one the entire desktop version of the blog has had a large overhaul. A new theme has been added to the main page.

But, not only that but new side pages with supplementary content have been added!! This includes an event list, a bio page for the crew members of the S.S Drake, a Piklopedia page for the new Piklopedia, and a music page to top it all off!!

The Event List will show each new event as they are added! You can click on the current known events to go directly to all posts tagged with that event tag. Speaking of which all Event 01 posts have now had their tags updated with the Event 01 tag making it much easier to navigate.

The new Crew Members page has bios for all the members currently on the mission or known in the story so far! These Bios are pretty in line with cannon with some fanon, and light headcanon added  in for good measure. I recommend taking a look as it does have some interesting info in there. Also quick note: all of these bios are written as if it is prior to the beginning of the blog.

Then there’s the Piklopedia!! Here you can read each of their findings as they explore PNF-404! Currently the findings will be on each area they explore (not each creature they find) as they haven’t found any new creatures yet. There is also a map of places they’ve discovered and more!

Lastly, a new music page has been added. On this page, I’ve created event-inspired music playlists. Some of the songs have been mentioned in the past. But, here you can listen to them all in one place and see which songs are for which part of the events. As well there’s a secret songs playlist. This playlist has nothing to do with the blog directly but is filled with music given to me by people I’ve met from this community while I’ve been here!! Currently, there are 5 songs there, however, there will be more added in the future! What makes it secret is that you won’t know who gave me the song XD. (well unless you’re the one who gave me the song lmao) who knows if you’ve ever shared music with me before you may find your song there!! (There is also one song I’m sharing with you guys in there too so have fun figuring that out lmao. )

As well the table of contents has been once again updated with a lot of this new stuff as well as some other new information!! As for mobile users as of now, all of this is on separate Tumblr pages. However, in the near future, I will be uploading much of this stuff , such as the Piklopedia entries and Crew Bio’s, as individual posts! However, in the meantime, if you feel like you can always check out these pages on your phone browser instead if you’re a mobile-exclusive user. (Though some pages don’t look as good on phone)

Welp, I think that’s it as far as updates go!! I should be back with brand new ask posts soon (likely within the next week or so!) so keep a look out!! I’ll see ya guys again soon and thanks for reading!!!

{{ Screen reader image description is under “read more”}}

In the first image,  Alph’s Day 1 Log entry is shown. His log says, “To think I thought the first day would go well. Then again I didn’t think I would get sucked out of the ship either so maybe I should stop being so surprised. At the very least Louie and I were able to find our way back despite some obstacles and I was able to fix the ship in time. Though if it weren’t for Chunks we would have never found the pikmin we did. That little guy sure saved the day. 

However, Then there's what happened to Brittany… To see her in a situation like that... I can’t even bear to think about it. Tomorrow I will be checking over the entirety of the Drake to make sure a crash like that doesn't happen again. I can't help but think that the crash was due to me overlooking something during maintenance... However, The only thing I can do now is to make sure something like this never happens again for all our sake, especially Brittanys’. “ It is then sighed by Alph

In the second Image Charlies Day 1 Log entry can be read it says, “I should have been on top of things. As this crew’s captain, everything that went wrong was under my watch and things should have gone much smoother. That being said I am very glad that all of my crew have made it out alive. Though I am still worried about Brittany. If only I was able to keep her safe…

 But, at this point, we all must press forward. We have a task to complete and after seeing how devastated some areas are, we must get to the bottom of what’s wrong with PNF-404. Nothing will get in my way, not with my steely fists that is!!” It is then signed by  Charlie

In the third image Louies’ day 1 log entry can be seen it says, 

“

Going back to the pikmin planet wasn’t at the top of my list of things I thought I’d be doing anytime soon. Yet somehow I find myself back here and stranded again…. At least I wasn’t fully alone this time…

Alph and I eventually found a pikmin that we later named Chunks. He sure acts differently in comparison to any other Pikmin I’ve seen before. But, even still, if it weren’t for Chunks, we wouldn’t have been able to help Brittany or find any other pikmin for that matter. So, we should thank him for that.” It is then signed by Louie

In the fourth image the updated version of the Project: PNF-404 Tumblr is shown. It now has a bright cyan futuristic aesthetic to it. In the fifth image a picture of the new events page, listing all the past and future events planned so far is shown. It has 1 known event Titled Event 01. The other 3 are titled Event unknown. In the sixth image, the new crew members’ character page is shown. A picture of Olimar is shown along with a description of his traits and a biography. It reads as follows, 

CAPTAIN OLIMAR

AGE 38

ALIAS(ES)Olimar

SPECIES Hocotatian

GENDER Male

TITLE(S) Employee of Hocotate Freight, Xenobiologist

AFFILIATION Hocotate Freight, Planet Hocotate Government

Fatherly, well-meaning, and resourceful, for an almost 40 year old Hocotatian he has a lot of bravery and guts. Olimar first and foremost loves his family and cares deeply for others around him. A Hardworking employee of Hocotate Freight and family man, Olimar tends to try and stay level-headed while looking out for others.

Having been one of the first to visit the Pikmin planet Olimar has extensive knowledge of the planet's life. Lucky for him he just so happens to have gone to college for xenobiology. Many of his findings can be found within his many log entries known as the Piklopedia.

But, for as much as Olimar tends to be on top of things, his trips to the pikmin planet have had him face many dangers and life-threatening events. Though these issues are not something he brings up…

In the seventh image, The new Piklopidea page is shown, In one section it displays a map of PNF-404 with 2 marked locations. The first of which is highlighted in blue is named the “Silent Stream” the second, is highlighted in orange, Its title is “Glacial Gardens”. To the right of that is a description introduction for the Piklopedia. It says” To help ensure the progress and success of this mission all crew members must write down their findings in this log. Overview: 

CAPTAIN Olimar: Writes In-depth biological analysis of fauna and how the ecosystem affects said fauna.

LOUIE: Writes about Recipes and ingredients that can be found in each area. ALPH: Looks at the area with the eyes of an engineer. He uses this insight to discuss the benefits and flaws of what he’s analyzing. BRITTANY: Uses her botanist skills to look into the flora of the area along with talking about the aesthetics of things and adding in her own general opinions.

CAPTAIN CHARLIE: Writes about combat strategy and how one can use the environment in an area for a tactical advantage.

To the left is a map showing the current locations discovered by the crew. The one highlighted in orange has yet to be explored.

The final image shows the new music page! 6 playlists can be selected on the left each having 5 songs. To the right is an image of the event 01 cover art. With (from left to right), Brittnay, Charlie, Olimar, Louie, and Alph all looking up with a distressed expression on their faces. 

END ID

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #302

“heaven ain’t close in a place like this”

What color are your eyes? Grayish blue. What's your favorite type of milk? If we're talking the basics, ig 1% is fine. What would you change about your appearance if you could? Oh, hunny, you got time for an essay? What would you change about your bedroom if you could? I need to fucking finish decorating it... It's not finished by no fault but my own laziness. Are you rich or poor? We're definitely pretty poor. Are you double jointed? I don't think so. What's the most physically painful thing you've ever experienced? I once had a large infected cyst that had to be drained by applying pressure to it, and I swear to Christ I don't know how I didn't faint. They gave me morphine and multiple numbing shots, but none of that did SHIT. I'm not even embarrassed by the fact I was shrieking and sobbing and swearing because I'm pretty fucking sure any sane person would've cried out many times. I'm convinced they either didn't numb me enough for someone of my size back then, or I should've just gone under for it. I have no words for how painful it really was. Do you like shots? Uh, given that nobody LIKES getting a shot with a needle, I'm going to assume you mean like, taking shots of alcohol, in which case I've never tried, but I can almost absolutely guarantee you I'd hate them. I hate the taste of alcohol (hence why I only drink sweet and weak stuff), sooooo, I've got my doubts I'd enjoy something so potent. Are you afraid of spiders? Yes and no? Small ones don't tend to get to me, and I LOVE tarantulas. Big spiders are absolutely fascinating and I love *watching* them, but if I was surprised by a sudden spider, I'm going to probably cry out and jump/scramble away. But on a real note, respect your spiders, whether they scare you or not. They are so important to the ecosystem. See one in the house, take it outside if you can. Have you ever had an allergic reaction to something? To some earrings, yes. I have to wear ones that don't have silver in them. Do you like to read? Yeah, but not nearly as much as I did as a kid. I'm even slacking on WoF lately... Do you know what your purpose in life is? *SLAMS FISTS ON TABLE* BITCH I WISH I KNEW What's something you would like to improve at? Not being a socially anxious catastrophe. Do you believe you have great potential? Everybody does. You just have to use it. What is the most beautiful scenery you have ever beheld? Probably the mountains when driving to Tennessee. Or New York? I really can't recall either so clearly as to have a favorite. Are you flexible? Noooot anymore. Back in my WiiFit days, I was a gotdamn snake. List a song lyric that you like. Oh Jesus, don't make me think. Uhhhhh there's so many. Flipping through artists in my head with lyrics I tend to love, there's Otep with: "hey, hey, NRA, how many kids did you kill today?". Simple, but spine-chilling to me. Huh, time to listen to it actually, lol. That song murders me with the goosebumps. Do you meditate? No; I can't. You can't tell me to "free my mind," man. It's way too hectic at all times up there. What's one place you've been to that you want to visit again? I'd love to go back to Chicago one night when I actually learn how to do nighttime urban photography. What's one place you want to go that you've never visited before? I always answer "South Africa" to questions like this, so for variety's sake, I'll say the Bahamas. But a conspiratory bitch is afraid of the Bermuda Triangle, so... lmao. What's your favorite type of tree? I like big, impressive weeping willows. How many times have you seriously injured yourself? Only two occasions I can think of immediately. Maybe there's more, but idk. Did you attend Sunday School as a child? Yeah, even though I hated it. What is the longest your hair has ever been? Maybe a little passed the small of my back? What about the shortest? (not including being a toddler or baby): How it is now and has been for a couple years: shaved short on the left side, and it transitions to a length near my chin as you go to the right. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? No. Are/were you in the school band, and if so, what instrument did you play? I did, and I played the flute. I'd choose the saxophone if I could go back. Who does the grocery shopping in your household? Well, it's just Mom and me, so her. If you were to donate to charity today, what would you donate to? One that focuses on ovarian cancer for Mom. What is your favorite card game and when was the last time you played it? Even though I was never great at it or knew every single rule, "Magic: The Gathering" is honestly really fun, and I loved looking at the card art. I haven't played it since I was with Jason, so at least five-six years. Would you consider yourself to be good at spelling and grammar? Yeah, but I've somehow gotten worse with time???? I question the spelling and tenses of words I write a lot. What is your favourite seasonal candy? (only available at certain times): Probably like, chocolate rabbits. NOT hollow. Way to break my heart. Or gingerbread cookies. What was the last chocolate bar you ate? I think a Hershey's? It was a while ago. Who was the last person you talked to on Skype/video chat? I was in a Zoom session with multiple people for my partial hospitalization program. Have you ever dreamt about sleeping with someone other than your partner? If so, did that make you feel embarrassed? I've never had a dream like this while in a relationship. The last time you had butterflies in your stomach, what was the reason? I have no idea. Has anyone told you that they miss you recently? No. Has anyone ever asked you out or told you that they liked you, and you rejected them? Can you explain why you didn’t like, or didn’t feel attracted to that person? There was this one guy in the 4th grade who asked me if I would go out with him so much it almost became like a joke. I just... didn't like him like that. Then there's Juan; I'd just been warned that he had a bad rep by a very reliable adult, and the idea of dating him was kinda... intimidating anyway. Plus he was a smoker, which was and still is a no-no for me. What part in a movie would you love to play? The clinically insane villain or something because I feel with my history, I could channel that very well IF I actually wanted to act in the first place. What piece of furniture have you replaced the most? The couch. What’s the best part of your favorite movie? When Simba walks up Pride Rock in the rain and roars and all the lionesses join in. Chilling. What do you think is the most over-rated candy ever? Candy corn is repulsive. What was the highlight of your day? My mom was raving to one of my therapists in the PHP about my art and how badly she wants me to just get everything out there. I was smiling really big but looking down with how shy but also flattered it made me. Do you know anyone who is anorexic? I don't think so. Who has hurt you the most this year? Ha, myself. What's the last insult someone said to you? Hm. How much did your car cost? N/A What is the last picture you received on your phone of? Uhhh Mom mighta sent me a meme or Sara showed me a drawing someone made of Suriza, I think. Have you ever let someone go because you thought they deserved better? No, though I've felt that way before. Is there anybody you're really disappointed in right now? I'm still not over the fact Dad was a druggie before me and my sisters, apparently. It's almost like... hurtful in some weird way? Idk exactly why, it's just something I know I feel. What do you hear right now? I have Motionless In White's cover of "Somebody Told Me" playing in another tab. Do you do anything to help the environment? I do what I can as someone who isn't financially independent and reliant on another person for transportation. I won't litter for anything (and this includes shit like letting balloons go in the air, fucking stop), I'm trying to use my metal straw always in place of plastic, and to use less plastic bags, I try to spread out the times I clean Roman's litterbox to a few days; not to the point it's disgusting or uncomfortable for him, of course, though. Three days without is pretty much max. When's the last time you did something you knew was wrong? Ha, a little while ago... I was trying to avoid eating the two last biscuits Mom made for dinner 'cuz I really gotta lay off the carbs, but Mom "joked" that "it's your birthday, you get to do whatever you want," so I kinda just said fuck it lmao. Do you think that you have a pretty smile? No, because my eyes squint badly, and I also hate my teeth. When's the last time you cried over a guy? A few days ago a little bit, actually. I was reminiscing too much and recalling some of the warmest memories. Are you scared to lose the person you fell the hardest for? I already did. Oh well. Is there someone you wouldn't mind kissing right now? Yep. Do you have any friends that actually model? No. Do you care about the last person you kissed? A fucking lot. Do they care about you? Yes. Is there someone you wish you were with right now? Yes, just because of past birthday memories. I keep hoping a "happy birthday Britt" pops up in my FB messenger, and I hate myself for it. Have you ever imagined how it would feel kissing a certain someone? I legitimately just huffed in humor, guess, lmao. What are the bad things you've heard people say about you? That I'm a martyr, going nowhere, lazy, not trying hard enough, y'know, all that good stuff. Do you flirt a lot? Definitely not. What phrase or saying do you use the most? Probably "oof" lol. What mood are you in right now? I'm doing pretty all right. Kinda dreading Miss Tobey coming over, mean as it is, but I just... don't wanna deal with her and her judgments on my birthday. But I'm looking forward to seeing my sisters, and therapy went very well. Have you ever kissed someone that was high? No. Do you have a good relationship with your mother? Yep. How many exes do you have? I only consider two exes "serious," as I've only been in two deep and long-term relationships, but if we're counting everyone who's had the label of "boyfriend" or "girlfriend," there's six. Do you want to be single or with someone? Ugh, I don't know. It's probably better I don't 'til I figure my shit out, but I really do miss the companionship a lot. Why did you kiss the last person you kissed? Because I love her and I was leaving her at the airport. Does your mom think you’re a virgin? She doesn't know for the same reason I don't, really. I think she leans towards I am, but idk. Is there someone that wants you to give them a second chance? I don't know. What size bra do you wear? Uhhh I genuinely don't buy bras enough to know this exactly. C-something. Does the person you last kissed still like you? I don't know if she still like-likes me. Are your parents still together? Noooo. Was your first time good or bad? I dated an Italian, if u kno what I mean. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Which friend-turned-enemy do you miss the most? Colleen, sometimes. Have you ever used an epi pen, and it worked? I have not. What is on your top priority list for today? Make this fuckin' day for me. I'm trying to not let the depression sink in and make me feel worthless on today of all days. So I'm trying to stay in a positive headspace. Do you own any sand art in a jar? Omg, those are so cool! But no. Does the sun come in your window in the morning or at night? Not really; there's houses in the way. What was the last piece of art you created? A drawing of a meerkat with its mouth open angrily, done with colored pencils, against a black background. It's on my second dA. What time of day do you take medications? I have prescription meds for when I wake up and at bedtime. What's your newest hobby you've started? A new hobby? Huh... What are some things you wanted to do that your parents didn't let you do? They wouldn't let us stay home alone until a certain age, we had a timer on the TV at bedtime to shut off after a while, we weren't exposed to certain music or shows, no cursing... stuff like that. What YouTube channels do you recommend? This is a BAD question to ask me, 'cuz I could just about recommend channels for just about any niche. I watch soooooo many. What is your favorite day of the week? Tuesday, because it's reset day in WoW, haha. Meaning, I get to do my stupid mount farming raids again for the week. Blackhand, gimme your FUCKING clefthoof already. Ballet or cheerleading? Ballet is beautiful. What are your favorite sports to watch? Only dancing, really. Were you ever in the marching band? No. Which holiday has the best decorations, in your opinion? My contrasting aesthetics make this hard, haha. I love Christmas with all the beautiful light displays people can make, but let's not sleep on Halloween, y'all. I loooove Halloween decor, like c'mon, that's where I get shit for my room year-round, lmao. What do you want to be known for? It'd actually be kinda cool if I built up some sort of rep in the vulture culture community with my photography of roadkill. For how few shots I actually have on there and minimal interaction, my Instagram for it is doing quite well, if you consider those factors. They've gotten some pretty decent attention on dA, too. I would love for people to know why I do it though, of course: awareness and respect for the animal's life. How often do you wear make-up? Almost never nowadays. Think of the person you are jealous of...what are you jealous of them for? She's actually making a career out of her photography. Do you have art that you made in high school? Oh, plenty. Do you have trauma in your past? *clears throat* take a fuckin seat Favorite type of frosting? Chocolate. Have you ever tried cake decorating? No. One of my sisters is actually one, though! She's great at it. What clubs are you a part of? None. What was your favorite book that you had to read for school? The Outsiders. 6th grade, to be exact. Do you like to read classics, or do you usually read new arrivals? I don't prefer one over the other, honestly. Were you a big partier in college? No, I never partied. Is your college one you would recommend? My most recent one, fuck yes. They're amazing and care so deeply for their students. Would you go camping in the woods alone? Yikes, no. Would you name your kids after anyone? If I had a son and I had my way with the name, he would be named after the Most Selfless Man in the World, Damien from WKM. :'''''( Do you have any supernatural gifts? No. Are there any good churches in your town? You're asking someone who has a bad relationship with religion. Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding? It really depends on the season and venue my spouse and I pick. Do you think you would be a good salesperson? HEEEEEEEEEEEELL NAW fam. I ain't pressuring people to buy shit.

[tinyshe]

This is a snippet of an email linked article from 

https://articles.mercola.com about gardening.

Wide Range of Personal and Community Benefits [of food gardening]

One of the obvious benefits to growing your own food  at home is reducing your risk of exposure to glyphosate and pesticides. When  you plant your own garden you can also enjoy these benefits:24

Improved nutrition — Homegrown food is usually more diverse, flavorful and  nutritious than processed foods bought from a store.25 Straight from the garden, food retains more of its vitamins, minerals and  antioxidants.

Increased activity — Physical activity, movement and exercise are part and  parcel of tending to a garden and also important to maintaining optimal health.

Heliotherapy — Exposure to the sun ramps up your vitamin D production; this is important to your immune health, as  it improves your mood and exposes you to fresh air.

Strengthened environmental health — Using organic principles, your food supply  doesn't pollute the waterways, doesn't rely on transportation to reach the  consumer (just walk outside and pick your vegetables!) and doesn’t require  fossil fuel to run the farm.

Stress reduction — The authors of one Dutch study found that gardening  after a stressful task reduced cortisol levels.26 It also improves your sleep.27

Basic Strategies for a Healthy Garden — Indoors and Outside

As you might deduce from the information above, the  No.1 rule for growing nutrient-dense food is healthy soil. Whether you're  growing your garden in pots or in the ground, as Gabe Brown discusses in this  short video, there are five principles of regenerative farming you can use to develop healthy topsoil and build a  healthy ecosystem:

Avoid disturbing the microbiome — The less mechanical disturbance you use, the  better. This means not tilling the soil and not using herbicides, pesticides or  fungicides. Instead, seek out natural ways of dealing with pests and only open  the soil enough to plant your seed.

Protect the surface — Use cover crops during the winter months and  cover the soil with untreated lawn clippings, mulch or wood chips during the  growing season to feed the soil microbiome. This also helps to prevent water  evaporation and lower the soil temperature on hot days.

Diversify your planting — Cover crops help fulfill the requirement of  using an array of plant life to protect healthy soil. If you have a large  garden, you can alternate the areas where you plant your crops. If you're using  pots, you can alternate the pots in which the plants are grown.

Keep living roots in the ground as long as  possible — Growth is key to  soil vitality, so planting cover crops after you harvest helps improve soil  diversity and health.

On a larger plot, integrate livestock and  other living creatures, including insects — Regenerative farmers use chickens, cows, lambs and  pigs to help mimic the impact wild herds once had on the land. While you may  not be able to keep farm animals at home, you can attract pollinators and  predator insects by including flowering plants.

You Can Start Small for Big Results

You’ll want to start with quality seeds for quality produce. Seek out a supplier who sells heirloom seeds  that aren’t genetically modified.28,29 This ensures you’re getting the best plant possible and that these are better  suited to organic growing conditions.

There are different ways to grow your food, even if  you live in an apartment and all you have available is a balcony. One of the  simplest and most inexpensive alternatives is to grow sprouts. These can be  grown all year indoors. They grow quickly, which means you can harvest your  nutrient-dense food in just about a week and they don't have to be cooked to  enjoy.

Some commonly sprouted seeds are beans, nuts,  broccoli, sunflower seeds and pea sprouts. Many of the benefits are related to the  concentrated amount of nutrients in the initial phase of growth. These benefits  include a higher vitamin, enzyme30 and fiber content.31

Purchasing fresh, healthy foods can sometimes be  expensive, but sprouts don't fall into this category. When you grow them  yourself the cost is significantly less than purchasing them from the store. I  have found 1 pound of seed can produce more than 10 pounds of sprouts when  grown in soil.

Sunflower sprouts have the most volume and, in my  opinion, have the best taste. If you don’t have much garden space, consider  growing your garden in pots. Many of the vegetables and fruits you enjoy can be  grown on your porch or balcony.

After choosing what you’ll grow, take care to prepare  your potting soil or garden carefully. You’ll find growing instructions  specific to your plant needs, including natural ways to reduce pest damage, in  my “Ultimate Guide to Gardening.”

Resources to Plant an Urban Garden

In 2011, Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan, faced a  possible 93 days in jail after being charged for planting a vegetable garden in her own front yard. In five raised beds  she grew squash, corn, tomatoes, flowers and other vegetables.

The city warned her to remove the garden when they  claimed it violated an ordinance stating that only “suitable” plant material is  allowed on the front lawn. In 2011, Ron Finley received a citation from the  city of Los Angeles to clear his “overgrown vegetation” or purchase a $400  permit for his garden. He wrote:32

“Plus no one was being cited for the discarded old  toilets, couches and used condoms on the street—but I got a citation for  bringing nature, beauty, pride, art, and a sense of peace and calm to the  neighborhood. It just made no sense.”

It may be worth paying attention to the rules around  urban agriculture in your neighborhood. It's important to educate yourself  about your homeowner’s association, city, state and federal ordinances before  you start planting.33 There's nothing fun about getting a citation, and there’s even less fun in  fighting it!

Since zoning laws and ordinances consistently change  you need to do your due diligence in the winter months before you plant. Lawn  and garden laws can include:34

Regulations on fence and hedge heights, and length    of grass

Restrictions on front yard food gardens35

Watering requirements and limits

Regulations to protect wildlife

Regulations on weeds and invasive species

Farm animal ordinances, including beekeeping36

Composting ordinances

Regulations on rainwater collection

Gardening-related business activities, should you    consider selling any of your produce

Hell strips — This refers to the land between the    sidewalk and the street.

By and large, this land belongs to the city, but    must be maintained by the homeowner; oftentimes, you're not allowed to remove    or damage plants or trees growing there

[channelguest]

Geek Tourisme à Paris (ecosystem building)

One week in Paris exploring the emerging ecosystem: Oh que oui!

Paris: merci!

I was in Paris this week for the Elevator World Tour , judging over 50 startups. A real “in the elevator” pitch, up and down. Up and down. Up and down. The event was pretty well tweeted, you can get a good idea from https://twitter.com/search?q=%23elevatorworldtour (and http://www.maddyness.com/concours/2015/01/23/concours-retour-lelevator-pitch-concours-spectaculaire-lannee/ ). This was a really serious event with people dressed in black (color me guilty)… While in Paris, I took the time to visit some of the most notable startup/community spaces and meet people. Had the chance to actually visit 50Partners , The Family , Usine , La Paillasse and Numa / Le Camping (see below). This is only a part of the hyperactive Paris scene (could have also visited Gaité Lyrique , La Ruche , Mutinerie , Fabelier , Dojoboost , etc). Wanted to meet Liam from Rude Baguette but ran out of time… next time. I did get the chance to meet with investors from 50partners , Elaia , Eularian , ISAI , Price Minister, Balderton , Facebook EMEA , Schibsted Growth at the Eiffel tower event. https://twitter.com/Bird_Office/status/558264536596488192

Alors, Paris?

I was impressed by the maturity of the scene, but overall, when compared to Montréal and the Canadian ecosystem, the progress is quite uneven. In a way, huge, in another, not quite there yet. Here is a quick rundown.

Community

Community is really active and strong, associations/non-profits are really far ahead and government support is outstanding ( c’est la France après tout ). Like anywhere else, there’s some dividing lines, not everyone likes what others are doing, stems from humanity it seems. But really friendly overall.

Money

There are well known super-angels ( Xavier Niels, Marc Simonici, Jérémie Beribi, Jacques-Antoine Granjon) and a few acive business angels, writint 10–25K Euros checks. I was told that funding is still hard at the seed level (500k-1.5M, but we are talking Euros here, so bump your estimations accordingly). Late stage financing (25Mil+) is well covered. Maybe a bit like in Canada, larger rounds (from A and up) ofteb come from both local and across the border sources (UK and Germany in this case).

Maturity

Ambition is the gateway drug that can/should be dealt in this market. Talent is there, structure/infrastructure is strong, success/emulation is within reach. But ambition lacks. The attitude of doing a local “France first” sucess, or even a Parisian launch, while more reachable, is a sure sign of an immature startup ecosystem. The best startups I saw could be really successful in the US and Canada, this is actually something I want to make happen more this year, startup exchanges. Building strong bridges between North America and Europe is a natural goal from Montréal.

Startups

Top 7 startups at the elevator pitch events were Glowee (winner, more below), Shippeo , PopMyDay , Elbee , PopChef and Deliver.ee ( Shyp for Europe if I get this right) and RedTree (not on stage because I’m an investor and abstained from voting for them, but they’re amazing, really). If all goes well, we will be investing in Glowee and get them to come to Montréal for FounderFuel this fall. The prize was at 90K but last minute two additionnal angles pitched in 10K for a grand total of 110K (of which 50K is the FounderFuel deal).

50Partners

Fantastic logistic by Virginie (and by that I mean flawless ) for the event in the Eiffel Tower. Jérôme was a graceful host, in the French tradition, and also a sharp-eyed analyst of the pitches, had a lot of fun working with him. Impressed by the entrepreneur model they have. After all, it’s a word invented by the French (as exemplified by any american stumbling on the pronunciation).

The Family

Met with Oussama Amar at The Family. Connected immediately to the market/traction approach. He’s kind of the Dave McClure of France, with a SciencePo perspective to boot. This was the only completely private initiative I met, so it was kind of different. But at the same time, the free-wheeling spirit was quite similar, building a strong identity (maybe to a fault, as I understand) but with a beautiful “ je m’en foutisme ” attitude that’s not too far from the “ fuck you ” attitude of American entrepreneurs (key “ this is not a love song ” by PIL for good measure, or “ le déserteur ” by Renaud to get the anti-conformist/fighter spirit) (I know, skating on tiny ice here, that’s my call, not theirs).

Usine

Usine.io is kinda of the weirdest hacker space, used to be an art gallery, is visually stunning, the first minute you walk in. The esthetic is the exact opposite of that busy/messy loft you usually find at makerspaces. But don’t let the visual undermine the fantastic amenities of the place, most impressive prototype/workshop areaI have seen at this stage. Full wood and metal workshop, plus molding, huge plasma cutter, chemical lab, electronics and several Solidworks workstations (I’m skimming, full list at http://usine.io/atelier.html ). Gary is building something amazing here with his team, only been opened for 3 months but I can see myself sending startups there soon.

La Paillasse

La Paillasse is weird in the most beautiful way. Yasir (from Montreal HW Guild ) and I got there early, so we started with a visit to the Fly Lab (oh wow). We then met with Thomas from La Paillasse proper. Not only is this a fantastic #biohacker space, but Thomas has a vision to create “vortex” rooms to have hardware geeks, fabric makers and bio hackers in the same room. I was really inspired by the multi-disciplinary approach. Even discovered projects from Montréal I had missed, aptly named bricobio (brilliant moniker). After a while, discovered (of course, right?) that they were also connected to Connor at Synbiota (an investment of ours ). I think the next step is the have them meet the team at Daily Tous Les Jours and see what happens… Or the crew at Helios and Foulab . Lots of crossover potential. Same raw energy I saw in the opensource space in the late 90's… #Excited.

Numa

As the GM of FounderFuel and board member at OSMO ( Notman House ), NUMA for me was quite a revelation of what we can become. They have been at it for 15 years, team of 20, 6 stories building in the heart of St-Denis (is that the right designation?). Super organized, from bottom to top. They seemed to have nailed the full monty, from pre-seed, public space, to private, bigco based projects (and everything in between, with schools and serious startups). Frédéric was super generous and I see lots of opportunities to collaborate together (also, amazing food at Hotel Edgar ). We also share with them the “ Google for Entrepreneu r” designation, even easier.

Glowee

Last but not least, excited about Glowee, the winner of the elevator pitch in the Eiffel tower. Not only because it’s a fabulous combination of business + design + bio, but mostly for the team and the space. Of course, got on it by Joi at SXSW last year ( here’s the tweet , I am a late comer to the trend, at least not early). Been looking at how to get in this space, in a way that would combine my expertise in platform and networks with an eye open on new commercial applications. Had a great meeting with Sandra Friday, possibility are many. Jury is still out, but isn’t it on any important things we are investing in?

What’s next?

In a way, this event is exactly why I am ecstatic about what Phil has been doing at StartupFest and Elevator World Tour : meeting entrepreneurs in the trenches (and why I’m joining his board). In a more general way, this confirms my perspective/insights on information asymmetry (will post about this soon): even when you are super-connected, you can miss half of what’s happening (or underestimate the data). For me, even with all the great internet tech we have (geeks develop tools to power how geeks work, case in point: slack and github)… nothing is as efficient as “human bandwidth”, even if we dream of decentralized trust, a handshake, a smile and a face to face meeting still carry much more than anything else. Pheromones and phatic signals still rule… Stay tuned, I am working on merging those strand in the courtepointe I am building...

[caveartfair]

12 Ways Collectors Can Help Galleries Survive and Thrive

Installation view of work by Angelo Plessas at Breeder Gallery’s booth at Frieze New York, 2016. Photo by Adam Reich for Artsy.

With all the talk about the struggles of emerging and smaller galleries, much of the commentary has been focused on how fairs can better support galleries, or how galleries can experiment with new models to survive. But what about collectors? As the party that comes to the table with arguably the most resources, do they have any role or responsibility in ensuring gallerists can keep the lights on?

European dealer Thaddaeus Ropac isn’t so sure. For him, the collector’s primary duty is to the art and the artwork; galleries, he said, aren’t a charity. But others believe collectors do have a role to play. Sean Kelly launched “Collect Wisely” in May, a multimedia campaign to encourage collectors to be more thoughtful and less financially driven in their practice.

“The art world is an ecosystem,” said Alain Servais, a Belgian collector who often takes to Twitter to criticize art market goings-on. “Definitely collectors cannot complain about the current state of things if they don’t do their own work.”

Some (hopefully) obvious things collectors can do to make dealers’ lives easier: Buy art. Pay for it on time. Be gracious. Don’t flip the work.

But there’s a lot more collectors can do if they want to see the galleries they care about survive and prosper. Artsy spoke to a dozen gallerists and art-world professionals during Art Basel week about how to build the perfect collector. What should collectors do more of? Less of? What’s the best way they can support galleries, both materially and emotionally? Here’s what they had to say.

Trust the gallery

Multiple respondents wished collectors took a broader view of their programs. Rather than buying just one or two artists, get curious about the other artists in the stable, and how they relate to one another. After all, said Dmitry Komis, director of New York’s five-year-old David Lewis Gallery, “there’s a reason why they’re together in this program.” Hannah Robinson, founder and director of Glasgow’s Mary Mary, said she’d like to see a more consistent engagement. “There’s a trust in you when the name is doing something,” she said. But she would like to see collectors “opening up their parameters a little bit,” to look at other works that maybe “aren’t selling like hotcakes like the other ones” at that particular moment.

Consider unorthodox financial arrangements

When Jaring Dürst Britt and Alexander Mayhew started their gallery Dürst Britt & Mayhew three-and-a-half years ago, they approached three collectors they knew for loans totalling €50,000 in exchange for deeper discounts on works by their artists, including Puck Verkade and Wieske Wester, both of whom were showing at Liste. Dürst Britt and Mayhew needed the money to build a track record at smaller fairs in order to pave the way to Liste, where they had set a goal to show by their fifth year in business. They pay back the loans each month, but can also pay off a chunk at a time if a collector-lender sees a work he likes. Britt also said the arrangement encourages collectors to buy more.

In another example, Servais said he worked with a gallery that wanted to try Zona Maco, the Mexico City art fair, but was hesitant to risk the €15,000 it would cost to participate in case nothing sold. The gallerist asked Servais to prepay for €15,000 worth of art, which he could choose within 12 months. This helped them cover their costs for the fair, and spread them out over the next year.

Ask questions

Many dealers came back to the idea of “engagement” as one of the most rewarding parts of their jobs, even if it doesn’t lead to sales. Ask questions, spend time talking to the dealer, learn about the artist. Polina Stroganova of Mexico City’s PROYECTOSMONCLOVA stressed that collectors should keep asking questions until they’ve gotten satisfactory answers, or feel they’ve genuinely understood the artist’s practice. Sometimes dealers might answer in hard-to-understand art-babble. “If something doesn’t make sense to you, ask again. Sometimes people are maybe afraid—you give them the blah, and maybe they are still lost. Maybe things are making sense to the gallerist, but not to the collector,” she said. “Ask uncomfortable questions.”

Bring your friends

The most important thing collectors could do is “get their wealthy friends more excited about art,” said Marc Spiegler, the global director of Art Basel. He cited the evolution of Latin American collecting circles, which grew through informal social networks since the region lacks other channels into collecting, such as museum young patrons groups. Instead, a core group of collectors started inviting friends to Art Basel in Miami Beach, where they made a fun weekend of it—fun enough to invite more friends the following year. Plus, he added, if you’re a heavy social media user, “post the hell out of what you’re buying and what you’re liking, so your friends who are not buying art will be inundated with it.”

Pick up your work

One staffer at a German gallery, who did not want to be named, said he’d love to see more collectors simply pick up or arrange to ship the work they’ve bought. That’s first and foremost because art is meant to be in circulation, and having it piled up in a storage is not only inconvenient for the gallery, but means the art is not doing its job. Secondly, it makes for awkwardness at fairs or other events. “You have this situation when you see them in person, and the first thing you talk about is…‘Hey, when are the works going to be picked up?’” he said. “It precedes other discussions about selling more works, and that’s a bad thing.”

Offer some advice

Collectors, noted Spiegler, are often people who’ve had a lot of success in their own careers, and may have management wisdom to impart. “They could potentially offer advice to gallerists about running their own businesses,” Spiegler said. Dürst Britt from Dürst Britt & Mayhew said one of the collectors who lent them money when they started out had run a successful car rental business in Holland. While he had initially seemed skeptical, he wound up giving them €20,000 because he felt a kinship with them as entrepreneurs.

Go to the gallery

Cherine Karam of Beirut’s Marfa’ Projects wished her collectors attended more of the events that the gallery puts on, which tend to draw more young people and academics. Servais, who makes an effort to visit galleries when he visits cities around the world for fairs and biennials, agreed. “The minimum we can do is to see the exhibition,” he said. Plus, he added, it’s a gift for the collector, since art looks far better in the gallery than at fairs.

Don’t just buy, support

Whether that means funding the production of work in exchange for a discount or first right of refusal, or chipping in to support a museum show or biennial presentation of an up-and-coming artist, gallerists encouraged collectors to take that extra step beyond just collecting work. These types of steps often have mutual benefits. “Frankly, it’s enlightened self-interest, because obviously, if you know an artist’s work and they’re going to be featured in a major biennial, it’s to your advantage” to support that artist, Spiegler said—both materially, since those types of events boost an artist’s market, but more importantly, on a reputational level.

Alex Freedman of Los Angeles and Paris’s Freedman Fitzpatrick said collectors who “support certain types of museum shows, certain projects which you don’t anticipate any kind of return on,” can really help early-stage artists. Conversely, it can be tedious when collectors “buy works [and] then complain that the artist isn’t able to develop,” she said, noting that much like start-up companies, artists need continued investments, even small ones, to allow for transformation and growth. Guillaume Sultana of Paris’s Galerie Sultana described two Marseille-based collectors in their forties—around the same age as the gallery’s owners and many of its artists—who he said are incredibly supportive, always talking about the gallery to their friends and traveling to see shows, growing, in a way, with the gallery itself. “It’s as if they are part of the team,” he said. Additionally, Mayhew cited video work as something that’s often costly to produce, and suggested that collectors help fund production in exchange for a first edition or other perk.

Be responsive

If a collector gets an offer for an art work, the least she or he could do is write back. “Respond to an email politely, even if you don’t like the work,” said Jasmin Tsou of New York’s JTT Gallery, as this makes it more likely she’ll reach out with other offers, perhaps of something the collector is interested in. “It’s harder for me to want to reach out if I don’t feel like they respond to emails.” And the same goes for confirming sales, especially during fairs. Stroganova said she understands everyone is super busy during fairs and may not be at their computers, but responding to confirm a sale at a fair, especially, is “crucial.” “If a gallery reaches out…it’s great if the clients are responsive,” she said. “It makes everybody’s life very easy.”

Do your own homework and research

Komis, who was showing at Liste, said he enjoys that fair in particular because he tends to see more ordinary collectors who are adventurous and do their own reading and research. That tends to be the case across Europe, he noted, where there are more middle-class people buying art for themselves as a part of their daily lives, rather than relying on art advisors to hunt down trophies or assemble collections on their behalf. “We like collectors that do research and read books, and don’t just listen to art advisors,” he said.

Collect in depth

If a collector does fall in love with a particular artist, it makes the artist and the dealer happy to see the collector buy pieces from each series. Aleya Hamza of Cairo’s Gypsum Gallery described one collector who first bought two pieces by one of her artists, Taha Belal, when he saw the work two years ago in Dubai, and later bought two pieces from the series of intricate works-on-paper that were up at Liste. “That way, in the future when I’m showing the work, I know that, okay, I have this guy… it gives a sense of security,” she said. In addition, “artists like to know where the work is, and that it’s going to a good place, it has other pieces it’s in dialogue with.” Plus, she noted, it makes it easier to organize museum shows.

Don’t just buy over the phone

Rose Lejeune, a researcher and associate curator of the “Collecting as Practice” program at London’s Delfina Foundation, said most of the collectors she works with are aware that galleries are facing a challenging business environment. Part of collecting responsibly, she said, is not just to buy whatever a gallerist sends them. She has seen those easy sales translate into a gallerist second-guessing other parts of the program, or encouraging artists to do more in the vein of what sells easily. “The more you think you know what someone wants to buy, the more you pressure your artists to make that stuff,” she said. “Then you’re narrowing the spectrum of practices that can be visible.”  

from Artsy News

[theherblifeblog]

Spotlight Series: Emma Baron Founder of MilkWeed

Emma Baron is curating heirlooms that you will love forever. Tired of mass produced accessories she set out to create a space where artisans could create functional works of art that you would place in any room in your home. 

"Made by hand on Canadian land" Emma's company Milkweed offers pieces that are modern yet timeless. The company's obvious love for all things Canadiana is charming and heart warming and everything on offer is designed to age gracefully and last a lifetime. 

Milkweed is about beautiful objects made by hand & made to last.” Tell me a little bit about this philosophy

We're excited that Canada is leading the world in the cannabis paradigm shift. If we're going to be known for great cannabis, and we're already so gosh darn hospitable, then shouldn't we be able to serve it all up in style on Canadian-made accessories? A couple years ago we looked around the city and the internet to find accessories from local artists that were on that Kinfolk/Dwell/modernist tip, but we didn't find anything that fit.

We're big believers in shopping, eating, and smoking local, so we decided to jump in and fill the niche. You develop a relationship with dependable, handmade objects that you don't with disposable, mass-produced pieces. Plus, call us crazy, but we believe that people should be paid fair wages. Working directly with local artists, we know how the pieces are made and the effort that goes into them. Working with natural materials like clay, wood, and metal, we pay attention to the details that make an object stand the test of time, in both style and craft.

You’re from a small town in Northern Ontario, what was that like growing up? When did you discover a love for cannabis?

It's taken me a while to appreciate it, but Northern Ontario is a beautiful, wild and magic place. It offers so many kinds of adventures and bounties that are invisible to the untrained eye: secret patches of wild blueberries; wildlife scampering through your yard on the daily; crystal clear lakes; vast expanses of forests and fields. The other thing it offers is time and a lack of resources, which are the ingredients for creativity and problem-solving. I learned how to make and do things myself, and appreciate the effort that goes into handmade goods. I've been crafting and selling since I was 6, travelling with my mum and grandmother to one-of-a-kind shows across Ontario. I need to go home to stay for a bit and learn to weave with my grandmother.

I was much later to the cannabis party than most of my friends. Not that I really lent credence to the war on drugs or had a super-conservative family, I was just busy with all the nerdy activities like student council, theatre, and band. I also worked part-time as a server during the school year, and in the summer I would work two jobs as a bookkeeper during the weekdays and at the restaurant on nights and weekends. It wasn't until the last few months of high school that I smoked my first joint. It was during a Metallica concert at the Winnipeg Arena, and it was... a bit much, if I'm honest. (Both Metallica and the joint.) My best friend and I still laugh pretty hard about it today. My love for cannabis came in university, where I discovered that I much preferred to relax at a party with a joint than with a drink.

Can you tell us what brought you to the cannabis industry? How did you get from Dryden Ontario to Milkweed?

People skills and a love of adventure. Working in the hospitality industry put me through a degree in arts administration, both of these fields trained me in aesthetics, organization, and persistence. As I became more comfortable with cannabis, I became increasingly less comfortable with the stoner stereotype, as I'm sure the majority of Canadians have. I've often worked (at least) two jobs since I was 14, put myself through a degree on my own dime, and always have a volunteer event on my schedule.

What inspired Milkweed?

Cannabis is a compliment to your day, something that gets you doing what you like to do. Whether that's kayaking, killing it at the weekly office creative meeting, painting in-situ at the park, the average person uses cannabis as a tool to facilitate doing what they like to do. Cannabis is the means to an end, not a dead end. We were inspired to create a new cannabis aesthetic as we didn't see ourselves in the products that were on the market. Many cannabis accessories are mass-manufactured, which inspired us to create a brand that was homegrown, closer to the heart and hands of Canadians.

We chose the name Milkweed for a few reasons. Firstly, we wanted a nod to the Canadian ecosystem,  and secondly, it conveniently contains the letters w-e-e-d in its name. We try to bring some wit and humour to the table, as they are great tools for breaking down barriers and opening up the conversation.

How do you find new artists to work with? What do you look for?

Our first priority when we're looking for artists is, of course, local goods. We'd love for our website to represent cannabis accessories from every part of Canada.

We tend to look for artists who aren't already creating cannabis inspired pieces, it helps bring a new perspective to the products. We work with them to create new objects that could sit in almost any room in your home, or maybe in your bag or as your carry-all that transports you to your next adventure.

Pieces with a story are important too - we're not looking to squeeze margins or fastest turnarounds from our suppliers. We want to support small entrepreneurs who are doing cool things that appeal to a broad variety of Canadians who will appreciate their work. Our products, we hope, will be a one-time purchase, to be used over with confidence wherever you may need them.

Do you have a favourite piece on the website? 

The Road Trip Kit is the anchor piece to the collection. It was a process to get it right, but a labour of love. Sourcing vegetable tanned leather is harder than you'd think! It takes multiple weeks longer to tan the hides with natural dyes. Feeling out just the right size for the pouch: big enough for your vape or phone in the long pocket, yet sleek enough that you'd carry the kit by itself on any occasion. The thickness of the leather needs to be just so - not flimsy or bulky. The kit represents everything we stand for: quality-made, durable, stylish goods with a history and a future.

What is your vision for Milkweed going forward?

We're emphasizing Canadian creativity, design, and local production in the emerging cannabis marketplace. We want for Canadian craftspeople to be involved this new economy, and we would love to have pieces from every province and territory in our collections. We look forward to collaborations with emerging brands from coast-to-coast-to-coast. We're also looking forward to collaborating with the rest of the world once cannabis legalization catches up. We love finding collaborators who share the same lenses of craftsmanship and quality, working with them directly to make objects with a sense of place and a story.

Are you excited about the end of cannabis prohibition in Canada? How do you think it might impact your business?

Yes, prohibition of cannabis has been a failure and we're glad to see it end for a few reasons. Once we're through the birthing pains, I think we'll start to see the emergence of a truly Canadian cannabis culture, and I'm excited to see what that looks like. It will be great for business when we can do social media ad buying, but working around the limitations has forced us to be more creative and sharpened our wits, so both sides of the grass are green. I look at LCBO's very popular 'Food and Drink' and I know it won't be long until we're there with cannabis.

If you were to offer one piece of advice to another woman looking to jump into this industry, what would you tell her?

Do it! There's plenty of pie for everyone. Find a mentor. Show up for things. Go to networking events, even if its shitty outside and you don't feel like it. The future of all industry depends on a diversity of thought, so your opinion definitely matters.

"Show up for things. Go to networking events, even if its shitty outside and you don't feel like it. The future of all industry depends on​​​​​​​ a diversity of thought, so your opinion definitely matters."  -- Emma Baron

Where can readers connect with Milkweed to learn more? 

Find us at Shopmilkweed.ca to get a look at the goods. Follow us on Instagram - we're all about getting out and exploring the world, and taking pictures of the fun and beauty along the way. Tag us, we'd love to see what kind of adventures you're up to.

[metawitches]

Over this past Thanksgiving weekend, Mr Metawitches and I took a day trip from Albuquerque down to the White Sands National Monument. The monument is adjacent to Alamogordo, NM and White Sands Missile Range, which will be familiar to history buffs as the location of the Trinity Site, where the first atomic blast in history took place in 1945. Metamaiden stayed home this time, to dye her galaxy hair in a new and exciting pattern.

We got off to an unfortunately late start, so we didn’t make any stops along the way this time. With sunset coming at 5:00 PM, the daylight goes quickly. It was a sunny day, and unseasonably warm, with a high in the mid-70s. We’d been planning to visit White Sands on this day for a couple of months, but many others were lured out by the beautiful weather. It was a crowded day at the park.

Once at the park, the first stop was a quick look around the Visitors Center. This is one of many national parks whose facilities were built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s. All of these facilities that we’ve visited have been beautiful, and built with access to nature in mind. We’re so lucky to be able to enjoy stunning architecture and art at the same time as we take in nature’s wonders.

We took a fast walk through the complex, without even bothering to take more than a glance at the exhibits, since the place was mobbed and time was short. I was able to sneak in a few photos. The visitors center complex was designed in the Pueblo Revival style, and is designated a National Historic District.

Then it was on to the dunes! If you’ve never been to New Mexico, or the southwest, it’s important to know that most of the region is made up of red rocks, and sometimes tan rocks. But mostly red rocks. And red sand. Everywhere. Sightseeing in the southwest is largely a matter of looking at different shades of rocks in different forms and configurations. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all cool and I love it, but it’s a lot of rocks.

So, as you might have guessed, White Sands National Monument’s claim to fame is not the rocks, but the, ahem, white sand. Or, as Metamaiden put it, the teeny tiny rocks. Sometimes she’s no fun. The sand is very white. And there’s a lot of it.

Dunes Drive, the scenic road that takes visitors throughout the park, was also a WPA project during the Great Depression. It’s 8 miles long with a loop at the far end, making for a 16 mile round trip. The first 3 miles are paved, then it’s unpaved road the rest of the way, driving on hardpacked sand that has to be graded and plowed by park rangers, just as if it were snow.

There are many pull outs, picnic areas, trails, and a boardwalk for visitors to use as they explore the park. Walking around the dunes is encouraged, as it’s impossible for regular trail boundaries to be maintained on blowing, shifting sand dunes! The visitors center rents sleds for sledding down steep dunes.

When we were there, nearly every steep slope, no matter how tall or short, had someone making a go of it with a sled. The more experienced sledders had figured out that the best places were the tall, steep banks, deep into the park, at stops like the Roadrunner and Yucca picnic areas. But everyone seemed to be having fun trying! Mr Metawitches is determined to give it a try himself the next time we’re there.

White Sands National Monument is in the Tularosa Basin, at the foot of the Andres Mountains, at the Northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert. The sand is made up of gypsum left behind by the Permian Sea millions of years ago. This is the largest gypsum dunefield in the world, covering 275 square miles.

Because of their chemistry, the dunes stay wet even during droughts, holding the sand in place. The water becomes saltier in the center of the dunefield, meaning that there is very little life as you reach the Heart of the Sands. The outer parts of the dunefields host grasses, shrubs, small mammals, birds, insects, yucca, and many of the other species that have adapted to the Chihuahuan Desert.

Dunes Drive takes visitors from the edge of the dunefield into the Heart of the Sands. The vegetation starts out as the typical desert scrub, then becomes more like beach or low grassland grasses and plants, grows sparser and sparser, until finally there is no vegetation, just huge white dunes.

At that point it looks for all the world like snow. It’s plowed up against the side of the road, and the piles form like snow piles. When it blows and drifts in light winds, it looks like loose, drifting snow. The sandy roads look like hard packed snow and ice. And there are people sledding in it.

My animal brain is easily disoriented. After spending 49 years in the northeast, with long snowy winters, I couldn’t convince the instinctive part of myself that it wasn’t snow once we got out to the deepest parts, where you can’t see anything else. I was continually tensing up, sure the car was going to wipe out on the ice!!

The real danger is wandering too far from any recognizable landmark, and getting stuck in what’s essentially a white out. When we were surrounded by tall dunes, I did lose my sense of direction a bit as well, since the sun was low in the sky by then. People have died here by getting lost in the dunes during hot weather, without enough water and salty snacks, and having no idea which way is the way back to safety.

But not on this day. When we were there, the picnic areas were filled with beach parties. There were large family groups, and one motorcycle gang, grilling and playing loud music. They were sledding for entertainment instead of swimming or playing frisbee. It was a riot.

We walked part of the first trail, the Dune Life Nature Trail, and the boardwalk, then drove the rest of Dunes Drive, making stops to get out and look around. We stopped at the Yucca Picnic area to have a snack and wait for sunset, then watched the sun go down and the colors change. Experiencing sunset at national parks and monuments with interesting views is one of my favorite things to do.

The Dune Life Nature Trail is fascinating for a first look at the sand, and for marveling at how species adapt to life in deep, loose sand that flows almost like water. There are some great views, both into the middle distance and far off. The photo at the top is from that trail. Watching the colors of the sand change in the Heart of the Sands at sunset was like being on another planet. I still have a hard time convincing my brain that it’s just plain old earthly white sand.

  The drive from home to the park took us about 3.5 hours in each direction. White Sands is tucked in an out of the way valley, so much of the drive is through sparsely populated desert and mountains, plus the occasional small town. The Missile Range is still in active use, though not for radioactive test purposes, and the monument closes down for a few hours occasionally while missiles are tested nearby.

There are a few interesting features along the way to explore if one wanted to make it a longer trip, such as the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (a protected section of the Rio Grande River ecosystem that provides a valuable refuge for migrating waterfowl), the Valley of Fires Recreation Area (adjacent to the Malpais Lava Flow), the Trinity Site (if you happen to be visiting the 1st Saturday in April or October) or Pistachioland, home of The World’s Largest Pistachio, which also has a vineyard and pistachio ranch. Sadly, we saw the pistachio from the road, but did not have time to stop. Next time, I will not be denied my road side kitsch fix!

  The Visitors Center

  The Dune Life Nature Trail

  The Boardwalk

    The Heart of the Sands, Sunset and Exit

Day Trip to White Sands National Monument Over this past Thanksgiving weekend, Mr Metawitches and I took a day trip from Albuquerque down to the…