Happiness Attracts Happiness

by Cheri Valentine, Collaborative Enchantress of Joyful Hearts

It is nearly impossible to escape hearing the words “Law of Attraction” especially with the explosion of “The Secret.” While it is great that this book and movie have helped more people become aware of the power of this law, there is so much more to it than simply just wanting something and hoping it shows up. Energy and action must feed your desire. Energy in the form of beliefs, thoughts, emotions, attitude and action must be engaged.

Let’s focus on the emotion and attitude of happiness. Happiness is a choice that you make. Happiness is not when, but now. It is not a destination that you reach. It is a continual journey in which you participate. It is not about being happy when something occurs it is choosing to be happy now regardless of what is happening. How many of you believe that you will be happy when you find a mate? I challenge you to be happy in spite of finding them, and they will show up more easily than you can imagine.

I invite you to check in with your happy meter. Take some time to see if you do feel happy, and if not, make the decision to change that. The only thing you have to do is choose to be happy now. Smile. Look in the mirror and declare, “Today I choose to be happy!” Also declare that, “Today, I shift my be-ing into one of happiness and attracting my perfect mate.” If you are in a relationship, declare to yourself, “Today I intend to see all the wonderful traits of my partner with gratitude.”

How wonderful it would be to live in happiness with your partner. It begins with you. Develop a happy relationship with yourself and you will easily develop happy relationships with others, and naturally enjoy a happy relationship with a perfect mate for you.

So how do you start feeling happy if you don’t? Begin by being grateful for each and every thing that you have. Be aware of how much you have no matter how hopeless things may seem. There is always a reason to feel grateful, to smile. Emotional energy generates the momentum of attracting what you want. So if you are feeling sad, angry, cheated, guess what you will continue to see in your life? Yes, experiences will continue to show up over and over again that reflect back that energy.

So, wouldn’t you prefer to experience joyful people and situations? Edwin Edebiri, MBA, creator of the “I Am Happy Project” says that, “happy people produce happy results.” He was so intrigued by how so many people were able to remain happy in challenging times while others became bitter. He developed a list of 10 ways to be happy as a result of interviewing 700 people about their own personal happiness.

I would like to share Edwin’s list with you:

1. Decide to be happy and make it your top priority. 


2. Smile more and learn to laugh at yourself. 


3. Volunteer your time one on one or to a group. 


4. Donate your money according to your pocket, even if it is a dime


5. Make time for the 3 F’s: Faith, Family & Friends


6. Create a list of all the things you are thankful for or that make you happy


7. Create a list of all the things that make you unhappy and find a solution or ways to eliminate them.

8. Learn to manage your time and your money


9. Be active and make healthy choices

10. Create a goal or dream list and work diligently towards them

This is a new day and a perfect time to be happy. Start small. It is better to choose one thing to change and when that becomes habit, add another.

Here’s a List More Specific to Relating, Dating and Mating:

1. Decide to be happy now, not when…
2. Greet everyone you meet with a smile
3. Spend time doing things each day that you enjoy
4. Keep an Attitude of Gratitude Journal
5. Choose to see the positive and find something to appreciate in every situation and person, (including dates)
6. See the positive in yourself – celebrate a part of you each day
7. Accept all of you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – with dignity and grace.
8. Be honest with yourself and others
9. Find your passion and purpose and put attention on them
10. Focus on the qualities, attributes and characteristics of others that you want to see more of in your life.

Decide that this is the day that you practice happiness and attract and enjoy your perfect happy mate.

As a Relationship Intuitive and Love Strategist, Cheri Valentine has been cooking up recipes for attracting ideal relationships. She has successfully guided men and women through the maze of Relating, Dating & Mating on a transformational journey to love that is perfect for them. She is the creator of 90 Days 2 Love Attraction Collaborative and will be releasing her book, 90 Days 2 Love – Transforming Your Love Life from the Inside Out this fall. You can reach Cheri by email, ccv@cherivalentine.com.

This “Love Bites” with Cheri Valentine segment aired in the last 10 minutes of the one hour podcast. Click to hear the segment and forward to the last 10 minutes of the show.

Clearing Old Beliefs and Creating New Ones to Make You an Attraction Magnet

by Cheri Valentine, Collaborative Enchantress of Joyful Hearts

First, make a list of all the beliefs you have about dating, romance, love, and marriage.

Some may be obvious to you, others you may need to dig a little deeper.

Some common beliefs that are more obvious and come up over and over again in working with clients are:

• There are no good men (or women)
• All the good ones are taken
• I’ll never find someone with everything I want
• I can’t trust that I won’t be hurt again
• I’ll give up my independence
• No one will ever accept all my animals
• My children get in the way of dating or finding love
• I’ll never be happy with my husband
• My partner never hears what I say
• No one ever listened to me before, who will now?

Some that are not so obvious or close to the surface:

• I don’t deserve to be happy
• I can’t have what I want
• I am not lovable

Once you’ve made your list, cross one at a time out and under it, write a new belief to embrace.

Examples:

• There are no good men (or women)
• There are plenty of good men (or women) and I know plenty of them. I am only looking for one special one for me and I believe he (or she) will find me.
• I’ll give up my independence
• A perfect relationship for me is one in which we are both independent yet we are also interdependent. I can keep my independence and gain a loving partner as well.

Then have a Releasing Ceremony.

Re-write each negative belief on strips of paper or on one sheet of paper.

Light some candles and set the intention (this is important) that you are ready to let go of these old beliefs and are releasing them back to where they belong (which is not with you.) You are finished with them.

Then burn them, and as they burn, breathe slowly and deeply and feel them dissipating.

Then…

Write your new beliefs on a sheet of paper AND also create a list of things to celebrate about you – all the things about you that make you special and that you love about you-

Declare that I am bee-ing a person who embraces and believes _______

And say them out loud, feeling the joy in this.

Then DECLARE that YOU ARE READY TO LET LOVE IN!

Of course, some energy healing and release work may be needed to really let go. So often our beliefs are so deeply rooted, and are stuck energies in our bodies and emotions. Although we may think it logically or want to believe it, energy work can release and recharge you often in a session. So if you are not feeling the shift, seek some guidance or help to experience the shift that you are seeking.

Cheri Valentine
Collaborative Enchantress of Joyful Hearts
Relationship Expert on Relating, Dating, & Mating
Creator of 90 Days 2 Love™ Attraction Collaborative

www.CheriValentine.com

Self Employment, Self Promotion, and Business Values by Molly Gordon
By Molly Gordon, Master Certified Coach

Are you afraid you can’t be yourself, live your values, and succeed at marketing?

Not so. Authentic Promotion is all about how showing up, serving, and thriving are interrelated. Promotion, or putting yourself forward, is part of showing up and is essential to having a successful business. Having a successful business is essential to being able to deliver the work you love.

In other words, if you don’t market, you don’t succeed. If you don’t succeed, you can’t give the world your work.

Authenticity draws on a renewable resource, i.e., your core values and strengths. It comes from the conviction that you have something of unique value to offer the world–and that you are willing to embody that offer, to show up and serve, and to thrive in the process.

Authenticity is closely connected to the notion of authorship–owning and being accountable for your actions. And authenticity acknowledges that you are always creating or writing your life story. In marketing, that translates to clear, compelling offers that your just-right clients will love.

It’s important to understand that authentic marketing is a two-way street. You can expect to be affected and even changed by conversations with your just-right clients. Authenticity is dynamic. When you extend yourself authentically, you get responses that may touch you deeply and influence your future decisions.

Egocentric business practices, on the other hand, declare, “I don’t need to answer to anyone. I have no intention of being changed or affected by you as we do business together. Either you like me or you don’t. You’ll either find me or you won’t.”

Authentic Promotion says, “I’m here to connect with you. I expect that we will both be changed in the course of our relationship. I am willing to discover you and myself in new ways as we do business. Come on down, let’s see what we can create together.”

Subscribe to Molly’s free ezine, Authentic Promotion.

http://www.authenticpromotion.com/ashop/affiliate.php?id=58&redirect=http://www.authenticpromotion.com/sizzle/index.html

All About HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) was started in 2008 by Amanda Hirschbeck. Just Amanda and her deep passion for helping those with cancer. Fast forward to 2010 – it’s now Amanda Reynolds and a support team of six board members and a local team of five, pulling together the community and movers & shakers to propel this organization to help those that have been affected with cancer.
 

Our goal in helping those with Stage 4 terminal cancer is three-fold:
* Assist with the organization of final legal documents and directives
* Assist with the planning and expediting of a memorial / funeral / celebration of life service
* And lastly, but more importantly, it’s the granting of one wish off their Bucket List

It’s a support system that’s a benefit to those dealing with cancer, and those around them.  It’s the ability to let them deal with their health, while the often stressful details of these final decisions and planning can be taken over by the team of compassionate and dedicated team members.

With the promise to support one another, we can live our lives with HOPE:

Helping
Other
People
Everywhere

SAVE THE DATE!!!

October 1, 2010
It’s All About FASHION
Supporting All About HOPE

Green glamor at the 2010 Bellevue Club Fashion Show
Fearless fashion designers are converging on the East Side for a must-attend night of “style with a conscience” on: Friday October 1, 2010

Hosted by the elegantly hip Bellevue Club, this year’s theme—Project Green Light—benefits local nonprofit, All About HOPE.

Sip wine and nosh on appetizers as you gaze at the latest fashions from Francisco Hernandez, Piazza Sempione, Jimmy Choo, Turgeon-Raine Jewelers and much more.

Voted best local designer in 2010 by 425 Magazine, Hernandez is a creative humanitarian who designs chic working casual garments from exotically sustainable textiles.

Besides 28 gorgeous models walking the runway, every attendee will receive a loaded swag bag with stylish items handpicked by the designers. The evening will also include a fabulous door prize raffle and a DJ spinning tunes in the Club’s freshly redesigned ballroom. Themed cocktails and delicious hor d’oerves will be served.

Cocktails start at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. All About Hope’s vision is to provide support to terminal cancer patients and families. Tickets are $45 per person. For questions, contact Kaarin Keil at 425.688.3384 or social@bellevueclub.com.

Purchase tickets at http://bcfashionshow.eventbrite.com

FEMINISM (AND FAITH)

Here’s what the Editorial Review says about Faith and Feminism: A Holy Alliance:

Why do so many women of faith have such a strong aversion to feminism? And why do so many feminists have an ardent mistrust of religion? …A remarkable book that focuses on the idea that spirituality and feminism are really different expressions of the same impulse to make life more whole, Faith and Feminism offers a powerful catalyst for reflecting on our sense of self — and for living and loving according to our deepest values.

OK. So I’ve totally ordered the book. (The introduction is written by Gloria Steinem, for goodness sake!) But until it gets here and I have a chance to read it (along with the 10 bizillion other books in my queue), I want to comment (and take action) on what I’ve been able to glean just from this overview:

…spirituality and feminism are really different expressions of the same impulse to make life more whole.

What if, in a holistic way, the two were not different expressions of the same impulse; rather one unified expression? Can such occur? And if so, what would it look like? Is there a space in which women of faith (which is a broad and highly contextualized term) and feminists (which is hopefully at least an ideological “given;” the belief in equality between men and women) could have conversation, could tell the truth, could find and experience a common ground that would enable a stronger sense of the spiritual – as embodied and enfleshed in women?

Ooooh. Doesn’t that sound divine? Indeed: Divine.

The Sacred Feminine is that space. I’m convinced of it.

Feminists feel it – this deep and solid undertow to the power and experience of a Sacred reflection of woman.

Women of faith feel it – this deep and solid undertow to the power of a Sacred experience of the Divine for and in themselves.

It’s calling to us. We hear it. The glorious storm cloud gathers.

Shouldn’t we? Gather, that is.

Can we gather for truth-telling? Can we speak of faith? Together? Can we speak of feminism? Together? Can we usher the Sacred Feminine right into our midst?

I’m serious about this.

We are volcanoes. When we
women offer our experience as
our truth, all the maps change.
There are new mountains.
That’s what I want – to hear
you erupting. You Mount St.
Helenses who don’t know the
power in you – I want to hear
you…If we don’t tell our
truth, who will?

(Ursula K. LeGuin)

The good news is that sales people are in a particularly good position to claim these things. From my research, I believe that the best way to become wealthy in America is to own and operate your own business. The second best way is to be a sales person. The sales profession is the only one without a limit to the amount of money that you can earn! When you find that right sales position, all you need to do is to dream, plan, and execute and your sales career will soar!

The key question, of course, is this: How can a sales person get more out of life? I have an answer that’s helped many people: By utilizing what I call the Sales Success Formula.

Your Biggest Obstacle

Before we discuss the Sales Success Formula, it’s important to understand that your biggest obstacle or competition isn’t another company, it’s not another sales person, it’s your own mind. Your mind can either help you or hurt you depending on how you have programmed it to think. Rather than focusing on doubts, on reasons why you might not succeed, you must learn to believe and trust in yourself and in your unique passions.

The best way to learn how to further believe and trust in yourself is to set small, attainable goals and objectives for you to follow daily. As you execute your daily game plan, and accomplish these objectives one by one, over time you will learn that you are capable of overcoming your obstacles and self-doubt. You will find yourself capable of achieving even more far reaching goals. This is how to build internal trust and belief.

Once you have conquered self-doubt and won the mind battle, you will accomplish all in life that you can envision. Your mind will ignite a fire in your heart to execute your plan by taking actions in pursuit of your goals. As you experience this, you will become an unstoppable force of power fully capable of achieving more success and freedom then you could have ever imagined. You will literally rise to the top of your organization and become the person you’ve always wanted to become.

The Formula

Now that you understand the power of your mind, it’s important to analyze why people purchase goods or services from one organization but not others. If you ask buyers why they awarded a contract to one company and not another, you quickly will learn the key: relationships. People buy from people they like (friends buy from friends). It is that simple. If you want to make more sales, develop more solid relationships. The sales person who is best at developing relationships will ultimately produce the biggest results, period.

To develop more solid relationships, I suggest that you use what I call the Sales Success Formula. The success formula is this: 
Trust (T) + Respect (R) + Need (N) + Ask (A) = Money ($)    

Like every formula, each part must occur to reach the ultimate goal, in this case sales. Trust is absolutely crucial to close sales. Your prospect may respect your company, and they also may have a need, but if they don’t trust you as a person, they will never buy from you. 

To build trust, you must show the buyer that you care about their success. When a buyer learns how much you care about them and their organization’s success, then they will trust you. The best way to earn this trust and respect is to make sure you let the buyer speak 90 percent of the time, and you only speak 10 percent of the time.  

Another way to build trust in the relationship is to ask about the buyer and his or her interests, outside activities, etc. Questions can include those about their commute, their working conditions, their family and children, and their hobbies—these and others will give you a better idea of the buyer and his or her interests.

Respect is another key component to this equation. It’s possible to trust someone and not respect them for whatever reason. The best way to build respect is to follow up on action items as promised by responding in a timely manner. Also make certain that you show up on time for all appointments or call if you are going to be late. Finally, always make the prospect know that you value their business.

It is extremely important to qualify need as quickly as you can in the sales cycle because without need (regardless of how much trust and respect that you have established) you will never be able to close the sale. To discover a prospect’s need, ask them if them if they are in the market for your product or service. If they won’t tell you, find others within the organization to see if they can advise you of their need.  

All too often, sales people forget to ask if there is a need as well as ask for their business. A buyer could have all the trust and respect in the world for you and your organization, but if they don’t have the need, they will never buy! If this is the case, move to the next prospect and then qualify their need prior to building the relationship.

Conclusion

To become the top sales person in your organization, utilize this success formula to develop solid relationships based on trust, respect, need, and asking for business. To make this happen, execute your game plan daily and don’t take rejection personally (the word “next” is the most powerful word in this field).  If you implement and follow this formula (T+R+N+A=$), you will become unstoppable and earn more money that you could have ever imagined.  This increased income will ultimately help you get more out of life!

Patrick Snow is the best-selling author of Creating Your Own Destiny, an international professional speaker, and a publishing coach.   He can be reached at (800) 951-7721 or at Patrick@CreateYourOwnDestiny.com. His Web site is: www.CreateYourOwnDestiny.com.

 “Plants don’t drink water at night.” –Kimberly Leeper

 CREATE AN URBAN OASIS – Segment 4 on The Sisters of Sizzle podcast

Water Conservation & Watering Tips

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & RESPONSES/RESOURCES

–What is the best time of day to water?

Mornings before 10 AM in Seattle. Soil is cool = less water evaporation. Plants do not take in water at night so water sits on them (overnight) making them more vulnerable to slugs/other insects, fungal disease, & mold, especially when nights are below 50 degrees F. When in water in the morning, the sun has time to dry off the plants before the fungus and mildew get started. Plants stop growing, transpiring, and making food when there’s no sun so they don’t USE the water you give at night. They take up water again when the sun comes out. Also, there is a lot of evaporation if watering is done during the heat of the day – not recommended.

–Is it bad to water at night?

It is a bad idea to water disease-susceptible plants at night. Maybe you can skip those plants and water the others, if evening is the only time that works for you. Try to wait until wind is calm and the air and soil have cooled down from the warm/hot day.

–What works best, on the ground, to keep moisture in the soil?

Building your soil with compost and mulch! First, check to be sure your soil is wet down 12” then add 2” of a moisture-retaining, high-organic matter soil amendment like Cedar Grove compost or aged animal manures such as Dairy cow manure. Add it to the top of soil in late winter/early spring and/or fall then top that with a 2” mulch layer of Arborist chips (whole tree chipped up).

–What are signs of over- or under watering?

Overall goal with watering: Keep top 12” of soil moist. Plants derive over half of their nutrition from top 12” of soil.  Moist soil encourages root growth and healthy soil microorganisms. To prevent soil from drying out completely – an inch of water/week works for most plants. 

     OVERwatering

Leaves Change in Appearance – This is usually the first sign of a plant receiving too much water. Leaves will first become yellow, then slowly wilt and wither.

New Leaf Growth – Once the already formed leaves have wilted an over watered plant will stop forming new leaves entirely.

Root Rot - Too much water in an indoor or outdoor plant can lead to root rot as it saturates the soil, depriving the roots of much-needed oxygen.

Mold Growth – By over watering plants, you create a moist environment ideal for spurring the growth of algae and other fungi. Check for signs of mold growth on the soil and the plant’s lower leaves.

Soft Stems - After root rot has set in, stems will usually turn dark green and become mushy or stringy.

     UNDERwatering

Leaves Change in Appearance – Yellowing leaves turn dry, there are crispy leaves toward the bottom of the plant.  Plant is conserving what little water it has by keeping the stalk green and the roots moist, but not sending water to its leaves.

Change in Roots – Roots will start showing at the soil surface. Ground around the plants will be cracked.  Plant roots are not getting the moisture or nutrients they need to grow properly.

Lack of Production – Plants will have difficulty producing their fruits and vegetables  

–What efficient watering system can I set up on my own?

These are each larger topics. I’ve included a resource for each:

DRIP IRRIGATION: Click for Tips and Classes  

SOAKER HOSES: Handbook of Northwest Gardening – Ann Lovejoy – pp. 144 – 149 & downloadable PDF about Soaker Hoses on Saving Water Partnership website listed above-

CHOOSING APPROPRIATE GARDEN HOSES: Handbook of Northwest Gardening – Ann Lovejoy – pp. 145 – 147

–How can I figure out how much to water my garden?

1.  Observe your plants – What kinds of plants do you have?  How do they look?  Need to trade out some water-hungry ones for drought-tolerant plants?

2.  Explore your soil – Dig down into your soil 12”…is the soil dry or moist all the way down? Look at and feel the contents of your soil – clay, sand, rocks, and/or lots of organic matter (humus). Sandy soil drains faster than clay soil.  In general, 1″ of water/week will penetrate sandy soils to 12″, loamy soils to 6-8″, and clay soils to 4-5″.

3.  Test Moisture Depth – One method is to push a shovel into the ground, then use it as a lever to spread soil apart enough so you can see several inches below the soil surface. Water soil for 15 minutes and see how deep the water went by looking at sides of slit. Then you can use this info to calculate how long you need to hand water or leave on soaker hoses, etc. to get to 12” (e.g., 4” in 15 minutes by hand watering = 45 minutes of hand watering to get 12” of soil moist).

4. Observe your plants & explore your soil from time to time to see what’s going on.

–No matter where you water, it’s best to water the soil deeply and infrequently to promote roots to grow deeper searching for water. SEE SIGNS OF OVER- OR UNDER-WATERING ABOVE.

–OTHER TIPS FOR CONSERVING WATER

• Use Water-conserving Plants – Many of our NW Native Plants fit this category. Check some out
• Plant densely (general guidelines) – 10’ – 12’ apart for trees; 4’ – 6’ for shrubs; 2’ – 3’ for flowers/ferns/grasses; and 1’ for groundcovers; keeps soil shaded & moister and less weeding
• Soil Contouring – Shape land to catch water & direct it where needed; Gaia’s Garden – 2^nd Ed. by Toby Hemenway | How to better manage storm water at home, Seattle Public Utilities Rain Wise Program
• Irrigation Index for Seattle (for irrigation system users)
• King County – Water Conservation Tips

Compiled by Kimberly Leeper of Mariposa Naturescapes

For even more resources, go to WWW.MARIPOSANATURESCAPES.COM

Here is how Jill and Elise were itroduced before the show:
On Wednesday July 7th, we’re interviewing Jill Pagano and Elise Kloter, The Sisters of Sizzle! Elise Kloter loves helping people turn their fizzle into sizzle! An adventurer with many passions, Elise co-hosts The Sisters of Sizzle Talk Radio, inspiring her listeners to laugh, learn, and love their lives. Jill Pagano is a passionate advocate for people to stop suffering and start living. A self-described personal growth seeker, she follows her interests, learns about them and then shares them with those looking for more in their life. Her outlets for this sharing are as Co-Producer and Personality of Sisters of Sizzle Talk Radio and as a Black-Belt Nia teacher.They can be reached at www.sistersofsizzle.com

Listen to the On Demand Episode of Passsioneers™ Jill and Elise, The Sisters of Sizzle!

Om Baby was inspired by the birth of my son Octavius. I wanted to do something that would work well with being a new mom, something that was meaningful, and something my son would be proud of when he grew up.

When I was 12 years old I wrote up a petition to Save the Rainforests and my science teacher helped me with it. I collected 3,000 signatures. I sent the petition to members of Congress, The House of Representatives, and several other powerful and influential members of society including the CEO of Burger King. It’s hard to say how much of an effect this made but it was something. Burger King changed all their packaging to recycled paper and I received free Whoppers for a year! ha!ha!

Years later, when my son was two months old, I watched the documentary “The Secret” and it inspired me to ask the question: “What next?” The very next day I received the answer. The character Om Baby was dancing around in my imagination as I was nursing my son. Later on that day I drew my vision on paper and from that moment the character Om Baby was born.

They tell you to sleep when baby is sleeping and I couldn’t agree more; however, passion took me over and I was drawing whenever I could and that was when my sweet om baby was sleeping.

I didn’t start out with a plan to write a children’s book. I was just letting my passion take me wherever I was meant to go and listening to the signs along the way. Turning my illustrations into a book was a way for me to introduce the character Om Baby. However, Om Baby to me is much more than a book. Om Baby is a way of being. Om Baby is a new paradigm superhero for the planet, for love, and for global peace. Om Baby’s mission is to be an example, role model, teaching tool, and inspiration for the change that we need in order to create global peace on Planet Earth.

It’s like I have come full circle in a lot of ways. I am reclaiming parts of myself and collecting pieces of my childhood as I am on my path creating the World of Om Baby. I am doing what I am meant to do. It was when I got out of my own way and let go of all ego…that I was able to really know my destiny. (I don’t think it’s even possible to be in your ego right after you have a baby).

There are very few children book characters that represent the things I hold dear to my heart. Most of the characters and influences that kids are growing up with do not embody spirituality. Om Baby is connected to the Earth, is a spiritual being that includes every tradition, religion, belief and culture. Om Baby’s “real” igion is LOVE. I feel there is a need for Om Baby everywhere!

I believe that we all have special gifts and talents that are meant to be shared with each other. I know that being a mother is my spiritual path and blessing. I feel it is my responsibility, path and purpose to bring Om Baby to the world and that this is my way of bringing change, healing, and hope to children, families and to the world.

Some days I get so overwhelmed about how many and how BIG all the problems/issues we are facing are and I get frozen and do not know what to do. But now I know it’s just about doing something, anything and it doesn’t matter how big or small!  I am not 12 anymore but that’s not going to stop me from having hope and to keep dreaming! I have put together an Om Baby Petition for Peace and I will collect as many signatures as possible and then I will send the petition for peace with an Om Baby book to influential people that are in positions of power that can create change. This change starts with each and every one of us and our commitment to peace.

Please visit www.ombabyworld.com to find out more about the World of Om Baby.

The direct link to the petition is: https://sites.google.com/site/ombabyworld/om-baby-s-petition-for-peace

For the first 5 people that order an Om Baby book after hearing about it from “The Sisters of Sizzle” radio interview/blog will receive $10 off a Planet Om T-shirt.

 Would you like a free Om Baby book? 

 If you collect 100 or more signatures of people committed to creating peace on Earth then I will give you a free Om Baby book!

I started urban gardening in Seattle in 1999, in the back yard of a friend of mine about 3 miles from where I lived in West Seattle. She provided the space and materials, and we provided the labor. It proved difficult to remember to drive the 10 minutes each way to water during that hot summer and some of the food was wasted. And it was lonely there. So in 2000 I moved to Marra Farm P-Patch in South Park. But the crab grass down there drove me crazy – even working nearby and going over to my garden after work it seemed like all I did was weed weed weed.

In 2001 we bought our first house and I moved to Delridge P-Patch in 2002 after changing jobs and South Park being the wrong direction for my work commute. I gardened in Delridge for three seasons then moved my gardening home to my quarter acre lot. I joined the Board of Directors of P-Patch Trust in 2004, and became Secretary.

I adopted a dog in 2005 and was not as attentive to my p-patch as I should have been, driving the mile to the garden to water at about the time I knew I didn’t all my plants would die. The dog was bored sitting there while all I did was weed weed weed – not crab grass this time but something equally obnoxious. My next-door neighbor took down a beautiful Douglas fir tree in his yard – which I hated him for – but now I had sun in my yard so I moved my gardenign home. Health conditions made it impossible for me to maintain the garden at the standard I believed it should be at beginning in 2004 which was also another reason to move home. But I was sick of essentially standing on my head weeding. You kneel, dig with one hand pull with the other and your feet fall asleep. Or you lean on one arm and work wth the other. It was just work. The occasional tomato or strawberry just did not make it worth it. The big windstorm of December 2006 took down the massive trees on our own lot and it just wasn’t the same after that. Then the dandelions and creeping buttercup got the best of me and we sold the property in 2007 and moved to High Point. To a townhome. With no yard. Where you actually get in trouble for messing around with the plants in front of your house. I am in heaven.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have a garden. We dug up all of the plants I loved and brought them with us – I have a 200 square foot deck garden on the north side of my home filled with massive pots of hostas, huckleberry and salal and sword fern, maidenhair fern, many herbs and types of mint (for mojitos!), pots of bamboo, and some miscellaneous pots of shade preferring plants that a neighbor in the building facing us gave to us because her deck faced west and her plants were dying. And on my front porch, which faces south, I actually grow tomatoes, banana pepper and strawberries in pots, too. And other various edibles that I find entertaining. Oh, I have an amazing Meyer lemon tree that I have been babying since 2007 that is now in full bloom and it smells wonderful. And a small lime shrub. (Photo gallery below is the “Plots To Pots” transformation)

I’ve been walking past the p-patch garden built in the last year in Commons Park and wished I could be a part of the gardening community, but my health just won’t let me crawl around on the ground and garden. I still know most of the Seattle P-Patch staff and the Board of Directors (which I left in 2007 after 3 years of service), and whenever I would see the garden coordinator I would bug her for an ADA raised planter so that I and others like myself could garden while standing up. This is why gardening in pots has been so wonderful for me – I don’t have to bend, stoop or crawl to pull the occasional piss of grass or stalk of Herb Robert (also called “Stinky Bob” ). Completely manageable. (And don’t tell anyone, but I still pull the occasional dandelion out in front of my house.)

On Friday the dog and I walked by and the ADA planter was finally there – a wooden shell with just a bit of dirt thrown in the bottom, clearly waiting for someone to finish filling it. I sent an email to my p-patch contact, and she gave me a link to go get on the waiting list for the standing garden planter. I don’t know if anyone else has reserved it, or if it’s truly got my name on it since I have been asking for it for a few years. It looks like my gardening experience is coming full circle. A decade or more of growing plants in the city – so many ways to do it. I am looking forward to being part of a gardening community again. And it will be so easy to water every morning that it needs it since I walk the dog all over the neighborhood three times a day anyway. (I just hope no one steals my food!! I am afraid the planter might be a target.)

The email I got back from the form that I filled out on the web site to get on the waiting list offered some fantastic resources for eager gardeners who want to get their hands dirty sooner rather than later. For me, I can wait until this stand-up gardening space is ready for a gardener. But 10 years ago I was desperate to grow my own lettuce and tomatoes and lemon cucumbers and this information is very valuable to eager urban gardeners in Seattle.

While you’re waiting for a P-Patch community garden plot:

With the huge and growing interest in gardening and urban agriculture, you will have to wait awhile before getting a community garden plot. Some of the following websites may help get you gardening sooner.

Urban Garden Share http://www.urbangardenshare.org/ and Urban Land Army http://www.urbanlandarmy.com/ click on Land Link. These two web sites try to connect those who have spare land with those who want to garden

2010 Year of Urban Agriculture: The city sponsored web site is part of Seattle’s 2010 Year of Urban Agriculture; it list news, events and activities http://www.seattle.gov/urbanagriculture/

Urban Farm Hub. This local websites compiles an amazing amount of urban agriculture related news. http://www.urbanfarmhub.org

Community Harvest of West Seattle, Garden Helpers – Connecting New Gardeners with Community Mentors and Community Orchard. Learn more at www.gleanit.org

Solid Ground- Lettuce Link (an innovative food and gardening program growing and giving since 1988) creates access to fresh, nutritious and organic produce, seeds, and gardening information for families with lower incomes in Seattle. Learn more and get involved at http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Nutrition/Lettuce/Pages/default.aspx

Alleycat Acres an urban farm collective - “transforms vacant spaces to create a network of sustainable urban farms that reconnect people to food while helping to increase food security on a community level.” To Learn more visit their website at http://www.alleycatacres.com/

City Fruit works neighborhood by neighborhood to help residential tree owners grow healthy fruit, to harvest and use what they can, and to share what they don’t need. To get involved visit their website at http://cityfruit.org/

Spring into Bed http://www.springintobed.org/ is a grass-roots, city wide, garden building event and fundraiser – building, strengthening and celebrating the City’s flourishing community food systems

Garden your planting strip: Seattle Department of Transportation does allow gardening on planting strips with a simple permit. Click here for more information.

The photo gallery below is from my “Plots To Pots” experience – moving cherished and loved plants from our 1/4 acre lot near Puget Ridge into pots up the hill in High Point. It’s easy to remember to water these plants since they are right here – and it takes about 10 trips from the kitchen with my watering can to water everything. (Watering is the only time I really hate my low-flow water faucet. It takes so LONG to fill up the watering can!!)