[Applause] morning I live in an off-grid solar
morning I live in an off-grid solar
morning I live in an off-grid solar powered wood heated straw bale cabin in
powered wood heated straw bale cabin in
powered wood heated straw bale cabin in the mountains and I have a garden large
the mountains and I have a garden large
the mountains and I have a garden large enough to feed my entire family for a
enough to feed my entire family for a
enough to feed my entire family for a year or at least it would be if I
year or at least it would be if I
year or at least it would be if I actually knew how to garden I was not
actually knew how to garden I was not
actually knew how to garden I was not always a backwoods hipster with a
always a backwoods hipster with a
always a backwoods hipster with a splitting maul I actually used to wear
splitting maul I actually used to wear
splitting maul I actually used to wear designer suits to management meetings
designer suits to management meetings
designer suits to management meetings and have loud and very important phone
and have loud and very important phone
and have loud and very important phone conversations in airport lounges as many
conversations in airport lounges as many
conversations in airport lounges as many of you someday probably will it all
of you someday probably will it all
of you someday probably will it all started over a decade ago I was living
started over a decade ago I was living
started over a decade ago I was living in metropolitan Europe and I ambitiously
in metropolitan Europe and I ambitiously
in metropolitan Europe and I ambitiously decided that I would make pesto from
decided that I would make pesto from
decided that I would make pesto from scratch so I went to the grocery store
scratch so I went to the grocery store
scratch so I went to the grocery store to get ingredients and I was looking for
to get ingredients and I was looking for
to get ingredients and I was looking for little boxes of basil leaves only to
little boxes of basil leaves only to
little boxes of basil leaves only to discover they didn’t have them all they
discover they didn’t have them all they
discover they didn’t have them all they had were little plants of basil in the
had were little plants of basil in the
had were little plants of basil in the pot so I bought one and I took it home
pot so I bought one and I took it home
pot so I bought one and I took it home and I tore it to bits and I made my
and I tore it to bits and I made my
and I tore it to bits and I made my pesto and I left this pot on the counter
pesto and I left this pot on the counter
pesto and I left this pot on the counter with a little stock and a couple of
with a little stock and a couple of
with a little stock and a couple of leaves dangling from it presumably to
leaves dangling from it presumably to
leaves dangling from it presumably to die and much to my surprise and despite
die and much to my surprise and despite
die and much to my surprise and despite blatant neglect except for for how the
blatant neglect except for for how the
blatant neglect except for for how the occasional sip of coffee that I shared
occasional sip of coffee that I shared
occasional sip of coffee that I shared it grew back and one day I was standing
it grew back and one day I was standing
it grew back and one day I was standing there in my kitchen looking at this full
there in my kitchen looking at this full
there in my kitchen looking at this full basil plant and I had a small but
basil plant and I had a small but
basil plant and I had a small but profound realization I was in control of
profound realization I was in control of
profound realization I was in control of my basil supply chain now for any of you
my basil supply chain now for any of you
my basil supply chain now for any of you who are cooked you will recognize that
who are cooked you will recognize that
who are cooked you will recognize that that is the same thing as culinary
that is the same thing as culinary
that is the same thing as culinary omnipotence and so I started to wonder
omnipotence and so I started to wonder
omnipotence and so I started to wonder what else can I do
what else can I do
what else can I do so I grew thyme and rosemary and sage
so I grew thyme and rosemary and sage
so I grew thyme and rosemary and sage and I had an entire herb garden in my
and I had an entire herb garden in my
and I had an entire herb garden in my kitchen and then I took it to the next
kitchen and then I took it to the next
kitchen and then I took it to the next level I later moved to Ireland where
level I later moved to Ireland where
level I later moved to Ireland where only cynicism and root vegetables are
only cynicism and root vegetables are
only cynicism and root vegetables are known to thrive and despite the
known to thrive and despite the
known to thrive and despite the ceaseless rains and the battering winds
ceaseless rains and the battering winds
ceaseless rains and the battering winds of the sea I managed to grow a small
of the sea I managed to grow a small
of the sea I managed to grow a small crop of parsnip in my yard I had no idea
crop of parsnip in my yard I had no idea
crop of parsnip in my yard I had no idea how to cook it later I moved to
how to cook it later I moved to
how to cook it later I moved to Frankfurt and I had limited space
Frankfurt and I had limited space
Frankfurt and I had limited space because I had an apartment so all I had
because I had an apartment so all I had
because I had an apartment so all I had was about me and I thought I’m gonna try
was about me and I thought I’m gonna try
was about me and I thought I’m gonna try this vertical gardening thing I’ve got
this vertical gardening thing I’ve got
this vertical gardening thing I’ve got all the skills now so I grew tomato
all the skills now so I grew tomato
all the skills now so I grew tomato bushes that would wind up my railing and
bushes that would wind up my railing and
bushes that would wind up my railing and my neighbors would reach over and pluck
my neighbors would reach over and pluck
my neighbors would reach over and pluck Tomatoes for their summer salads and
Tomatoes for their summer salads and
Tomatoes for their summer salads and they would leave me bottles of wine and
they would leave me bottles of wine and
they would leave me bottles of wine and gratitude this is what we call a
gratitude this is what we call a
gratitude this is what we call a symbiotic relationship later I moved to
symbiotic relationship later I moved to
symbiotic relationship later I moved to India where the climate is incredible
India where the climate is incredible
India where the climate is incredible for growing but I was so afraid of
for growing but I was so afraid of
for growing but I was so afraid of diphtheria cultivating in the soil that
diphtheria cultivating in the soil that
diphtheria cultivating in the soil that instead of gardening I focused my energy
instead of gardening I focused my energy
instead of gardening I focused my energy on teaching the staff that MSG and salt
on teaching the staff that MSG and salt
on teaching the staff that MSG and salt are not the same thing and I managed in
are not the same thing and I managed in
are not the same thing and I managed in that time to learn just enough to get
that time to learn just enough to get
that time to learn just enough to get myself into trouble so when I moved back
myself into trouble so when I moved back
myself into trouble so when I moved back to the Rockies some time later I had
to the Rockies some time later I had
to the Rockies some time later I had enough knowledge and optimism and
enough knowledge and optimism and
enough knowledge and optimism and understanding of the benefits of it that
understanding of the benefits of it that
understanding of the benefits of it that I decided I would live off the land and
I decided I would live off the land and
I decided I would live off the land and so I opted amidst eclis acquired 10
so I opted amidst eclis acquired 10
so I opted amidst eclis acquired 10 acres of a granite hilltop with a straw
acres of a granite hilltop with a straw
acres of a granite hilltop with a straw bale house now the owner the previous
bale house now the owner the previous
bale house now the owner the previous owner was gracious enough to leave me a
owner was gracious enough to leave me a
owner was gracious enough to leave me a book titled the straw bale house which
book titled the straw bale house which
book titled the straw bale house which came in handy a month later when I tried
came in handy a month later when I tried
came in handy a month later when I tried to burn it down and flood it on the very
to burn it down and flood it on the very
to burn it down and flood it on the very same day
same day
same day I have a lot of these kinds of stories
I have a lot of these kinds of stories
I have a lot of these kinds of stories and while I am learning many many things
and while I am learning many many things
and while I am learning many many things about solar energy and about how to chop
about solar energy and about how to chop
about solar energy and about how to chop firewood without blowing out my
firewood without blowing out my
firewood without blowing out my shoulders and about the evils of aphids
shoulders and about the evils of aphids
shoulders and about the evils of aphids what I am finding most profound is this
what I am finding most profound is this
what I am finding most profound is this developing a personal connection to the
developing a personal connection to the
developing a personal connection to the systems that support our lives and our
systems that support our lives and our
systems that support our lives and our vitality from food to water to housing
vitality from food to water to housing
vitality from food to water to housing to electricity improves our quality of
to electricity improves our quality of
to electricity improves our quality of life and the health of the planet now
life and the health of the planet now
life and the health of the planet now this is true at any scale and so it
this is true at any scale and so it
this is true at any scale and so it applies to everybody here today because
applies to everybody here today because
applies to everybody here today because whether you are student or retired
whether you are student or retired
whether you are student or retired whether your child our parent whether
whether your child our parent whether
whether your child our parent whether you live in a dorm room or you have your
you live in a dorm room or you have your
you live in a dorm room or you have your own yard you can have an impact so we’re
own yard you can have an impact so we’re
own yard you can have an impact so we’re seeing this happen already that research
seeing this happen already that research
seeing this happen already that research is telling us these changes are
is telling us these changes are
is telling us these changes are beneficial to our health from everything
beneficial to our health from everything
beneficial to our health from everything that we can learn in building to
that we can learn in building to
that we can learn in building to landscaping to gardening and everything
landscaping to gardening and everything
landscaping to gardening and everything of course that Karate Kid ever learned
of course that Karate Kid ever learned
of course that Karate Kid ever learned from mr. Miyagi the studies show us that
from mr. Miyagi the studies show us that
from mr. Miyagi the studies show us that these activities improve our physical
these activities improve our physical
these activities improve our physical emotional and our mental health it’s no
emotional and our mental health it’s no
emotional and our mental health it’s no surprise then that studies across the
surprise then that studies across the
surprise then that studies across the globe are showing us in different
globe are showing us in different
globe are showing us in different centers where people are addressing
centers where people are addressing
centers where people are addressing addiction and other disorders with means
addiction and other disorders with means
addiction and other disorders with means such as biodynamic farming to develop
such as biodynamic farming to develop
such as biodynamic farming to develop connection and a sense of Worth and
connection and a sense of Worth and
connection and a sense of Worth and purpose and community in these
purpose and community in these
purpose and community in these individuals furthermore different
individuals furthermore different
individuals furthermore different rehabilitation centers that focus on
rehabilitation centers that focus on
rehabilitation centers that focus on depression and mental and emotional
depression and mental and emotional
depression and mental and emotional disorders are finding that means such as
disorders are finding that means such as
disorders are finding that means such as animal husbandry and gardening are
animal husbandry and gardening are
animal husbandry and gardening are reducing the use of pharmaceutical
reducing the use of pharmaceutical
reducing the use of pharmaceutical intervention these guys are also
intervention these guys are also
intervention these guys are also reporting a market decrease in relapse
reporting a market decrease in relapse
reporting a market decrease in relapse and countless
and countless
and countless other studies show us that learning
other studies show us that learning
other studies show us that learning things throughout the course of our
things throughout the course of our
things throughout the course of our lives reduces brain atrophy and
lives reduces brain atrophy and
lives reduces brain atrophy and increases our sense of well-being and
increases our sense of well-being and
increases our sense of well-being and our happiness and it also increases
our happiness and it also increases
our happiness and it also increases self-reliance now this does not mean
self-reliance now this does not mean
self-reliance now this does not mean that we’re trying to reject technology
that we’re trying to reject technology
that we’re trying to reject technology in fact technology is what makes it
in fact technology is what makes it
in fact technology is what makes it possible the developments of technology
possible the developments of technology
possible the developments of technology facilitate these changes in a more easy
facilitate these changes in a more easy
facilitate these changes in a more easy way I just spent the last weeks watching
way I just spent the last weeks watching
way I just spent the last weeks watching youtube videos on how to adjust my solar
youtube videos on how to adjust my solar
youtube videos on how to adjust my solar panels for the winter months now I have
panels for the winter months now I have
panels for the winter months now I have to watch a few more on parkour and rock
to watch a few more on parkour and rock
to watch a few more on parkour and rock climbing so you can actually get onto my
climbing so you can actually get onto my
climbing so you can actually get onto my roof and do it and what we’re seeing now
roof and do it and what we’re seeing now
roof and do it and what we’re seeing now is that these developments in technology
is that these developments in technology
is that these developments in technology that are happening at a faster rate for
that are happening at a faster rate for
that are happening at a faster rate for example the reduction in price of solar
example the reduction in price of solar
example the reduction in price of solar panels are actually evidence of this
panels are actually evidence of this
panels are actually evidence of this growing trend this shift towards
growing trend this shift towards
growing trend this shift towards self-reliance and the resulting and
self-reliance and the resulting and
self-reliance and the resulting and unavoidable conservationism because let
unavoidable conservationism because let
unavoidable conservationism because let me tell you something if your hair dryer
me tell you something if your hair dryer
me tell you something if your hair dryer draws 30 amps you are probably not going
draws 30 amps you are probably not going
draws 30 amps you are probably not going to use it very often in fact you’re
to use it very often in fact you’re
to use it very often in fact you’re gonna dry your curls in front of the
gonna dry your curls in front of the
gonna dry your curls in front of the wood stove don’t get too close it’s a
wood stove don’t get too close it’s a
wood stove don’t get too close it’s a mistake you only make once
mistake you only make once
mistake you only make once and if you are irrigating your greywater
and if you are irrigating your greywater
and if you are irrigating your greywater from your house into your garden you are
from your house into your garden you are
from your house into your garden you are not gonna buy pert plus shampoo no
not gonna buy pert plus shampoo no
not gonna buy pert plus shampoo no you’re gonna buy some kind of organic
you’re gonna buy some kind of organic
you’re gonna buy some kind of organic hippie sauce that’s pita and planet
hippie sauce that’s pita and planet
hippie sauce that’s pita and planet friendly and you don’t have to worry
friendly and you don’t have to worry
friendly and you don’t have to worry about having flat hair because your
about having flat hair because your
about having flat hair because your pumpkins are gonna win prizes at the
pumpkins are gonna win prizes at the
pumpkins are gonna win prizes at the fair this year and if you have to
fair this year and if you have to
fair this year and if you have to transport your trash every week in the
transport your trash every week in the
transport your trash every week in the back of your Subaru to the dump which is
back of your Subaru to the dump which is
back of your Subaru to the dump which is a quite nasty job I might add you are
a quite nasty job I might add you are
a quite nasty job I might add you are going to become acutely aware of how
going to become acutely aware of how
going to become acutely aware of how much of it you’re creating and how
much of it you’re creating and how
much of it you’re creating and how effectively you’re recycling
effectively you’re recycling
effectively you’re recycling awareness is the first step towards
awareness is the first step towards
awareness is the first step towards connection and and talking about
connection and and talking about
connection and and talking about self-reliance does not suggest isolation
self-reliance does not suggest isolation
self-reliance does not suggest isolation but rather empowerment empowerment for
but rather empowerment empowerment for
but rather empowerment empowerment for us to adapt to our environment and to
us to adapt to our environment and to
us to adapt to our environment and to adapt our environment to us in ways that
adapt our environment to us in ways that
adapt our environment to us in ways that are meaningful it doesn’t suggest that
are meaningful it doesn’t suggest that
are meaningful it doesn’t suggest that we inherently know how to do these
we inherently know how to do these
we inherently know how to do these things by any means but rather that we
things by any means but rather that we
things by any means but rather that we are capable of learning and I have an
are capable of learning and I have an
are capable of learning and I have an example of this if not many I love a
example of this if not many I love a
example of this if not many I love a vegetable called kohlrabi it belongs in
vegetable called kohlrabi it belongs in
vegetable called kohlrabi it belongs in the cabbage family and of course is
the cabbage family and of course is
the cabbage family and of course is therefore heartily consumed by the
therefore heartily consumed by the
therefore heartily consumed by the Germans and how in Germany you pay about
Germans and how in Germany you pay about
Germans and how in Germany you pay about a half euro for a pound of it now
a half euro for a pound of it now
a half euro for a pound of it now because kohlrabi is difficult for us to
because kohlrabi is difficult for us to
because kohlrabi is difficult for us to spell or pronounce here in America we
spell or pronounce here in America we
spell or pronounce here in America we consider it an exotic vegetable and you
consider it an exotic vegetable and you
consider it an exotic vegetable and you pay maybe 10 times that much for it at
pay maybe 10 times that much for it at
pay maybe 10 times that much for it at Whole Foods so I thought I’m going to
Whole Foods so I thought I’m going to
Whole Foods so I thought I’m going to grow my own or at least I’ll try you
grow my own or at least I’ll try you
grow my own or at least I’ll try you know my gardening skills are lacking and
know my gardening skills are lacking and
know my gardening skills are lacking and so I I planted a bunch of it in my yard
so I I planted a bunch of it in my yard
so I I planted a bunch of it in my yard this year and then I learned as I’m
this year and then I learned as I’m
this year and then I learned as I’m learning about connections that dogs are
learning about connections that dogs are
learning about connections that dogs are omnivores
omnivores
omnivores and that they will in fact eat an entire
and that they will in fact eat an entire
and that they will in fact eat an entire crop of cruciferous vegetables in a
crop of cruciferous vegetables in a
crop of cruciferous vegetables in a single afternoon if you leave the garden
single afternoon if you leave the garden
single afternoon if you leave the garden gate open and have just fertilized with
gate open and have just fertilized with
gate open and have just fertilized with fish bits learning about developing
fish bits learning about developing
fish bits learning about developing these connections is that it can be done
these connections is that it can be done
these connections is that it can be done at any scale regardless of the lifestyle
at any scale regardless of the lifestyle
at any scale regardless of the lifestyle that you are choosing to live whether
that you are choosing to live whether
that you are choosing to live whether you’re a city dweller or a country
you’re a city dweller or a country
you’re a city dweller or a country dweller the changes you make significant
dweller the changes you make significant
dweller the changes you make significant or seemingly insignificant will have an
or seemingly insignificant will have an
or seemingly insignificant will have an impact so looking around today at our
impact so looking around today at our
impact so looking around today at our room full of people we don’t see a bunch
room full of people we don’t see a bunch
room full of people we don’t see a bunch of barefoot hippies who want to join a
of barefoot hippies who want to join a
of barefoot hippies who want to join a commune and sing Kumbaya rather what I
commune and sing Kumbaya rather what I
commune and sing Kumbaya rather what I see our generations of engaged adults
see our generations of engaged adults
see our generations of engaged adults and people who want to know how to live
and people who want to know how to live
and people who want to know how to live a full and rewarding life keep their
a full and rewarding life keep their
a full and rewarding life keep their iPhone charged and not be responsible
iPhone charged and not be responsible
iPhone charged and not be responsible for the obliteration of the planet so
for the obliteration of the planet so
for the obliteration of the planet so the question I have for you today the
the question I have for you today the
the question I have for you today the question I wants you to ask yourselves
question I wants you to ask yourselves
question I wants you to ask yourselves when you get home is not what’s a
when you get home is not what’s a
when you get home is not what’s a kohlrabi and how do I cook it just
kohlrabi and how do I cook it just
kohlrabi and how do I cook it just google that but how can I develop a
google that but how can I develop a
google that but how can I develop a connection to my environment now for
connection to my environment now for
connection to my environment now for most of us we start with the food chain
most of us we start with the food chain
most of us we start with the food chain because we all eat and honestly because
because we all eat and honestly because
because we all eat and honestly because if you want to try to harvest rainwater
if you want to try to harvest rainwater
if you want to try to harvest rainwater to flush your toilet it might be a
to flush your toilet it might be a
to flush your toilet it might be a little bit of a hard sell for the
little bit of a hard sell for the
little bit of a hard sell for the roommates so maybe your first step is
roommates so maybe your first step is
roommates so maybe your first step is making your first meal from scratch
making your first meal from scratch
making your first meal from scratch instead of pulling it out of a package
instead of pulling it out of a package
instead of pulling it out of a package that’s a connection and maybe your next
that’s a connection and maybe your next
that’s a connection and maybe your next step is that you want to buy local so
step is that you want to buy local so
step is that you want to buy local so you go to the farmers market where you
you go to the farmers market where you
you go to the farmers market where you will inevitably meet some mad science
will inevitably meet some mad science
will inevitably meet some mad science permaculture guy who explains to you the
permaculture guy who explains to you the
permaculture guy who explains to you the meaning of full moon planting while you
meaning of full moon planting while you
meaning of full moon planting while you buy some probably very great squash this
buy some probably very great squash this
buy some probably very great squash this too is a connection and maybe a little
too is a connection and maybe a little
too is a connection and maybe a little bit of witchcraft
bit of witchcraft
bit of witchcraft maybe you want to develop a connection
maybe you want to develop a connection
maybe you want to develop a connection and be part of your gift supply chain
and be part of your gift supply chain
and be part of your gift supply chain and so you teach yourself how to knit
and so you teach yourself how to knit
and so you teach yourself how to knit until everybody you know has a scratchy
until everybody you know has a scratchy
until everybody you know has a scratchy scarf and a beanie and maybe it’s that
scarf and a beanie and maybe it’s that
scarf and a beanie and maybe it’s that you’re tired of buying batteries just to
you’re tired of buying batteries just to
you’re tired of buying batteries just to throw them away again and so you put a
throw them away again and so you put a
throw them away again and so you put a generator on your bike to light your way
generator on your bike to light your way
generator on your bike to light your way at night this is also a connection and
at night this is also a connection and
at night this is also a connection and maybe that connection evolves into you
maybe that connection evolves into you
maybe that connection evolves into you putting solar panels on your home one
putting solar panels on your home one
putting solar panels on your home one day so that you can control your power
day so that you can control your power
day so that you can control your power supply this is a connection and trust me
supply this is a connection and trust me
supply this is a connection and trust me you will ban hair dryers and air
you will ban hair dryers and air
you will ban hair dryers and air conditioners now with these connections
conditioners now with these connections
conditioners now with these connections every time we make one we develop a
every time we make one we develop a
every time we make one we develop a deeper understanding of the systems upon
deeper understanding of the systems upon
deeper understanding of the systems upon which we rely and how they relate to our
which we rely and how they relate to our
which we rely and how they relate to our environment so we understand what it
environment so we understand what it
environment so we understand what it takes to plant a seed so that it
takes to plant a seed so that it
takes to plant a seed so that it germinates we understand how much energy
germinates we understand how much energy
germinates we understand how much energy and nourishment goes into it so that it
and nourishment goes into it so that it
and nourishment goes into it so that it becomes a tree we understand that the
becomes a tree we understand that the
becomes a tree we understand that the systems of nature such as bees
systems of nature such as bees
systems of nature such as bees pollinating make it possible for that
pollinating make it possible for that
pollinating make it possible for that tree to produce fruit and we also begin
tree to produce fruit and we also begin
tree to produce fruit and we also begin to understand how much energy it takes
to understand how much energy it takes
to understand how much energy it takes to get that nectarine from Chile all the
to get that nectarine from Chile all the
to get that nectarine from Chile all the way to our produce aisle here at home
way to our produce aisle here at home
way to our produce aisle here at home and in as much we start to observe other
and in as much we start to observe other
and in as much we start to observe other things around us in the systems things
things around us in the systems things
things around us in the systems things that are maybe man-made will drive past
that are maybe man-made will drive past
that are maybe man-made will drive past a dam and pause in awe at how much power
a dam and pause in awe at how much power
a dam and pause in awe at how much power they create because we’re consuming it
they create because we’re consuming it
they create because we’re consuming it and then we ask questions and we
and then we ask questions and we
and then we ask questions and we question things like the efficiency of
question things like the efficiency of
question things like the efficiency of our supply chain we start questioning
our supply chain we start questioning
our supply chain we start questioning the wastefulness of consumerism and then
the wastefulness of consumerism and then
the wastefulness of consumerism and then even our own individual impact on this
even our own individual impact on this
even our own individual impact on this very planet and then it graduates even
very planet and then it graduates even
very planet and then it graduates even further and develops to us cultivating
further and develops to us cultivating
further and develops to us cultivating an understanding of the system and our
an understanding of the system and our
an understanding of the system and our relationship to them a value for those
relationship to them a value for those
relationship to them a value for those systems and then furthermore an
systems and then furthermore an
systems and then furthermore an understanding and a value for our place
understanding and a value for our place
understanding and a value for our place within it because we too
within it because we too
within it because we too have place and purpose and value in
have place and purpose and value in
have place and purpose and value in these systems we are not just consumers
these systems we are not just consumers
these systems we are not just consumers we are also creators and the choice is
we are also creators and the choice is
we are also creators and the choice is ours which one will you be today
ours which one will you be today
ours which one will you be today thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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