Mischief with a purpose

I just happened on to Rex Wockner’s blog where he has posted a video documenting classic forms of AIDS activism of the 1990s. You have to watch it. I am sure there are many more of these videos out there; a few show up in the occasional documentary. But this one is funny and quite pointed. Finding it is quite timely also, since the Evil One recently died.  I am sure his family and all his fellow hatemongers miss him.  Lots of people don’t, and I certainly don’t blame them.  On the other hand, having to deal with the effects of his decisions and stances energized some of the most creative activism among queer folks in the US.   He marked an era alright, one that should never have happened, if you ask me.

On the other hand, I can think of a LOT of ideas for acts of mischief I want to commit against some folks here in Jamaica, but I’ll let the ideas incubate for a bit.  I also have to decide who the first target would be: there are so many, many foes and fence-sitters.  The question is where to start?

Grow Your Own

In this case, food. And to be more specific, green leafy vegetables.

I just came across the website of Kitchen Gardens International, which provides all kinds of information and resources about growing your own food. I was particularly excited about the story on “keyhole gardens” and thought I’d share it with you. For those of us who live in rental housing and in dense neighborhoods, here’s a great way to grow our food that is far more productive — and safe — than trying to use the paint pans, tyres or what have you. Imagine the beautiful, eye-catching towers of rockstones that are doing double duty as living sculptures.

Given that our diet does not seem to consist of many leafy vegetables these days, its time to expand the repertoire, if only for better health. When last you ate, let alone, were offered anything else in the market besides callaloo, cabbage, lettuce, and pak choi? I felt like I ate much better in Trinidad than I do here. I also don’t see why I should go buy the ridiculously expensive lettuce from a certain place on Hope Road, when I can buy a couple packets of seeds and plant them myself. In fact, that’s exactly what I will do. I’m thinking beets, turnip, and beans this time around.