From Far North to "Far North"

While some of my silence on this blog has been busy-ness, a greater chunk has been a level of ideological discord with my summer employment . . .the schism of the reality in the daily work I've commited to until I leave for New Zealand and the things that bring meaning and vibrancy to my life is huge. This summer I am working for the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department at Pioneer Park. I am a "summer youth supervisor" for a work crew of teenagers ages 15-17. They are fascinating animals at this age, and not really where my 'spiritual' problem lies with my work.

The title of this post refers to the fact that I am going to a part of New Zealand known as "The Far North". The newspapers and businesses capitalize on this terminology to the same degree that we do here in the Interior. The temperature there doesn't get much below 50F and the pendulum of daylight is much more even (BTW, I leave late night August 20)but there are some similarities. I'm still doing lots of exploration on the area, and the "Maori:Crown" interaction is strikingly similar to Native Alaskan:Gov't issues. Coastline subsistance issues, treaty breaches, linguistic and educational heritage, environmental issues with native plant species, pollutants and land use . . . those interested can begin with this active elder.

There is, of course, so much more to write. I may get to it all later today.
From a practical standpoint I need to upload these photos that bear/bare witness to the frantically short nature of our growing season in Alaska. A talented gardener who goes by the moniker of "Z" told me about growing one lone tomato plant upside down in the white planter and growing something else on top. I chose cilantro. In the pots on my tiny porch are lettuces, catnip and parsley. When I come home for lunch I spend a few moments before I key the door to break off my lettuce leaves and other savories. The lettuces grow so fast they renew daily. The broccoli, as you can see is just out of control. I planted them too closely so they may begin to riot and strangle each other. Some nights I think I can hear choice language from them through my open window (wait. . .no, that's residual from the teenagers I work with :)

I've included a photo taken on May 9th so you can see the change.