kindle

Forty Days, Forty Nights
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Anyone who has created a birthday or graduation party, or
planned a wedding can identify. It begins with a thirst that
water can’t touch, moves towards an insatiable hunger, especially
for sweets, and finishes with mornings began too early, coffee
dark. Mood darker. However as the day unfolds and the most
unexpected blessings arrive it appears everything will,
after-all, turn out fine. 

This week has been no exception. Postcard mailings got delayed,
stickers for a gift box were wrong, speaker logistics seemed
insurmountable. And then like ants carrying drops from a picnic
the march of fortuitous luck began. 

A generous friend elected to underwrite a dynamic presenter;
Anita Sanchez from The Pachamama Alliance (check out
pachamama.org) they are bridging the divide between the
indigenous and the modern-very cool! Later in the week the owner
of the Black Point Inn / Migis Lodge agrees to provide shelter
(spelled: Waterfront Gorgeous!) for all speakers traveling from
away-at no expense to the organization. Where except in the
movies does that happen? And a dear friend from NH called,
discovered I could use a hand ordering the weekend roster; he
drove north and spent the day brainstorming, acting as a sounding
board, offering sage counsel. WiseAcres agreees to provide green
tea popcicles to everyone. Light, ahh that light of day, of tasks
accomplished… it was pouring through the windows. A friend in
need is a friend- indeed. 

We at Kaleidoscope with less than six weeks till show-time, have
entered into the tunnel, the channel, that warm nook of
“everything’s possible” and also that chilly parlor of “look out,
duck, keep your head down”. Every minute brings with it energy,
excitement, the rush of “WOW this event is going to blow peoples
minds!”. Yes, the word roller-coaster surfaces, often. What
compels people to put themselves out there, on the ledge, near
the edge, with so much in the balance? 

The answer for me at least is the alternative. Today we are
reading about a hurricane hitting Houston, millions evacuating or
trying, last month it was New Orleans-again! Not long ago an
earthquake created a tsunami that leveled southeast asia,
mudslides in China, etc… the list goes on. I am not sure about
each of you but I truly believe the international body of
scientists when they state: we are in the red zone, our last
chance of correcting the environmental wrongs of the last
century, the time is now. 

I hear their dire warnings as an open invitation: jump in, grab
an oar, bring your talent. Kindle, at the core is that party,
nondenominational, it is an opportunity for people, young and
old, to bring their talent, their gifts, to share together in a
global perspective, a universal calling. And quite frankly they
are bringing it! 

On October 17-19 we will showcase 30 dynamic presentations
brought forward-freely- by nearly 70 experts. In addition there
will be 15 vignettes of extraordinary entertainment. Three
keynoters will IGNITE your imagination, ten plenary speakers will
AWAKEN your imagination… and to the left of you and to the
right of you will be others who are equally determined to dig in,
to make a difference, to lend a hand. Before it is too late,
before Houston, New Orleans, Portland and Portsmouth are
underwater. Before millions are environmentally forced to
migrate, and yes, before Polar Bears begin to die from
starvation-unable to reach the next berg. 

So we plod forward uncertain of the outcome: will anyone attend?
has everyone heard about it yet? Did we get the word out early
enough? Each night I retire to bed curious if just because we
built it they will come…? and in the morning when I review
yesterdays efforts, and the coffee begins to work, I realize:
“Holy Smokes, do we have enough seats, enough food, enough
space…” to hold the many who will attend, who understand this
conversation is no longer an elective it is an imperative, who
enjoy making things right. 

If you have not yet been to our website (kindledinme.com) or went
last week I encourage each of you to check it out again. We are
beginning to harvest the fruits of our labor and to display the
produce that is our pride and joy. Charismatic-megaflora in
abundance. And drop us a line, we are always looking for ideas,
volunteers and suggestions on how to make this an unforgettable
event. 

warm wishes,

Ted

According to the website of Bioneer Roger Doiron
(kitchengardners.org) we know that:”Roger is an advocate for
local and regional food systems. He is founder and director of
Kitchen Gardeners International (KGI), a Maine-based nonprofit
network of over 6000 individuals from 100 countries who are
taking a (dirty) hands-on approach to relocalizing the food
supply.Doiron also works to promote vibrant local, state, and
regional food systems through his work with the Eat Local Foods
Coalition (ELFC) and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture
Working Group (NESAWG). In 2007, he was chosen as a Food and
Society Policy Fellow
[http://www.foodandsocietyfellows.org/].”However what many of you
may not know is that he has a wicked sense of humour and a real
talent for telling a story through words and pictures.He has a
video out there on the wide web (YouTube) that is entitled ‘This
Lawn is Your Lawn’, it is excellent from beginning to end… and
should be shared by many. It is also a terrific teaser for what
some might expect from a Bioneers conference. Light, playful,
important, rich, meaningful and informative. No fear mongering
for us, most Bioneers I know are to busy undoing great mistakes
to take time to sit around and complain. Too busy building,
dreaming, gardening and creating.Roger will be joined by other
doers including phenom Amanda Beal, a study in productivity if
ever there was- some are certain she has been cloned. When not
doing important work at PROP she can be found toiling in the
intellectual fields of MOFGA or exploring Yellowstone national
Park- and doing it in style, with a smile. John Piotto (think
Unity Barn Raisers, the Maine Farms Project, and serious
legislation) and Melissa White-Pillsbury (MOFGAS Marketing maven)
will also participate in the worksho.It has been said we are what
we eat, some believe we are also what we think. This formidable
quartet will prove to be both inspirational and informative- how
could it not with these accomplished pros at the helm. Look for
them on at Kindle on Friday afternoon.