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I thought that I would begin with a gratuitous bird picture (Caracara) to keep hypnagogic happy with me.


I main reason for me going on my little trip to South Texas, was to take a look at the property and see what could be done to enrich the ecology of the site.  While there I was also supposed to give a litle talk on restoration in general.  My plan was to give a little talk and then for the group to go and plant some seeds to help to revegetate some of the property.   So one morning we set up a bunch of folding chairs in the tipi which would serve as our classroom.  I spoke at length about the benfits of grasses in soil erosion, water retention and wildlife habitat.  I then moved on to how much of this critical ecosystem that has been lost through urban sprawl and mismanagement of the land.  To illlustrate the loss I used my penny display.  The sign boards reached all the way around the tipi.  For some reason the display being set out in a circle made it look twice as impressive.The group was truly in shock of just how bad the situation really is.  I went on to explain how everyone  can make small steps to return the ecosystem back to its former glory.  Just imagine it everyone in the US saved or restored just one acre of praire, we would end up with 200 million acres saved.  Then came the fun part.  Planting the seed.  The day before we had a selected an area which would be good for the seeding.  We placed a barrier made from telephone poles held in place with old hand cut wooden tipi stakes.  This was in order to block any cars that might drive across the newly seeded area and to protect the seedlings.


When I expalined to the group on how we were going to mix the seed with corn meal to at as a carrier for the seed. (Corn meal is also an excellent mild fertilizer and helps prevent against damping off fungus)  The crowd went wild.  Because of corn being a sacred plant to native americans they thoguth that it was wonderful to mix it with the seeds to help them get off to a good start.  Grandpa Jerry (a Navajo medicine cheif) blessed the corn meal and told us all a native legend on how seeds first came to earth.   It was awesome.  By the time we finished planting the seeds it was getting pretty hot outside (each day I was ther the temperatures were right around 105 degrees)  and it was almost time for lunch.  So, we all settled in the shade for a bit of rest. 

After lunch, it was time for a little more work.  Grandma Lilly had brought some buttons of medicine to transplant into the garden so that is what we worked on in hte afternoon. 


It was great being able to just hang out and talk with many of the elders and just soak up there prespective on life.  I can't wait for my chance to have the oppurtunity to go back down there again.