Fresh local peaches on my cereal. The sun is hot and my skin has darkened.
The roses, the gladiolus, the sunflowers, the beautiful red flowers that attract the humming birds - a Crosomia ‘Lucifer’ - I learn.
Signs for Sweet Corn for sale on the roadside.
Frequenting our local ice cream shop.
Zucchini recipes circulating as we try to bake our way through an abundant harvest.
Neighbours and family offering fresh vegetables and berries from their overflowing gardens.
We are so lucky. What a time and season to be alive.
And also, the energy of August can feel slow and heavy sometimes.
The humidity, thunderstorms, more frequent tornado warnings and the incessant news of unprecedented wildfires.
It seems to be, for me, a time for contemplation, reflection, and re-orientation as we prepare for September and the “back-to-school” vibes that are coming.
August feels like an invitation to slow down. And I take her up on that invitation as often as I can.
What does August feel like for you this year?
In the spirit of going slow, this summer’s climate book club offerings are intended to be gentle and supportive. We will meet on Wednesday September 6th at 8pm ET on zoom to ease ourselves back into the “back-to-school” energy of September with some hopeful readings and podcasts to discuss.
What we are reading: “Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility” an edited compilation by Rebecca Solnit & Thelma Young Lutunatabua. More info on this book and study guide available here: https://www.nottoolateclimate.com/
You can also listen to The Case for Climate Hope: on the Science of Happiness Podcast (Rebecca Solnit, author of 'Not Too Late" joins the Science of Happiness podcast exploring how embracing uncertainty enables us to move beyond climate anxiety and despair to hope and action.)
What we are listening to: “Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet” on the Way Out Is In podcast, recommended by the All We Can Save Project. (Would love to add the book this podcast is about to our reading list for 2024).
In October & November 2023 we will dive into The End of this World: Climate Justice in So-Called Canada: a book by Angele Alook, Emily Easton, David Gray-Donald, Joel Laforest, Crystal Lameman and Bronwen Tucker.
One of the authors, Emily Eaton, a friend of mine from university days (was a guest on an earlier episode of Plugged In) will join us for a book talk and Q&A this fall, so stay tuned for that.
Finally, I’ve been thinking about how I want to ripple the impact, expand the reach and continue to support this ongoing work, and your contributions are valuable. Here’s how you can help:
1. Invite a friend to join our book club.
2. Send me a testimonial that I can share that describes how this work impacts you.
3. Share Plugged In content on your socials.
4. Make a donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/pluggedin.
5. Sponsor an episode of the Plugged In podcast.
Your contributions and collaborations are valuable. Thank you for your support and for being here!