Mary is concerned enough about recycling, and environmental efforts related to it, that she contacted me through "Sustainable Florida". I will let her message speak for itself:
Robert,
I feel blessed to have met you over the phone on October 28, 2010! Thanks so much for our conversation. I look forward to being able to speak with you further, as well as trying to figure out ways we can combine our goals and energies on projects we both have interest in.
I want to begin by giving you information regarding that amazing young man, Andrew (Andy) Wolfe of the Largo/Seminole area. I 'discovered' Andy when I read about him in the St.Petersburg Times , March 14, 2010 article entitled, "Green Acres in the City". I want to give you Andy's contact information:
Freedom Farm (name he has given the space he utilizes at his Father's home), 727-439-4885, ....he is on myspace.com/tasteoffreedomfarm. Andy gives 'tours' on Saturday mornings, by appointment.
The article discussed the yard now being occupied with 16 ducks, 16 chickens, 400 tilapia, and seven beehives. He built a greenhouse, started a garden, and planted four citrus trees.
He recently (October 4, 2010) was a guest speaker at the Discussion Group I founded and moderate at the Seminole Public Library - campus of St.Petersburg College, Seminole, Fl. I told a Biology professor that Andy would be speaking. That professor told the instructor of ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE about Andy's presentation. She requested permission to bring her class of fifteen Env. Science students to hear Andy.
I want to offer you a synopsis of Andy's presentation (for which he had written note cards and practiced the night before to make sure he had enough to say):
ANDY'S WORDS....(in rough draft):
"We are pursuing sustainability. Our ties to industrial society cannot be broken quickly. I have noticed we are willing to spend a great deal of money for our comfort levels. Regarding this pursuit of comfort, there is a quote from Thomas Jefferson that says..."we want that which never was and never will be."(rough quotation). Andy went on to say that the act of trying to provide for yourself has more tangible rewards. He is trying to convert an urban homestead. He said, "What has been my hardest challenge?" Ans. gardening. His watering method? capturing rain water. He prepared for his project(s) by taking a permaculture course...which teaches you to observe. EXAMPLE: Andy observed his ducks love to eat flies. So, he caught flies to give them to his ducks. He got rid of his fly problem by doing this.
"Pollution is simply an untapped resource." To rehabilitate his sandy soil, he learned how to develop worm castings (poop). He uses a 55-gal. drum to collect rain water. The drum is on the roof of the home. He utilizes a gutter system. Andy's question: "Why are we so willing to pay for things we can get for free?"
He collects food for his tilapia (they are vegetarians) by catching duckweed in local lakes. (Duckweed multiplies three times in 36 hours.)
Andy's comment, "I have a lot in common with third-world countries. We both have no money."
Why did Andy install a tilapia pond? It replaced a grass lawn that required both labor and water to maintain. Andy suggested we work with Mother Nature. He created a hydroponics system over the tilapia pond. The coleus did not like it. Mint....loves it. He sells his yard clippings.
Andy said, "The biggest mistake of my life? When I looked around in the U.S. to see how we are doing things. I actually needed to observe how things are done in third-world countries. They use one part portland and three parts sand." Andy started with 20 tilapia. He now has 400 tilapia! He started with 7 beehives. He now has 28 beehives. He hopes to have 100 hives in 2011. He pays people who have at least three acres of property to host his beehives. He explained that the reason he recently got stung by the bees was because he was mistakenly tending them on a cloudy day. (They're "cranky" on a cloudy day.)
Andy spoke about previous water treatment in which local water companies used to use chlorine in the system year-round. He said they caused carcinogenic substances. Now, they only use chlorine once a year.
Andy said, "Growing projects......bring a community together." He befriended his neighbors to acquire their support of his efforts. He said, many of them have now initiated gardens, too.
Andy said, "When you're learning something, you make a lot of mistakes." I felt that was a very useful comment for the college students to hear!
Robert, this might very well be one of the longest e-mails you have ever received. I believe it is the longest one I have ever written. I am, obviously, very motivated by Andy Wolfe and the attitude and determination he exudes. Naturally, his wife deserves credit, too.....as does Andy's father (who has changed many of his ideas as a result of all these projects).
I didn't want to forward this to your wife, Christie (hope I spelled her name correctly) and you had not yet provided your home (or preferred address) to me. Hope this method of sending this information meets with your approval.
Your New Friend,
Mary Hampton
Here we discuss technical roofing issues, as well as positive thought. This is why I felt compelled to share Mary's very uplifting message. Thank you Mary, and I hope you continue to visit, or request specific topics.
As always, thank you for visiting with me, and keep looking "UP".
Best,
Robert R. "Ron" Solomon
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