chattanooga surprise

well... when i tried to leave on wednesday, getting a very late start at nearly 4pm, heavy rain and wind caused me to turn back before i'd gone ten blocks. there was a struggle in me over whether i should persevere through the hardship and get on my way or take this as a sign from god and wait 'til the next day. when i turned back the first time the rain stopped, then when i turned around and started away from the house again, another downpour came almost immediately. i laughed and took it as a definite sign. i waited under cover and watched the rain come down for about half an hour before returning to the house.

one result of me staying was that the next day i was offered a ride with one of the vehicles going up to chattanooga, which is 91 miles east of brasstown, NC, where i was planning on going to visit the folk school. they had to take a van instead of a car in order to fit my bicycle, but since i was willing to pay a good share of gas it all worked out. because of this wonderful arrangement i was able to see the yellow deli in chattanooga and meet more of the god-filled members of the twelve tribes commonwealth.

one of the men i met is taking initiative in composting and establishing an urban farm across the street from their 'oak house', near the yellow deli. when i was able to connect with him and hear about the progress that is being made, it gave me hope that the community in savannah could also recognize the value in composting and starting an urban farm there! the lot in chattanooga, where they are going to be growing vegetables once the beds are prepared, is owned by a woman who lives next to it. she had been paying to have it mowed, so she was thrilled about the idea of someone using it and saving her the cost of maintenance. compost is being made from the community's food scraps, including those from the deli, manure, leaves, and straw. i offered my perspective on composting and decided i will buy them a copy of the humanure handbook, which i recommended during our conversation.