Our Evolutionary Plans

Sharing a few thoughts that came to me as I watched ants truck around the Quiet Garden on Saturday, responding to their biological drive to survive....

Justin and I do not feel a biological need to reproduce our own offspring.  In fact, that was one of the very first things we bonded over shortly before beginning our romantic relationship.  We are very comfortable with our desire not to have children, and don't feel threatened by (nor try to impose our convictions upon) others who choose different paths.

We do, perhaps, still feel a drive to be present in the story of creation and evolution -- of "making the world a better place."  Our ideas for how to do that typically rest in a horticultural scene, with an emphasis on encouraging new life and growth in the way of plants, including fruit, vegetables, flowers, trees, etc.  We want one of our marks on this Earth to be one of improving the soil, providing a respite for others, and providing and/or growing a diverse array of food that addresses and promotes equality for people, animals, and the Earth.

Some of you know that we've long had on our hearts the practice of considering, "what is ours to do?" And we often come up with ideas of cooperative business centring on food and hospitality.  These ideas and dreams are our "babies," so to speak, and what we spend time doing and talking about.  We want to give our lives -- not necessarily raising a biological family -- but to birthing systems of equality, nurturing physical, emotional and spiritual health for all God's creatures, and investing our time in bringing those to the table who might otherwise go without.

As goes the common saying, we want to leave this beautiful creation in better shape than we found it. We know many others are also on this path, in various and unique ways, and that gives great strength for the journey.