In these days of siding, blaming cancel culture, I love that you are strong enough to respectfully observe and witness, to have your reactions and yet refrain from imposing judgement. Life is a riddle. A tree grows from a rock cleft, but do we blame the cleft for the tree's stunted shape..?
Raw milk, not homogenized milk.... Raw life, not homogenized.
You must realize how you may not be able to do this work if you were a woman. I lived in a rural Italian village for three years and I told my ex boyfriend I wanted to learn how to milk cows and make cheese, which is usually (or almost always) done by men. He said I shouldn’t because it would look bad. The men would be tempted, people would start talking, wives would be jealous, and he might get jealous too though he didn’t say so. How do traditional ways keep going if the thinking behind the ways are stuck in the same tradition? If men don’t want to take over the cheesemaking and animal raising, why not let or encourage women to do it? When the road was built in 1967 in the village I lived in, many people, including women, left to get jobs mostly in factories, and people stopped raising cows and practicing traditional agriculture. So there’s only three cheese makers left. Is there a way to have both education and traditional agriculture AND make a living from it?
I love this so much. It resonates so deeply. Years ago struggling to make sense of many of the same feelings, being witness to so much beauty and tragedy living with Samburu herders.
Thank you tt for continuing this work with a curious mind and open heart. It is so meaningful to hear your observations, to be critical yet discerning, to remain open and compassionate is a beautiful gift to the world, we need more of this!
In these days of siding, blaming cancel culture, I love that you are strong enough to respectfully observe and witness, to have your reactions and yet refrain from imposing judgement. Life is a riddle. A tree grows from a rock cleft, but do we blame the cleft for the tree's stunted shape..?
Raw milk, not homogenized milk.... Raw life, not homogenized.
Thank you for doing what you do, it's incredible.
You must realize how you may not be able to do this work if you were a woman. I lived in a rural Italian village for three years and I told my ex boyfriend I wanted to learn how to milk cows and make cheese, which is usually (or almost always) done by men. He said I shouldn’t because it would look bad. The men would be tempted, people would start talking, wives would be jealous, and he might get jealous too though he didn’t say so. How do traditional ways keep going if the thinking behind the ways are stuck in the same tradition? If men don’t want to take over the cheesemaking and animal raising, why not let or encourage women to do it? When the road was built in 1967 in the village I lived in, many people, including women, left to get jobs mostly in factories, and people stopped raising cows and practicing traditional agriculture. So there’s only three cheese makers left. Is there a way to have both education and traditional agriculture AND make a living from it?
Right on brother. Life is indeed harsh, and beautiful. I’m glad you’re out there, sharing, and being complex and loving, and hoping for better
I love this so much. It resonates so deeply. Years ago struggling to make sense of many of the same feelings, being witness to so much beauty and tragedy living with Samburu herders.
Thank you tt for continuing this work with a curious mind and open heart. It is so meaningful to hear your observations, to be critical yet discerning, to remain open and compassionate is a beautiful gift to the world, we need more of this!
Beautiful.