The Free Radical

As we tread our own silver tightrope to the One who animates this skin suit…

(Silver Tightrope by Armageddon from their self-titled 1975 debut– a one-off album despite its enormous appeal and promise)

I’ve been asked whether I think that the Earth could sustain the current human population through providing for foraging alone. Yes and no. It all depends which world(s) we choose to inhabit.

Despite being not even remotely scientifically supportable, the prevailing world view among our global population is still very much a Newtonian one. That view has it that there is only one Earth– a highly complex machine operating independently from our conscious belief– with very limited resources. Within this prevailing view, the answer is a clear no… the Earth cannot currently sustain the human (and animal) population through providing wild foods alone.

The scientifically supportable view which hasn’t been seriously disputed for– oh, about four generations– has it that the “world’s” productivity is a function of our own interaction with it. My own experience has been that as I interact and appreciate the response from the world to my foraging proclivities, the Earth responds with greater and greater abundance with every thank you.

Of course what I’m talking about here is the classical Newtonian world view versus the relativistic/quantum world view. I find it personally astounding that so many still cling to a view which became obsolete nearly a century ago. This was the topic of a recent essay I wrote: Once (More) and for All (Time)

Sitka certainly demands her fair share too! And lacking the dextrous lips of a black bear, I usually have to help her with the picking.

These are the gooseberries coming ripe. Some of the bushes are unbelievably loaded!

And this is my most recent prize… pineapple weed! I’ve known of this plant in the chamomile family for many years, but this is the first time I spotted it along my regular route. The taste is– like the name suggests– very pineapple with a sweet hint of coconut. Maybe I’ll rename it pina colada weed!

I intend to make another unique ale from these soon.