Delight Makers

It’s Not a Fairytale: Seattle to Build Nation’s First Food Forest.

The city’s new park will be filled with edible plants, and everything from pears to herbs will be free for the taking.

Seattle’s new food forest aims to be an edible wilderness. Seattle’s vision of an urban food oasis is going forward. A seven-acre plot of land in the city’s Beacon Hill neighborhood will be planted with hundreds of different kinds of edibles: walnut and chestnut trees; blueberry and raspberry bushes; fruit trees, including apples and pears; exotics like pineapple, yuzu citrus, guava, persimmons, honeyberries, and lingonberries; herbs; and more. All will be available for public plucking to anyone who wanders into the city’s first food forest.

“This is totally innovative, and has never been done before in a public park,” Margarett Harrison, lead landscape architect for the Beacon Food Forest project. Harrison is working on construction and permit drawings now and expects to break ground this summer.

The concept of a food forest certainly pushes the envelope on urban agriculture and is grounded in the concept of permaculture, which means it will be perennial and self-sustaining, like a forest is in the wild. Not only is this forest Seattle’s first large-scale permaculture project, but it’s also believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

“The concept means we consider the soils, companion plants, insects, bugs—everything will be mutually beneficial to each other,” says Harrison.

That the plan came together at all is remarkable on its own. What started as a group project for a permaculture design course ended up as a textbook example of community outreach gone right.

“Friends of the Food Forest undertook heroic outreach efforts to secure neighborhood support. The team mailed over 6,000 postcards in five different languages, tabled at events and fairs, and posted fliers,” writes Robert Mellinger for Crosscut.

Neighborhood input was so valued by the organizers, they even used translators to help Chinese residents have a voice in the planning.

So just who gets to harvest all that low-hanging fruit when the time comes?

“Anyone and everyone,” says Harrison. “There was major discussion about it. People worried, ‘What if someone comes and takes all the blueberries? That could very well happen, but maybe someone needed those blueberries. We look at it this way—if we have none at the end of blueberry season, then it means we’re successful.”

By Clare Leschin-Hoar, Take Part

 

About the The Delight Makers :

This is the first time a charity has been created to unite all of the world’s wisdoms … ancient and modern, spiritual and scientific … and share them through joy, art, beauty, love and celebration.

Our mission is to raise the consciousness of our planet in an inspiring, joyful and empowering way. If you would like to find out more about being part of our amazing community, Champions of Delight, please Click on the Button below. Your support will enable us to bring the gift of love and wisdom, through beautiful bed time stories, to children around the world, of all ages.

This story will warm you better than a coffee in a cold winter day

We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we’re approaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter -
‘Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended’

They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:

‘What are those ‘suspended’ coffees ?’

‘Wait for it and you will see’

Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers – three for them and four ‘suspended’.

While I still wonder what’s the deal with those ‘suspended’ coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks ‘Do you have a suspended coffee ?’

It’s simple – people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.

Source : Unknown

About the The Delight Makers :

This is the first time a charity has been created to unite all of the world’s wisdoms … ancient and modern, spiritual and scientific … and share them through joy, art, beauty, love and celebration.

Our mission is to raise the consciousness of our planet in an inspiring, joyful and empowering way. If you would like to find out more about being part of our amazing community, Champions of Delight, please Click on the Button below. Your support will enable us to bring the gift of love and wisdom, through beautiful bed time stories, to children around the world, of all ages.

Step 1 … Today is the world’s first International Happiness Day, declared by the UN to signal the importance of going beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of progress. We need, says the UN, better measures of society’s real well being — including happiness.

GDP was never meant for the job. In 1934, Harvard economist and Nobel Laureate Simon Kuznets devised the measure to help the U.S. climb out of the Great Depression, but he was clear about GDP’s limits, warning congress that “the welfare of a nation can…scarcely be inferred from a measurement of national income…”

How right he was. Since the 1960s, U.S. GDP per capita has doubled, but average happiness? It hasn’t budged.

Finally, people are starting to pay attention. Noting what a poor guide GDP has been, an international movement is underway to create metrics of progress that incorporate multi-faceted well being. And, it could be game changer, if you consider this finding of the Gallup Millennium World Survey: Polling almost 60,000 people in 60 countries, Gallup ranked ten things that matter most to people. At the top were health, a happy family life, and a job, while “Standard of Living” — what the GDP supposedly captures — was one of the least important.

Leading the movement to remake what we measure has been the tiny, mountainous Asian nation of Bhutan, population of 740,000. Its goal is “Gross National Happiness.” Six weeks ago, as a member of a UN-promoted International Expert Group for a New Development Paradigm, I traveled to Bhutan where, with a couple dozen others invited from around the world, I deliberated on how to measure wellbeing.

Why Bhutan?

In 2005, after the Fourth King relinquished the throne to his son and instituted a British-style parliamentary democracy, Bhutan began in earnest to build the world’s first Gross National Happiness Index — a comprehensive approach to measuring well-being that includes not only psychological well-being (life satisfaction, emotions, and spirituality) but also subjective assessments in eight other “domains” that include health, education, good governance, and ecological diversity and resilience. Five years later a Bhutan survey found 41 percent of its people happy, meaning they’d attained “sufficiency” in two-thirds of (weighted) indicators, such as work, literacy and housing. Only 10 percent were “unhappy.”

 

Then, in 2011, Bhutan took leadership on the world stage. In July it sponsored, with 68 co-sponsors, UN resolution 65/309, “Happiness: Towards a Holistic Approach to Development,” which flatly stated that GDP doesn’t reflect the goal of “happiness” and declares that a “more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach is needed…”

UN General Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus and invited member states to take action. So in New York City last spring Bhutan hosted a meeting on new wellbeing indicators, attracting 800 enthusiastic attendees and exceeding all expectations.

Already, a number of countries, including Canada and France “have added measures of citizen happiness to their official national statistics.” Just one year ago, Japan launched its first Quality of Life Survey that leads off with “a sense of happiness.” Italy is also a leader, in part using online consultations with citizens to develop twelve domains for measuring well-being, including health and the environment, along with specific indicators like “quality of urban air.”

Here in the U.S., two state governments, Maryland and Minnesota, have gotten serious about happiness — generating more realistic, comprehensive measures of progress. Maryland’s Genuine Progress Indicator both subtracts and adds about two dozen things that GDP doesn’t capture: from, on the negative side, the costs of lost leisure time (as much as $12.5 billion a year), pollution clean-up and crime to, on the positive side, the value of volunteer work.

And in 2011 the city of Somerville in Greater Boston became the first U.S. metropolitan to survey its residents on their happiness and wellbeing — finding, among many discoveries, that the city’s “beauty and physical setting” are “relatively important” in how residents value Somerville.

On the first International Day of Happiness we must celebrate as it is most definitely a step in the right direction.

Let’s also stop to ask ourselves … Isn’t is absurd that we allocate just one day a year to Happiness and one to Peace?

Perhaps it is time to have a UN International Day of War & Arguing ?  Then we might start making some real progress then.

About the The Delight Makers :

This is the first time a charity has been created to unite all of the world’s wisdoms … ancient and modern, spiritual and scientific … and share them through joy, art, beauty, love and celebration.

Our mission is to raise the consciousness of our planet in an inspiring, joyful and empowering way. If you would like to find out more about being part of our amazing community, Champions of Delight, please Click on the Button below. Your support will enable us to bring the gift of love and wisdom, through beautiful bed time stories, to children around the world, of all ages.

Become A Champion of Delight

 

If you would like to receive our FREE Newsletter please Click the Button below:

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“To look good and feel good is work. To look great and feel great is a full-time job. There is no cheating! It’s daily! Minute-by-minute, second-by-second. This is the process I love and love to work at. The reward is liking myself and living a creative life. I will turn 90 on April 4 and hope I can still create this in 10 years time.

Life in itself is a challenge and you can either, accept it and take action, or you can sit and do nothing. My advice is there is only one winner: accept the challenge, take action and get on with your life no matter what age.

I’m not aware of being 90. I’m aware of feeling physically as good as I have ever felt and mentally even better. I practice dance and workout every day. This body has to know who’s boss and being 90 and feeling 20 is as good as it gets! People ask me all the time what’s my secret. I tell them move, learn and listen.

The reward is a healthy body and mind. I’m totally selfish in that me and my body and mind are one. We are partners and we work play and live as one. So if that is so, we can’t sit around and think about tomorrow. Our body and mind has to be trained from the first breath, otherwise it’s down hill all the way. Numbers and dwelling on age is a trap. There is no age, it’s living each moment to it’s fullest.

 

I started my own fashion label at 50, became a musician and learned Italian and F

rench in my 70s, took tango and trapeze at 80 and walked into my first yoga class at 85. So, if you think you’re old, think again!

What inspires me is the process of learning. Inspiration creates creativity and creativity creates a better life. I like experimenting and have no fear of trying something new, so flying high on a trapeze at 80 was never a question. Becoming a musician late in my life was not accidental. It was meant to be.

I love to move and exercise, so my work out regime consists of yoga, tango, jump rope, hiking with my poodle Nicko and playing tennis.

Yoga gives you a life you didn’t have yesterday. It’s a wakeup call to every cell in your body. Every muscle sits up and pays attention. I live to do yoga and I do it to live.

Do every pose as good as you can and then do it a little better. I have arthritis in my spine, but I can do a full back bend, headstand and splits.

Dance has always been my passion. I had my first ballet lesson at 14 and knew then dance would be my life. Four years later I was performing in a night club in Boston and soon after that I was performing on Broadway.

 

Bloomer Girl, Oklahoma, Brigadoon, High Button Shoes and Kismet. I then went to Rio de Janeiro with the Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo. So from age 18, work was constant and life was and is really good. I’m still working creatively and love what I’m doing and have no intention of changing direction.

I have realized, that anything is possible, if you like who you are and what you do. Yes, anything is possible and even probable.

If you don’t train the body every day it withers. If you don’t train the mind everyday, you lose it. That’s why I learned Italian and French, as learning a language is a great mental exercise. I then challenged myself to write music. I wrote the music and lyrics for my first song “Free Fall,” which was inspired by flying on the trapeze. A CD followed with 12 songs: Scenes Of Passion. And then six tangos for Tango Insomnia. I now write short songs daily about things I do.

Tango dancing is a fantastic exercise, as it’s physical and emotional. It’s the only time, when I turn off my mind and just dance, so I am in the moment. To look effortless in dance is sheer beauty. That’s my desire. I’m still performing, as it keeps my body in tune, is good for my memory and it makes my life a joy. A triple Boleo in the air would make my journey complete. Marcos (my teacher/dance partner) says it will take two years. I tell him, I have time!

I admit, I’m driven but I’m driven by desire and that’s the formula. Desire is so powerful, like you are propelled as if from a canon. Desire to me is the driving force, but action is the result.

Working and accomplishing something mental and physical makes my day worth living and suddenly there is a break through, another step on the ladder. I don’t give up. The sun and moon are there for everyone. The journey is worth it! This trip has been good to me and I wouldn’t trade it for all the stars in the universe.

There is a way to beat the clock. Stay fit and enjoy the journey. Accept the challenge and go for it!

That’s what I did!”

Phyllis Sues Bio :

Phyllis Sues was born in New York City on April 4th, 1923. At the age of 14, Phyllis had her first ballet lesson and from that day on, she knew dance was for her. In 1941, Phyllis performed as a Spanish dancer in a USO tour for the Air Corps. From 1942 to 1948 she performed in five long-run Broadway shows and also danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. In 1948, Phyllis met performer and dancer, Donald Weissmuller. They were a successful dance duo and toured the world. In 1953, Phyllis married comic actor, Alan Sues and they performed together in comedy sketches in New York and Los Angeles. Phyllis continued to dance on TV until 1968. After moving to LA, with former late husband, Alan Sues, Phyllis started designing her own line of women’s high fashion sportswear. Her company ran for 22 years, under her own label.

In 2003, the passion of her life gave birth to music. Her instrument, the piano. Her genres, Jazz and Tango. Not only did Phyllis learn to dance the Tango at 83, she also composed and produced her own music. Phyllis brought together an extraordinary group of musicians including, Pablo Motta, Coco Trivisonno, Ronnie Manaog, Marcello Caceras and Chris Trujillo, and at 87, produced six beautiful Tangos and debuted her CD “Tango Insomnia.” Phyllis also produced a Jazz CD entitled, “Scenes of Passion” which she also performs on piano and sings vocals with Scarlet Rouge.

Now, at 89, Phyllis dances with her teacher and dance partner; performing in shows and competing. She is inspiring audiences and dancers nationwide. Phyllis practices Yoga everyday, which she started at age 85. Yoga helps her maintain the balance, core strength and elasticity, she needs to continue dancing. Phyllis is currently working on her new CD. Her music is available on iTunes, CD Baby and Amazon.

More information www.phyllissues.com

Let’s Tell a Better World Story

The Delight Makers first project, A Thousand Grandparents & Bed Time Stories, is designed as a Gift of Love for the World’s Children. It is an opportunity for young people to experience wisdom and inspiration from many sources, and to validate all cultures and peoples of the world as keepers of treasure for the unfolding spirit of humanity.

A short introduction about “A Thousand Grandparents & Bedtime Stories” by Samantha
(Founder of The Delightmakers)

To find out more about A Thousand Grandparents & Bed Time Stories please Click the Button below:

Bed Time Stories

 

About the The Delight Makers :

Our mission is to raise the consciousness of our planet in an inspiring, joyful and empowering way. If you would like to find out more about being part of our amazing community, Champions of Delight, please Click on the Button below. Your support will enable us to bring the gift of love and wisdom, through beautiful bed time stories, to children around the world, of all ages.

Become A Champion of Delight

 

If you would like to receive our FREE Newsletter please Click the Button below:

Register

One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.

The director discovered from his CV that the youth’s academic achievements were excellent. He asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” the youth answered “no”.

“Was it your father who paid for your school fees?”

“My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.

“Where did your mother work?”

“My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”

The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

“Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?”

“Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.”

The director said, “I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.”

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother’s hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.

After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes, when he asked: “Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?”

The youth answered,“I cleaned my mother’s hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes”

“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.”

The director said, “This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”

“You are hired.”

This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company’s performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an “entitlement mentality” and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent’s efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?

You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

Try to forward this story to as many as possible…this may change somebody’s fate.

Let’s Tell a Better World Story

The Delight Makers first project, A Thousand Grandparents & Bed Time Stories, is designed as a Gift of Love for the World’s Children. It is an opportunity for young people to experience wisdom and inspiration from many sources, and to validate all cultures and peoples of the world as keepers of treasure for the unfolding spirit of humanity.

A short introduction about “A Thousand Grandparents & Bedtime Stories” by Samantha
(Founder of The Delightmakers)

To find out more about A Thousand Grandparents & Bed Time Stories please Click the Button below:

Bed Time Stories

 

About the The Delight Makers :

Our mission is to raise the consciousness of our planet in an inspiring, joyful and empowering way. If you would like to find out more about being part of our amazing community, Champions of Delight, please Click on the Button below. Your support will enable us to bring the gift of love and wisdom, through beautiful bed time stories, to children around the world, of all ages.

Become A Champion of Delight

 

If you would like to receive our FREE Newsletter please Click the Button below:

Register