It’s been a while…after finishing school, having a busy summer, organizing the Back to Nature Festival, and participating in the Environmental Forum, I’m going back to the things I love - besides family & friends of course: writing, growing food, and designing spaces.

Who saw Food, Inc. at Mountain Film? Did it fundamentally change the way you think about food?

I’ve read Omnivore’s Dilemma, The Stolen Harvest, and recently The Hundred Year Lie.

I’m an omnivore that was once a vegetarian.

I feel sadness for animals that meet their death on our roads.

I’ve studied sustainability.

I wear leather and sometimes leave on the lights.

I’m human and subjected to the same sensations of hunger, appeals for a “better life” through omnipresent advertising, and pressed for time due to the societal pressure to “succeed” or at least pay the bills.

I’m not a repetitive machine.

With each story that is told and lie that is exposed, the veil is slowly lifted to reveal an evolving conscious eater.

It feels hopeless sometimes, knowing that our bodies carry an average body burden of over 700 man-made chemicals, or that over 75% of our meat comes from four major corporations, or that we can’t seem to squeeze another hour out of the day to prepare whole foods.

We are not machines. We do have a conscience. We possess the ability to revolutionize...

As the end of the year rapidly approaches, I find myself reflecting on endings and beginnings.

Why do we mark off time into parcels? We close the file on a whole year, make a few resolutions to do better next year (which are mostly promptly forgotten) and life goes on as usual.

The New Year and its strong symbolism of starting over seems to be the most commonly shared human recognition of a power we all possess. It transcends boundaries, race and culture.

As an alcoholic steeped in the wisdom and practicality of the Alcoholics Anonymous program and its principles, I know that this power can be applied without regard to a yearly interval.

We AAs sound like a flock of sober parrots saying, "One day at a time!" or NA's corollary phrase, "Just for today".

Most alcoholics and addicts can scarcely imagine a whole year without drinking or drugging but we CAN conceive of staying sober for 24 hours. If we can bite off that much of our sobriety, it is much easier to chew and digest. If we stay sober, one day at time, a lifetime of sobriety is the result.

Shakespeare said in the Tempest, "We are such stuff as dreams are made of, and our little life is rounded with a sleep".

Some religions believe in reincarnation and that after the end of each life we have an opportunity to start over. Hopefully to do better in each successive life, until perfection is reached.
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Introduction
Mary Wentworth Jackson submitted this story to The Readers Digest many years ago. Mary received her rejection letter per postmark on March 8, 1956 from Readers Digest’s Pleasantville, New York office. I’m going to publish it for her today on SoWal. She would like that. It is typed from her returned copy. Mary and her husband Walter Webb "Jack" Jackson owned a motel in DeFuniak Springs, Florida and one of the earliest beach homes on Tresca Lake in South Walton. Their motel was along Highway 90, part of the “New” Spanish Trail road system developed after 1920. The “real” or historic Spanish Trail in this part of Florida is closer to Highway 2, according to Bob Hurst, an area map expert. Highway 90 was a main route into Florida before Interstate 10 was constructed. If you don’t know what a prickly pear is, you’ll know after this story. Her story also gives insight into 1940s/50s Walton County. The incident probably occurred around 1943. Imagine, a motel with a bull. Mary was my grandmother and was affectionately known as “Nana.” I am thankful this Thanksgiving Holiday for her having been my grandmother. She was an interesting, delightful person who added spark to Walton County. Read more about her Wentworth family on my Pensacola history blog. Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida





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What do I see a feast for you and me. There is mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and beans. Looks so good it's shaking my knees. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoe pie, oh my goodness, oh me oh my. Corn on the cob, corn bread with butter, taste so neat, can't wait to eat. The guest of honor is now here. A golden bird like no other, cooked to perfection by your sweet Mother. Finally it's time to dine, make a toast with some white wine. Too family and friends, may great times like these never end please!

Upcoming Event:

Our 3rd Annual 30A Radiothon is December 4th at noon through December 5th at noon. Our goal this year is $15,000!!!

We need your help to stay on the air another year! 30A Radio is a not for profit 501(3)c organization that relies totally on our listener’s support! Join us for what is sure to be an exciting 24 hours of 30A Radio.
For starters, the station needs new equipment to keep things running smoothly. Danny, our Operations Manager, needs a computer that won't crash every time he does remote work on the station’s studio. Also, some of our ancient broadcast gear dates back to WWII, and is on it’s last leg. We would like to bring our sonic integrity up to date for all of our faithful listeners. And we have our new Web/Podcast site we would like to continue to provide for you, as well.

We also need our own live, on location DJ equipment. Every time we do a live remote we have to borrow a PA system. Mark Stroop and John R (thank you for being the great supporters of 30A Radio that you have been) have always been there for us with loaner equipment. But, as we do more community events, they may not always be able to provide us with help.

We invite you to browse the new 30A Radio Website and help us out in any way you are able. We are offering some pretty competitive prices on some very cool stuff.

The point is, a station as good as ours takes a few bucks to keep...