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Front yard resistance
Our front yard attracts a lot of tourists. It is a riot of colour and height, filled with growing food and medicine and native pollinating species. Vines climb trellises built from discarded bike rims and hockey sticks. The soil is nourished by a biodegrading Christmas tree buried the year before we tore out the sod. Typically there is a lawn sign or two advocating for something related to environmental and/or social justice.
It pleases my eyes, but it is also a manifestation of my values. I see it as a deliberate act of resistance to the status quo, the idea that we should conform to social norms, and not push back on what causes harm. Activism can involve petitions and civil disobedience and letter writing ... and it can also involve conversations with neighbours, and the welcoming of bumble bees. I will update this page (scroll down for the latest) with ideas, thoughts, and suggestions for how all of us can engage in front yard resistance. |
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March/April 2024 - Federal Election thoughts
We are in YET another election. In Toronto St. Paul we were less than a year ago. I personally have been disgusted by the rhetoric of the party that currently holds the MP seat in our riding (and extremely appalled by the strategic ousting of Dr. Jill Andrews of the MPP seat in the recent provincial election https://thecjn.ca/news/st-pauls-2025/).
Canada is one of very few nations in the world (can you guess the others?) that still stand in support of Israel's genocidal actions against Palestinians (https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CourtRecords/0902ebd1809a40bf.pdf). Our leaders have taken no action to stop the massacre of Palestinians, such as:
If you are curious about the position of candidates in this riding or others, visit https://votepalestine.ca/.
Palestine is not a single issue. Standing with Palestine and demanding your elected representatives do so as well not only supports the liberation of Palestinians, but stands for human rights, environmental justice, and anti-oppression.
From Turtle Island to Palestine.
We are in YET another election. In Toronto St. Paul we were less than a year ago. I personally have been disgusted by the rhetoric of the party that currently holds the MP seat in our riding (and extremely appalled by the strategic ousting of Dr. Jill Andrews of the MPP seat in the recent provincial election https://thecjn.ca/news/st-pauls-2025/).
Canada is one of very few nations in the world (can you guess the others?) that still stand in support of Israel's genocidal actions against Palestinians (https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CourtRecords/0902ebd1809a40bf.pdf). Our leaders have taken no action to stop the massacre of Palestinians, such as:
- declaring what is happening through a two-way arms embargo
- declare the state-hood of Palestine
- end any and all Canadian participation in illegal settlements in Palestine
- uphold the findings of the ICC and ICJ, which is obligatory according in international law
- use tax dollars to meaningful AID Gazans, on the ground in Palestine and/or through settlement programs here rather than using tax dollars to fund militarization and war crimes
If you are curious about the position of candidates in this riding or others, visit https://votepalestine.ca/.
Palestine is not a single issue. Standing with Palestine and demanding your elected representatives do so as well not only supports the liberation of Palestinians, but stands for human rights, environmental justice, and anti-oppression.
From Turtle Island to Palestine.
November 2024 - Bike lanes save lives
Two years ago I was hit from behind by the driver of a Lamborghini SUV while I was biking to work. I was very fortunate to survive the crash - my helmet saved my life, please wear one - but I sustained a brain injury that has dramatically changed my life. I am currently unable to work, or to do many of my previous activities. So it is particularly devastating that the provincial government is considering a bill to limit and even remove bike lanes in the province to combat congestion.
The evidence is clear. Bike lanes protect vulnerable road users, which encourages more people to cycle, getting cars off the road, improving congestion, reducing carbon emissions, benefitting air quality, and benefitting physical, mental and emotional health.
Please consider taking action to opposed Bill 212. Visit https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-9265 to submit a comment before November 20, 2024.
Two years ago I was hit from behind by the driver of a Lamborghini SUV while I was biking to work. I was very fortunate to survive the crash - my helmet saved my life, please wear one - but I sustained a brain injury that has dramatically changed my life. I am currently unable to work, or to do many of my previous activities. So it is particularly devastating that the provincial government is considering a bill to limit and even remove bike lanes in the province to combat congestion.
The evidence is clear. Bike lanes protect vulnerable road users, which encourages more people to cycle, getting cars off the road, improving congestion, reducing carbon emissions, benefitting air quality, and benefitting physical, mental and emotional health.
Please consider taking action to opposed Bill 212. Visit https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-9265 to submit a comment before November 20, 2024.
January 2024 - The atrocities continue.
The poem of Refaat Alareer has become well-known in recent weeks, especially since his death in Gaza. He calls for his death to not be in vain. To fly white kites as a sign of hope.
I fly this kite as a symbol of hope for peace for all who share this planet. Yes for those in Palestine and those in Israel. Also in Sudan and Congo. In Ukraine. Haiti. Armenia. Afghanistan … and for peace in all of our hearts.
The poem of Refaat Alareer has become well-known in recent weeks, especially since his death in Gaza. He calls for his death to not be in vain. To fly white kites as a sign of hope.
I fly this kite as a symbol of hope for peace for all who share this planet. Yes for those in Palestine and those in Israel. Also in Sudan and Congo. In Ukraine. Haiti. Armenia. Afghanistan … and for peace in all of our hearts.
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“IF I MUST DIE” BY REFAAT ALAREER
If I must die, you must live to tell my story to sell my things to buy a piece of cloth and some strings, (make it white with a long tail) so that a child, somewhere in Gaza while looking heaven in the eye awaiting his dad who left in a blaze— and bid no one farewell not even to his flesh not even to himself— sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above and thinks for a moment an angel is there bringing back love If I must die let it bring hope let it be a tale |
فال بد أن تعيش أنت
رفعت العرعير إذا كان ال بد أن أموت فال بد أن تعيش أنت لتروي حكايتي لتبيع أشيائي وتشتري قطعة قماش وخيوطا (فلتكن بيضاء وبذيل طويل) كي يبصر طفل في مكان ما من ّغّزة وهو يح ّّدق في السماء منتظرًاً أباه الذي رحل فجأة دون أن يودع أحدًاً وال حتى لحمه أو ذاته يبصر الطائرة الورقّية طائرتي الورقية التي صنعَتها أنت تحّلق في الأعالي ويظ ّّن للحظة أن هناك مالكًاً يعيد الحب إذا كان ال بد أن أموت فليأ ِِت موتي باألمل فليصبح حكاية ترجمة سنان أنطون Translation by Sinan Antoon |
November 2023 - There is a massacre happening in Gaza, Palestine. A horrific massacre on October 7 occured against hundreds of Israelis, and while Israel has the right to defend itself, it does NOT have the right to commit the war crimes it is currently committing. While the politics, history, morality related to the ongoing hundreds/thousands years old tension in the region may indeed be complex, nothing excuses the actions that the state of Israel is taking currently, or the ways in which Hamas is using and abusing Palestinian people and infrastructure, or the complicitness of the Canadian and US governments.
As a doctor, it is my professional responsibility to speak up about injustice, especially when it affects human health (spoiler: injustice ALWAYS affects human health). So.
Many folks feel uncomfortable taking action on this situation. Understandably. It's fraught. People have lost friends. People have been punished at work. People are afraid to misspeak. People claim not to understand the complexity. People aren't sure their voices will be heard or heeded.
But as many wise people have pointed out - being neutral in the face of injustice is taking the side of the oppressor.
I personally take the side of peace. If you do too, CLICK HERE for some resources that might be helpful to you to take action.
As a doctor, it is my professional responsibility to speak up about injustice, especially when it affects human health (spoiler: injustice ALWAYS affects human health). So.
Many folks feel uncomfortable taking action on this situation. Understandably. It's fraught. People have lost friends. People have been punished at work. People are afraid to misspeak. People claim not to understand the complexity. People aren't sure their voices will be heard or heeded.
But as many wise people have pointed out - being neutral in the face of injustice is taking the side of the oppressor.
I personally take the side of peace. If you do too, CLICK HERE for some resources that might be helpful to you to take action.
May 31, 2023 - A friend stopped by the other day. We were standing on the sidewalk in front of the house marvelling at the exquisite iris. A woman walked up and said, “that’s an iris. A stunning one. I don’t know what’s going on with … the rest of this,” gesturing vaguely to the yard. I told her it was my home. Pat thought she should have taken her foot out of her mouth and apologized, but she didn’t.
“What IS going on?”
I did my best to explain that food bearing plants would go in the bare patches. Beans will climb the trellis. With any luck, sunflowers will beautify the hideous fencing. And if none of that goes as planned, there will instead be wild flowers and grasses that promote the health of the ecosystem.
Others may see a mess that doesn’t align with their idea of what a proper garden or yard should look like. I see medicine, food, symbiotic organisms. There is a healthy strawberry and raspberry patch. Legumes to pull nitrogen from the air for others to use, and corn preparing to support their vines. Ants that are busily helping a peony to bloom. Yarrow preparing to draw aphids from the tomatoes. Lettuce and spinach that seeded themselves reaching for the sun. Nasturtium seeds saved from last year taking root along the edge to make a brilliant border. Cosmos pushing up in the front. A massive rose bush that can’t be contained (that tiny patch of soil next to the stairs is truly magic). A secret shade garden of hydrangeas, hostas, columbines and periwinkle that welcome the flocks of birds that sing in the shade of the cedar. Day lilies that will be brilliant in a month or two, and are amazing at growing in terrible soil.
And a beautiful smattering of taraxacum and arctium, and plantago and symphytum that just show up because they are welcome here.
And that’s just the front.
When we moved in eight years ago, there was grass and dirt. And a lot of knotweed. Almost none of this plant matter was purchased. Nature has taught me what to do. I’m not a “productive” gardener. I’m a pretty lazy one.
That’s what’s going on.
I continue to learn about and marvel at the plant life in the yard and the insect life that it invites. I've started to document it, and learn more about how these plants give to us and to one another. And also how we can help (or at least not mess it up). Click here to see my list; feel free to add your comments!
“What IS going on?”
I did my best to explain that food bearing plants would go in the bare patches. Beans will climb the trellis. With any luck, sunflowers will beautify the hideous fencing. And if none of that goes as planned, there will instead be wild flowers and grasses that promote the health of the ecosystem.
Others may see a mess that doesn’t align with their idea of what a proper garden or yard should look like. I see medicine, food, symbiotic organisms. There is a healthy strawberry and raspberry patch. Legumes to pull nitrogen from the air for others to use, and corn preparing to support their vines. Ants that are busily helping a peony to bloom. Yarrow preparing to draw aphids from the tomatoes. Lettuce and spinach that seeded themselves reaching for the sun. Nasturtium seeds saved from last year taking root along the edge to make a brilliant border. Cosmos pushing up in the front. A massive rose bush that can’t be contained (that tiny patch of soil next to the stairs is truly magic). A secret shade garden of hydrangeas, hostas, columbines and periwinkle that welcome the flocks of birds that sing in the shade of the cedar. Day lilies that will be brilliant in a month or two, and are amazing at growing in terrible soil.
And a beautiful smattering of taraxacum and arctium, and plantago and symphytum that just show up because they are welcome here.
And that’s just the front.
When we moved in eight years ago, there was grass and dirt. And a lot of knotweed. Almost none of this plant matter was purchased. Nature has taught me what to do. I’m not a “productive” gardener. I’m a pretty lazy one.
That’s what’s going on.
I continue to learn about and marvel at the plant life in the yard and the insect life that it invites. I've started to document it, and learn more about how these plants give to us and to one another. And also how we can help (or at least not mess it up). Click here to see my list; feel free to add your comments!
August 11 - I have been fascinated by labyrinths in recent years. As the many-generations descendent of settlers to Turtle Island, I have been curious by my own Indigeneity, and even more by the universal wisdom of all land-based traditions and cultures. I have learned that labyrinths may be one of those universal truths. I have played with the practice (part cognitive, part artistic) of drawing labyrinths, and the mindfulness involved in the walking. I have built a labyrinth with native plant species lining the path, encouraging the walker to contemplate through all their senses as they move toward the center and back out. Here, I invite you to walk this labyrinth when you pass by. What does the experience stir up for you? Do you feel silly? Peaceful? Centered? Inspired? In what ways do labyrinth walking on an urban driveway resist harmful social norms?
June 28 - In some communities, it's common to see a yard that looks like mine. In others (like this one), it's unusual. It's fascinating to explore the reasons for our cultural norms. Where do lawns come from? Why are uniform, green lawns considered desirable to some? Why are they shunned by others? Tkaronto-based writer Shailee Koranee takes us on this journey in her recent article "Mowed Down." The mic drop at the end reads, "if you're privileged enough to own land [or rent it, in my case], recognize the potential of what your space could be - environmentally friendly, biodiverse, and simply, more interesting." If you're interested in converting your space, and aren't sure where to begin, I'd love to help!
April 8 - If you look up above the house, you'll see ... sky. There used to be a magnificent, healthy fir tree that was the home to many other species. Although trees are a key component of the city's resilience action strategy, and despite my efforts to oppose its removal on these grounds, the city permitted its destruction last week in order to demolish and enlarge the size of the house next door. When I took direct action to block its death, the police were called and my mental health was questioned.
Criminalizing and pathologizing the radical action of individuals who heed the science-informed urgency of the climate crisis perpetuates a system that prioritizes economic growth over all else. Read more here, and take action to push back against this system:
http://lesliesolomonian.weebly.com/lesliesmusings/on-comfortable.
Criminalizing and pathologizing the radical action of individuals who heed the science-informed urgency of the climate crisis perpetuates a system that prioritizes economic growth over all else. Read more here, and take action to push back against this system:
http://lesliesolomonian.weebly.com/lesliesmusings/on-comfortable.
