women and gardener's 8th intelligence. apparently, i am a witch.

[mopinko]

Last edited Sun Aug 3, 2014, 01:50 PM - Edit history (1)

(x-posting for more eyes- http://www.democraticunderground.com/113911387#post18)

so, gardener's 8th (last. hmm) intelligence is the naturalist.
the grower, the nurturer and the teacher of all things wild.

i am this. i always was this. my dad was this. both my gramps were this.
4 of my 5 kids are this.

the randomness of the universe delivered me a chance to spend my "golden years" doing this. my little farm is the place i am. i spend ssoooo much time teaching, especially kids. i get visitors all the time. i have no fence. i live in a less-than average density area of the city. but it is still the city

i also, of course, get a little more than my share of freaks.
since i started this 2 1/2 years ago, i have had a dozen visits from the city, long chats with my alderman's staff, and a bazillion hours of tense neighborhood relations work.
when you have ZERO of the 8th intelligence, i can talk to you all day, and you wont get it. when you have it, which is to say, a lot of adults, and pretty much every kid, you fall in love with the whole place.

i have taken to making jokes about being a witch. i believe that this is what the whole archetype of the witch comes from. or vice versa. but i do think some of these people watched too many disney movies.
i actually had one neighbor react to my excitement that we once again have breeding crows in the hood, a decade+ after west nile virus wiped them out, with horror. oooo i hate the crows. i am afraid of the crows.
this fool actually called the city to complain that i was attracting crows. and the fool from the city actually repeated that complaint to me, like it was a legit complaint.

and of course, there are the complaints about rats.
i have places of harborage. not rats, just hiding places.
i keep chickens. just look on the interwebs for chickens and rats i was told.
(i keep one of the tightest coops in the city.)
when i acquired some formerly feral cats to combat THEIR rats, (we are nearly 0 food waste here, it isnt me.) they had a shit fit about that.
i have 4 working dogs. 2 terriers, yes, rat terriers, and 2 big bull dogs.
i am to blame for all animal noise on the block.
and that includes my roo, who i can barely hear on my own back porch.

so, anyway, why i bring this here is this-
i would like to tap the hive mind about witch trials.
i would like to be able to cite specific, documented instances of women like me, who were stripped of their property.
and ftr, i am the crone of story and song.
i am 60 yo, skinny, wiry, tattooed. unkempt white hair.
property.
a propensity to subvert parental authority by talking to children without permission.
a plot full of weeds. which i know the names and uses for.

and a very short temper attached to a very big mouth.
my first tat was my avatar, with the wording-
you say i'm a bitch like it's a bad thing.

and of course, i am master of dogs, cats, chickens, rats and crows. so far. i have my eye on a little black squirrel that just ventured out of the nest the other day.

so, my beloved hive mind-
load me up. i want the cites and the names.


(ps, yes, there may be a law suit in the future. we shall see. i may just pack up and move this act somewhere where i dont have to take this shit. my divorce settlement would keep my in umbrella drinks and fresh mangos for the rest of my life in costa rica. and i wouldnt have to work like a rented mule. either way, i will have the last laugh here.)

xo du


eta-
link to wiki on gardener-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences

[brooklynite]

1. Would it be insulting to say I have no idea what you're talking about?

[mopinko]

3. probably. at least somewhat.

you care enough to post. is there something cogent you would like to ask, so i can clarify?

[procon]

5. Whew...

thank you! I thought it was the onset of a massive stroke.

[lululu]

15. me too

[La Lioness Priyanka]

30. me too. nt

[Viva_Daddy]

2. "I'll have whatever she's having."

[mopinko]

4. prolly not.

i am having a shitty time these days.
if you have something good, i'm game.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I can't say that I've ever been accused of witchcraft,

but I do have next-door neighbors who hate my yard (a small city lot) because I took up all the grass and planted native shrubs, plants and a few fruit trees. They became rather irate a few years ago when I had the sod removed between our houses - I own 1-1/2 lots. When the neighbors moved in about 10 years ago he started mowing part of my yard, the grassy area between the houses, and when I pointed out where the property line was he was surprised. He'd even installed a lawn sprinkler head on my property, which I told him he'd have to remove. Then, when I had the sod taken up, neighbor came over and complained, said I shouldn't do that because he likes grass. I replied that I didn't especially like grass and wanted a garden.

Over the next few years I had the entire lot professionally re-landscaped by a local expert in native plants so there is no longer any turf grass at all. Instead there are things like bee balm, joe-pye weed, asters, milkweed, and other pollinator-friendly plants. Neighbors hate this and have accused me of harboring wild animals such as raccoons, thus frightening their child so badly that she is afraid to play in their back yard (which is bullshit; she's there all the time). There probably have been some raccoons - they are everywhere in this city - but I don't "harbor" them.

Over the years I have occasionally found large branches from trees that I don't have lying in my garden. I have determined that these came from the neighbor's trees. Apparently they figured it was easier to just dump them in my yard than bother to cut them up and haul them away.

Then last spring they stomped over here and demanded that I cut down my trees (hackberry, mulberry and maple) that are near the property line on my side because they were too close to the power lines to their house and this was going to cause a fire that would burn their house down and I had to do this right now. Of course I refused (politely, I might add), but told them they had the legal right to trim branches that were over their property, up to the propery line, as long as they didn't harm the trees. They didn't like this response and got very angry, then demanded that I pay for this work. I said sorry but the law says that's your responsibility (which it is). And then I gave them the name of a good arborist.

Nothing happened for months - until October. I came home one afternoon to find that they had hacked many branches off my trees, well beyond the property line, and completely cut down several of my shrubs. And they threw all the branches, a couple hundred pounds worth, into my garden. When I complained (as politely as I could manage), the wife went completely nuts, called me all sorts of names, accused me of growing weeds, encouraging wild animals and ruining the looks of the neighborhood, and told me everyone else in the neighborhood hated my yard (I checked on this with other neighbors; they said they liked my yard).

So this spring I put up a 6' privacy fence in the back yard. Neighbors just bought their kid a trampoline. They might as well have bought her a crate of dynamite or a pet leopard - and they had the nerve to complain that I was endangering her with raccoons.

Today I got a notice from the city directing me to get rid of the poison ivy in my front yard. There is no poison ivy in my front yard or anywhere else. There is, however, some hog peanut vine, which is a native nitrogen-fixing ground cover that has edible seeds. Its leaves are in groups of three so it is occasionally mistaken for poison ivy by the botanically challenged. The city doesn't send out correction letters except in response to a complaint. I have no doubt where the complaint came from. I have left a message for the inspector to please come and look at my hog peanuts that are not poison ivy.

I am an old retired woman, living alone, so I suppose they do think I'm a witch or maybe a hippie because I like nature and don't dump poisons all over my yard like they do. I wish I were a witch so I could put a hex on their nasty entitled yuppie asses.

I get what you're talking about...

[Shrike47]

13. In Oregon we have laws against timber trespass with treble damages. You cut somebody's trees,

you pay a pretty penny. It cuts down on tree rustling.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. We have something like that here, too,

and I considered getting legal on them, but then concluded it wasn't worth it - when disputes between neighbors start to escalate it can get really nasty. I'd rather just avoid these assholes as much as possible. The big trees will be OK and the fence will probably deter any further incursions.

[lululu]

17. I am sorry your shrubs were cut down and trees damaged

I thought I had the neighbors from hell, but yours are right up there.

(What's their kid doing out unattended after dark? It's rare to see a raccoon in the daytime.)

I have a lung condition, and my neighbors from hell just had a cord of wood delivered, even though they know their burning wood outside sent me to the ER last time. I tried having the house air tightened, but it is hard to find people knowledgeable about that. There only seem to be contractors who want to do it as part of mega thousands of dollars replacing windows.

You and I are of the same mind, not wanting things to escalate.

Feel free to message me off line any time you want to vent. I have had the witch-type fantasies myself. Like a plane crashes into their house and obliterates it

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. Ha! - Yeah, I've had a few evil fantasies. But mostly,

I just wish they'd leave me and my yard alone. Or better yet, move away. They belong in some gated community with a fascist, authoritarian homeowners' association that requires everyone's houses and golf course-like yards to look the same.

Your neighbors are also inconsiderate asses. I'm assuming they are burning their wood in a legal way, like in a fire pit; but if not, turn 'em in even if it pisses them off. If they know their wood-burning makes you sick, and if you get sick again, sue their selfish asses for nuisance. Damaging some trees is one thing; damaging your health is something else altogether.

Good luck...

[lululu]

29. no, not legal

They are burning it in a firepit, but in terms of the fire ordinance too close to their house, too late at night, and sometimes unattended. But I'm sure if I turned them in, they'd more it closer to the lot line and so on, which is legal.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. Well, then,

not that I'd actually want such a thing to happen, maybe they'll set their own damn house on fire.

[Marrah_G]

7. I think you might need to post a little more for people to understand what you are talking about

and I am a Witch

[mopinko]

19. well i thought it long enough.

the details of my story arent the important part.
the history of the cultural perception of old women, crones, is what the point is.

[Drew Richards]

8. Dear Sister of Nature and of what is Unseen...I have found that there is no point in the fight

Fear begets fear,

Anger begets anger,

And ignorance is contagious.

Move out to the country and live, "with your bad self"

Live, love and be happy.

If I ever become wealthy and build my dream, a living co-op...

You shall have a seat at the table...

But, if you must pursue...do some research on two things.

Foxfire books on traditional living... specifically the doctors and PHD's that wrote them...

And

Witchcraft trial in the US...you should find all the info you need to paint them as ignorant fools...

Drew.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. good advice for

any one.

[mopinko]

20. so much biased history out there.

so much written to obscure the real reasons why these women were hated.

you can usually find the hidden histories here, from people who know them well.

[freebrew]

10. Be careful for what you wish...

maybe not a witch trial, but today, cities can declare eminent domain and just kick your ass out.
Or like the Scott guy, accuse you of being a drug dealer, come in and shoot you.

I had a nice place, on a lake. Then, neighbors moved in from out of the area, from cities.
They wanted the same laws as they were used to(the ones they liked). They abused the lack of law(gunfire) at the same time. Basically, forced me to move.

If you have the time and energy, and you like doing it, fight them. If not, find a way to have fun and screw them.

'Them' being the forces trying to hurt you.

And remember: just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not after you.

[mopinko]

21. yeah, they wont be taking my property.

the crash left plenty of property laying around chicago and cook county.
in fact, i could probably get a much bigger place elsewhere in the city. cook county has a land bank of foreclosed and abandoned properties, and they support farm startups.

i like doing it where it is seen by so many people.
i hate doing it where it is seen by so many people.

[hunter]

11. I understand 100%.

My own parents are artists, gardeners, and confusing neighbors. They ended up escaping to a tropical wilderness, rather like your mention of Costa Rica. I haven't visited their retirement refuge yet.

I'm considered a bit eccentric by my neighbors, but nobody sweats the small stuff. Our city is wild west. Law enforcement and city officials have more than enough on their plates dealing with gangsters and dangerous housing.

A dozen undocumented working men living in a plywood-and-cardboard walled car port will get their attention, people shooting at one another will get their attention, but somebody enjoying a rough country garden in their own front yard, corn and peppers and beans, somebody renovating an old car on their own front driveway, a few chickens, even annoying things like kids playing with fireworks and graffiti on the walls, that isn't even on their radar.

[mopinko]

22. that's how it was when i moved here.

the place was an eyesore for over 20 years, and 3 years later it's supposed to be martha stewart's farm.

maybe i should have let my own property run down all these years, instead of having the best kept building on the block. maybe the rest of the block wouldnt have perked up so.

[Treant]

12. I get this

The property line is the difference, in all directions, between sickly yellow-green and deep forest green as you move onto our property.

Which supports 2,000 square feet of flower garden because I like flowers, in addition to the ten thousand square feet of grass because I like grass.

The grasshoppers and robins also like the grass and gardens. The goldfinches, other finches, sparrows, orioles, and hummingbirds prefer the gardens. Most of the insects show no preference and show up in either, except the bees. All four species of them, plus sphinx moths, nondescript moths, and several butterfly species.

There's very little contention with most neighbors except my rear one, who's so competitive and so incensed by the fact that I effortlessly (and organically) outcompete his synthetic lawn that he tried to steal eight feet of property to the back shrubs (I think so it'd end up looking as bad as the rest of his property). That didn't work too well as...well, just don't do that to me.

Although one word used about the talent employed here is "unnatural," as in it's unnatural for plants to get that big, flower that heavily, and grow that well.

Obviously not, I managed it. Still, jokes get made about sacrifices.

I think any person with a very visible talent that outstrips those around him or her would be open to commentary like this, and there are certainly numerous stories of talents gained or enhanced by mystical means.

In my case, the "mystical means" are soil manuals, soil tests, resource balancing, knowing the habits of the plants I use, and paying very close attention to what the plants are telling me.

Or, nothing mystical about it. It just looks effortless from the outside. From the inside, it's a ton of work.

[mackerel]

16. When did Gardner come up with an 8th intelligence?

[mopinko]

18. 1983

[Marrah_G]

27. I think he meant Gerald Gardner :)

When I read your subject line it was my first thought.

[mackerel]

28. I missed this. In my course work we were always taught that there were 7 distinct intelligences.

This was based on Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. We used it for teaching the process of writing.

Maybe for layman purposes it would be good to put up a link?

[mopinko]

23. really? people's past posts are part of the jury process?

Explanation: Why alert on this? This response clearly shows no time was taken to see what the OP was about, these same neighbors were the subject of other threads by this author. Time and again we see people commenting without having a clue. Expose them for what they are.


speaking of incoherent.
one thread. different neighbors.

the axe grinding is getting pretty ridiculous around here.

[yellerpup]

24. If I were your neighbor, we'd both be in trouble.

Without the neighborhood nags, you sound like you live in a little slice of heaven. Sorry they're giving you a hard time, glad to know you'll land on your feet no matter what.

In Kansas, 1965, another "new" girl in school and I levitated a big girl in home-ec class and had to do detention practically for the rest of the year. It was as big a surprise to us as it was to everyone else, but it happened and everyone was in on it. A night or two later, a load of kids in a souped up car dragged up and down my street, then flung a burning Bible into the bush beneath my bedroom window. I was glad to move away from that town.

[MineralMan]

25. The eighth intelligence is less common and less

valued than it once was. A great pity, that.

For those who aren't getting this:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences