Love is a Movement

Great to see this. Over the years, I've used all s...

2010-06-11T22:31:37.648-05:00

Great to see this. Over the years, I've used all sorts of containers, like your milk cartons, for metered watering.

Theone drawback I find with milk cartons is their lack of aesthetics - they are ugly. Functional yes, pretty - no. If that doesnt matter to you, then its moot. Personally, I like something a bit more pleasing.
Last year I trialed large 2 ltr. soft drink bottles and a product called 'Aqua Spikes'
The hollow spike, full of holes, fits to the bottle and the whole affair is pressed into the ground, upside down, the bottle uppermost. Its much like those glass water globes you see on TV

I refine the concept and cut out the bottom of the bottle. I then water right into the open bottom of the bottle. Its all very controlled and by using the same colored bottles, it looks very homogenous, even pleasing.

Ive also duplicated the spike concept with PVC fittings.

I love it! Thanks!!

The effect and relation of a piece to the street, ...

2010-01-26T23:12:57.229-06:00

The effect and relation of a piece to the street, the public realm, the whole, is a key idea of urbanism.

Not a stretch at all.

Well said Ryan. I would still love to see every ki...

2010-01-12T11:24:32.662-06:00

Well said Ryan. I would still love to see every kid matched with a mentor.

I love this. Before leaving, one of our mentors t...

2009-12-09T17:14:49.532-06:00

I love this. Before leaving, one of our mentors told us that to make a lasting difference here in the mission field we really need to commit for 10 years. It takes 2 years to really immerse yourself in the culture, 5 years to cultivate relationships, and another 5 years to build upon all of that. He and Shane are on the same page.

Wow - that's great! I didn't see either of them, ...

2009-12-07T07:22:02.796-06:00

Wow - that's great! I didn't see either of them, but I'm sure they ran right past me. I think I've either met or seen pictures of both of them, but I'm not sure I could have picked them out in the crowd of runners.

Do they do any kind of marathon/10k/5k races in Peru? I'm guessing the terrain over there would make that a little difficult.

Did you happen to see any Bills? You may not even...

2009-12-07T06:54:27.536-06:00

Did you happen to see any Bills? You may not even know what they look like but my oldest brother, Pat, and youngest sibling, Katy, ran the half together.

Love your wisdom on the "Beware of Dog" houses! T...

2009-09-17T10:16:19.158-05:00

Love your wisdom on the "Beware of Dog" houses! Too funny.

Your newsletter looks GREAT! And it looks like you have a ton of support from all of the ads I saw. Did you put that whole thing together?

Amen, Ryan. Great post!

2009-08-13T10:28:32.976-05:00

Amen, Ryan. Great post!

Great thoughts and article!

2009-07-11T20:44:40.353-05:00

Great thoughts and article!

Wonderful thoughts, Ryan. Central Dallas Ministri...

2009-06-29T16:22:15.599-05:00

Wonderful thoughts, Ryan. Central Dallas Ministries is good at helping the poor discover what they have to give. I hope you'll keep teaching us about poverty and the poor.

Thanks for coming all the way from Peru just to re...

2009-06-17T14:43:13.589-05:00

Thanks for coming all the way from Peru just to read my little updates - what an honor! :)

I LOVE seeing your updates on the urban developmen...

2009-06-17T14:23:56.191-05:00

I LOVE seeing your updates on the urban development. The garden looks great, and please tell Emily that her flowers are gorgeous. I am so happy to keep up with your happenings. Keep them coming!

Hey, didn't I read about the "milk carton drip sys...

2009-05-28T20:40:46.472-05:00

Hey, didn't I read about the "milk carton drip system" in the Dick Cheney 'Welcome to Gitmo Handbook'?

Hey Steve Jr., Thanks for stopping by. We don't ...

2009-05-22T20:14:48.846-05:00

Hey Steve Jr.,

Thanks for stopping by. We don't really know what we're doing, but somehow things are still growing. :)

Look forward to meeting you next time you're down this way.

Hey, man ... thanks for sharing this. Great to se...

2009-05-21T07:54:02.001-05:00

Hey, man ... thanks for sharing this. Great to see that you guys are gardening. (or gah-dening, as we say it here in Boston) FYI -- I listed this post on a links roundup I just posted this morning.

Would love to meet you sometime. My parents speak very highly of you both. Glad you guys can all support each other in Memphis.

Peace.

Steve Holt Jr.

That is neat. Maybe our local Rotary Clubs can ...

2009-04-22T15:18:00.000-05:00

That is neat.

Maybe our local Rotary Clubs can start communicating with each other about their similar experiences.

Glad to read (from your blog) that you guys are doing well. I saw Mary Catherine Moody the other day (she donated a desk to MUM). She definitely keeps an eye on your blog - she was talking about each of your most recent posts - just thought that was neat.

Really, really cool. I am so excited to see this ...

2009-04-22T14:02:00.000-05:00

Really, really cool. I am so excited to see this in action. I can't wait to hear more.

Guess what? There is a Rotary Club here in Arequipa helping us to fund our first developmental project. I guess I thought it was pretty neat that they had a club here.

Grow, baby, grow!

2009-04-17T17:50:00.000-05:00

Grow, baby, grow!

I just watched this episode and it almost made me ...

2009-04-12T18:07:00.000-05:00

I just watched this episode and it almost made me cry. I think people should always see each other as human beings first. The US is a country of immigrants and people should be given the opportunity to live the American dream.

I really hope that family is okay especially the daughter, she is so sweet.

Actually, if you need fodder for a blog about your...

2009-03-29T21:44:00.000-05:00

Actually, if you need fodder for a blog about your funny uncle in CT, I've got plenty...

Ok Anonymous Uncle from Connecticut. I'm actually...

2009-03-29T14:39:00.000-05:00

Ok Anonymous Uncle from Connecticut. I'm actually working on a tribute post that is all about you, so just be patient. I started working on it the other day, but couldn't think of anything to write. Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll think of something eventually.

when you post stuff like this can you somehow figu...

2009-03-29T08:19:00.000-05:00

when you post stuff like this can you somehow figure out a way to give your uncle credit for what you're writing?

somehow I bet UConn - I mean I bet you can

(sorry, didn't mean to rub it in...)

It seems that many people are too short-sighted to...

2009-03-28T11:16:00.000-05:00

It seems that many people are too short-sighted to see the potential in some neighborhoods (let alone the individuals who live there). Wealthier citizens of Memphis/ Shelby County refer to certain areas as "bad parts of town." Bad to whom? They aren't "bad" to the people who live there...it's just home to them. I share your hope that one day the more depressed neighborhoods can be known for its wonderful people, not for its crime or poverty. That alone will go a long way toward renewing the area. Thanks for your concern and for yours and Emily's action on behalf of the special people of Memphis.

Thanks for stopping by Aaron. I appreciate your t...

2009-03-28T08:22:00.000-05:00

Thanks for stopping by Aaron. I appreciate your thoughts.

I'm excited about the skate park possibilities on Mud Island. I've been following the progress of that, so it's nice to have come across someone involved with that movement.

Hope we can meet up at some point.

You really hit the nail on the head. My own church...

2009-03-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

You really hit the nail on the head.
My own church struggles with this. We have, as most churches, have the band aid approach- it's safe, controlled and you can walk away once you are all done with your "day mission." For better or for worse I am finished with day missions. I view these trips like good luck charms.

You are tackling an issue that is lost on many here but can also be a source of feeding our own self-righteousness and pride.

We live in a community that is far from poor but our son's school is largely African American. From his attending this school we have found that our mission flows out of our daily lives when dealing with some of the issues that come up when helping parents of my son's friends. We send missionaries all

As to living and serving in really poor neighborhoods: Who really wants to subject their own children to an environment that you describe? Your suggestion is radical and critical to the solution and completely inline with how Jesus lead his life. The return of abundance starts with the return of a wealth of restored and healthy relationships.

Great post and keep up the great work. I would welcome a chance to meet you sometime. Love what you are doing!