J.R. "Dog" Dobbs

Dobbs, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

@ Two Months

Proto Pipe

Proto Pipe, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

My friend Doug has one of these. I always admired it. I love the feel and look of brass. The bottom pops out for easy cleaning, with the poker which locks in the middle tube that holds the stash, andalso cleans the smoking chamber. The lid slides to a tight fit to prevent spilling and/or odor. Well made thing give me great pleasure.

Yep

Porn2, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Year is winding down and speeding up at the same time for me. Feeling a need to process, clean up, organize, administrate, prioritize, and find an excuse to use the word flummoxed.

But I'm not feeling confused, or perplexed. Feeling more whelmed on the verge of over. Last week I was wondering if I would ever write again. All the time that I could or would use for writing has been spent making videos. I'm hooked on candy graphics, giving myself a crash course in editing on iMovie. The graphics are designed to be played on the big screen at shows and clubs. Though I am editing them in time with certain songs, they are meant to be good with anything that has a beat. I have been kaliedescoping moving images with natural undulations, mainly Water, Fire, and Porno.

At the moment I'm converting a video to fit YouTube, Listing to KCRW on line, blogging this thing, updating my Flickr site to upload a picture of my new smoking device to post above this entry. Transfering files to my external hard drive. I'm also doing laundry and periodically snaping at J.R. "Dog" Dobbs for biting my ankles.

I have to do last springs cleaning, LOADS of laundry, move a nursery, finish a landscaping job, shop for my daughters birthday, work out a business agreement between a non-profit group and myself, negotiate a ten year lease on the new nursery/"office", maintain the half acre around my house, write up a business proposal for my interactive entertainment concept, write up an estimate for what it will take to set up my new farming operation to supply the new Whole Foods coming to town, edit the pilot for the Dark Night show, Start planning the TV shows for January, train a puppy, etc.

I'll feel better when I prioritize all that stuff so I don't spin out about where to spend my energy at any givin moment.

I'll have to put that on the list.












Ga

Defered Maintenance

Odd Thing, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Coasting Down from an ostensibly objective perspective.

Where to start, the hardest part. Defered Maintenace forms in my mind in bold print. I'm having a hard time seeing beyond it.

Piled high these things not done. I scale the pile of what to do's and take a gander at the higher perspective and see what all this defered maintenace is part of. At this vantage I see the Big Idea in relation to the things Not Done in relation to It and I do have to pause to appreciate the process of the gig I have that has me. Things, projects, endeavors, relationships all intertwined and in need of maintenance. Feed the puppies so they grow into big dogs not so in need of the constant nurturing necesary in the early stages of development.

"There are two kinds of people in this world: Those that suffer from a lack of life, and thise that suffer from an over abundance of life." -old dude in a bar : Waking Life

I'm understanding this quote better now.

Wakikng Life lied to Me

00000, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Note: I CAN adjust lighting levels in my dream.



I was shooting a movie. I was on the beach trying to get people to participate. I wanted to shoot a scene where there was a long line of people walking into the ocean. The idea was that they were following the dolphins lead: as the story goes, the dolphins were land mamals long ago, that decided to return to the sea.

I woke up and was looking in the fridge for something to eat, I was putting something togeather, and put it all in a tupperware container. then, a moment later, I opened up the container and there was a graesy mexican dish, and the puppy was in there. He was all greasy. I started to wash him in the sink. There were people around, people like I grew up with, disconnected dogmatic religeous types. I started asking them who put my puppy in the tupperware. They acted like I was freaking out over nothing. I thought to myself that I might be dreaming, so I tried to flick the lights on and off. They worked. So I was bummed that this was really hapening.

I found myself in a vehicle driving down the road as a passenger with a few others. I saw a little boy on a motorcycle collide head on with a car, and he went flying. No one else saw what I saw, and no one else stopped. I told the driver to pull over and ran back to investigate. I ran into a building that was where the road had been prviously and there was a big haired lady talking with someone. The others were talking to her about the boy, and it was hers appearantly. They all seemed relieved that he died in an accident. I ran past them to the boy, who was lying face down. He was tiny, maybe eight inches long, pale, amd naked like an alien. No one seemed to care. I thought that they might be right, that he was better off dead, but I couldn't help feel compassion for this little thing. I didn't know what to do.

I found myself in a vehicle again talking with an older woman. She looked at me and asked me a question. When I answered my eyes began to well up. She pushed furthur with more questions and the tears began to flow. She told me I was suffering from a lack of love, human contact. Everyone around was so inulated in themselves. As was I. Alone with all these people. The tears just flowed.

So, I was dreaming...Or am I?

DarkMambo

DarkMambo, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Greetings...

Ok

The Malcomitas (sp?) are slated for the next show on the 19th. For the sake of the audience I will ask them not to ask me to dance during their performance. Thank me now, or thank me later...

Stay Tuned...

You...Tube

RV Mir, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Here is a link to the Secret Collectives submission to the Showdown in ChinaTown 48 hr film contest:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r1BVOT25fc

and here is my Coppe music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgvsr6XZDo0

Stay Tuned...

In Other News...

Water2, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Habeus Corpus bit it this week. It wasn't headline news. In my opinion, unless we impeach the whole Regime and reinstate habeas Corpus, Civil War will come before too long. I don't think I'm being too drastic. It happens. The form it will take? It may be taking form right now.

Our culture has finally realized itself as a bad sitcom. Terrible writing, a thin plot carried out by over emotional actors. Punch and Judy all over again. The actors are virtual prostitutes, the consumer the virtual Johns, and the Forces of Marketing are the pimps. We keep looking for love in all the wrong places.

Where is the Love people? I mean really.

I know that fascism doesn't usually back off on its own. It needs to be checked somehow. I think that it's important to respond when diseased individuals begin to wreak havoc. Even more important when packs of them begin to conspire amongst themselves for themselves. A considered response can mitigate damage that an emotional reaction only feeds. I think it would be worth considering the current regime as dis-eased individuals that need to be quickly removed from power and given professional help. With love and compassion. How can we expect something from them that we are not willing to give first? If a mentally retarded person starts running around with a gun, does the retard become evil, or just dangerous to himself and others? Where did he get the gun? Who left it out where he could get it?

Fascists are Humanities clever retards. Sociopathic to be specific. I lived with a sociopath once. He located my orientation on the psychological diagnose-o-wheel and played me like a fiddle. I don't think he ever learned to connect to other living things. He could interact with them, and did so with his personal interests as paramount. He would distract people by giving them his full attention which made them self conscious enough to blind them to what he was taking from them in actuality. That works for a while then he gets caught and has to move on, leaving with a degree of naivete robbed from the community.

Maybe our sitcom society will wane in favor of Discovery, or TLC, and lets not forget the History channel lest it repeat itself with the Same Old Story of dichotomous rivalry for the benefit of the rivals at the expense of the rest of everyone and everything. Sick I tell you. Sick of watching the loudest of the madmen stomping around on the furniture and proclaiming themselves kings of the American Mental Ward. As a nation we are sitting crouched with our knees against our chests and rocking neurotic, trying to forget where we are.

Right here now.

What matters right here now? I guess it depends on what paradigm right here now is perceived through.

The way I see the world, all life interrelates in ways that are subtle unless we are paying attention. Dynamic life interaction all the time right now. From this perspective I am affected by how I treat others. To consider the effect that ones actions might have on others is a mode of self preservation. We need to deal with the asshole that hadles our shit with respect, but lets not put a crown on it so that we have to walk around on all fours to keep it from falling off. Assholes are important, but assholes nonetheless.

Puppy

Puppy1, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

I have puppies. Khandahar had puppies, but she was too neurotic to take care of them. She ended up killing three inadvertently within 48hrs of birth. So I'm bottle feeding three puppies while landscaping the Kahala house. I'm fooling myself if I think I'm not going to keep one.

The Dark Night show is Dark for two more weeks. Resuming on Nov 5th we aim to shoot the pilot. Just got off the phone with Jimbo, and I'm waiting final confirmation that Ooklah the Moc will be performing that night.

In other news...

Kahala Bugeye

v2, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Face Column

Face Column, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Back Totem

5z, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Totem

6z, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Zon

IMG_7183, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

I have an album cover, If I only had an album...

...but is it Art?

Photo 264, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hello there everybody.

Just wanted to Say somthin to validate this post...

Kaptain Chaos

Kaptain Chaos, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hey.

New media:

Cult: the movie

A Dark Night @ the rRed Elephant


k den

-D

Schwepa dznodka Photo 227

Photo 227, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hey there everybody!

Photo 28, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hangover

Photo 3, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Steve

Steve, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hello.

I have entered into the world beyond the PC. I have a tool to work with now. I am in training.

Mo Bush

Mo Bush, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Beauty in this world.

Town Bound

Town Bound, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

By the way, I have another Blog. www.adarknight.blogspot.com

That thing has info on the rRed Elephant Show. Picks and words on the subject.

By the way, if you click on any (well, most) of the pictures on both of these blogs, you will be taken to my photo blog on flickr.

ok.

"You're fine."

Rebecca, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hello.

I don't really know who I'm addressing here. I know some people that read this sometimes. Friends of mine. I find myself writing this for them, to some extent. When I actually do decide to write. Them. You. You and them. I didn't used to write for you. I used to write for them exclusively. The audience. The consumers of stage and page. And the gawkers as well. The idle passerby that double takes on some thing or another that they engaged by happenstance.

I do want to grab your attention. I know that for sure. I don't always know why or how. It's my compulsion. The subject matter doesn't matter.

My function is to get some attention. It's the main thing I think about really. I think of myself as a modern day barker and hawker that draws in the crowd to watch the freak show. Style of pitch adapted to the environment. Come one, come all, a show for all ages, but especially relevant to you in particular. Yes you. Who else would I be talking to? The you I'm talking to, that part of you that is the same as the part of me that wrote this, may be skeptical, which is natural, as my me is skeptical about your interpretation of this whole thing we're doing here. But I trust the whole thing will work out to our satisfaction.

To me continued...





It' more easy here on glowing page than live onstage to

Objectified

Pixelated 102, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Transcribed:
Sept. 25th 2006 Waimanalo

Home alone. Around 10pm. Chorus of bugs making night sounds in my right ear. The second hand on the bedside clock in my right ear... Gecko chuckles all around as random punctuation. Dogs barking as slight percussion in the distance. But enough about me.

Externally:

Calm quiet country style 3000 miles from anywhere.

Internally:

Anxiety about the mystery
that carries me with surity
through my own and owned apprenhensions
over taking things easy
when I so easily take things hard.

A plan in action in my own inaction?

Inadvertant Taogasm.

The MYSTERY as The Question:

How do I pull off this life?

Objects In Mirror are Closer Than They Appear...

Cocka4 076, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

It's really tough for me to write with any kind of point in mind. My words are like slo-mo freestyle that don't always rhyme. Fresh and relevant to the moment. Snap shot of a mental state in a place in time that never was and never will be. The novelty of the expression is it's value more than the points made, or not made, in the piece. Or, the conclusions arrived at. or bypassed.

Or the obscure poetic style of obtuse self indulgence made public record. These words are sometimes water to drink, spice for flavour, Junk food for mental mastication. Sometimes ambrosia for the senses we can't convences us we have.

In Space No One Can Hear You Screen...

Cocka4 117, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

I have recently been informed that some people read my blog on occasion. Hi there to you who that is. Thanks for checking in on my process as a blogger and a human. The info flow from my site has been slight I know. Sparce. I've been hesitant to write about my life as I know the power of words. A defining line can initiate a crossroads and a direction. The pilot of my life has been in derelection: still moving along the stream of life, but facing what I pass as I go with the flow, not watching where I'm going. I could turn around I suppose, Watch where I'm going.

Writing honestly can be such a pain in the ass. I could just be typing along, minding my own business, when WHAM, an undeniable truth spills on the page...Do you know how to wash out the stain of undeniable truth when it spills on the fabric of your existance?


I suppose the truth ain't all that bad. It doesn't have to be brutal to be effective. I could just continue to talk about the truth and not actually have to deal with it directly. Or I could talk about that there phenomena for the sake of objectivity.

Lies. So many lies. Lies so fucking deep they creep into every level of our existance: Social (we're all equal), Cultural (except me and you), Theological (there is only ONE and it's not you), Political (our Nation is split in two), Sexual( repression as a key to heaven), Mental (Cognitive ability not a priority), Biological (Doctor knows best), Metaphysical (What you see is what you get, forget about the rest), Psychedelical (That's the rest we told you to forget about, so stop gawking at what doesn't exist), Excederalical ( The shadow and periphery are not to be regarded). Period.

Upsetter. Spoiler. What game are we playing? Who has framed this debate that predicates that we are more at odds than not? How many ways can we forget that we are one? Who are you at odds with now? The Loudmouth, the Jerk, the Inferior of Status that you can't live without? Yourself?

Myself. Can I embrace the truth in a sustainable way? Can my persona handle the replies when I address the lies in my life and ours? And can I survive the revise should one be necessary?

What is the price of living in a lie, willfully? I think we, personally and collectively have the opportunity to live honestly but forgo that choice for conventionality. Default conviviality .

Suffocating honesty in social lubrication.
Sacrifice integrity for fear of Isolation.
Atomize humanity by breaking down relations

Stop making waves and we settle in stagnation


Thrown from the stream of life
the individualized of the one-fits-all size identity
lies face down in demographic puddles
Sucking social embrionic fluids
in lieu of the soul stinging oxygen of honesty

Thats a mouthfull. I gotta take a break, I'm getting dizzy.

The Hanged Garden

Garden 090, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

I used to be a writer. I used to write. I used to write things on this very blog that I thought some people might dig reading.

I've been doing this life thing; playing around with making choices that shape me as a human. And stuff.

" if it's good, it's fun, and if it's bad it's funny."
-that Courtney dude from the Dandy Worhols

Wierd 9/11 facts

cocka 118, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Lifted from Craigslist for your amusement...



>Weird 9/11 Facts
Reply to: pers-209282799@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-09-19, 1:26AM HST



Weird 9/11 Facts




1) New York City has 11 letters



2) Afghanistan has 11 letters.



3) Ramsin Yuseb (The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) has 11 letters.



4) George W Bush has 11 letters.



5) The two twin towers make an "11"



This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more interesting:




1) New York is the 11th state.



2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number 11.



3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 + 2 = 11



4) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65 passengers. 6+5 = 11



5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known. 9 + 1+ 1 = 11



6) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number 911. 9 + 1 + 1 = 11.



Sheer coincidence..?

cockatiel eggs

cocka 137, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Gecko eggs are next.

Hi.

Hi., originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Now what...

Ok. Well. Now... What.

Hi there. Dark here. Just checking in. With myself. In front of you. All this stuff I do: the writing, the pictures, the talk show, etc. Googleable. I'm googleizing myself, dreaming of Wikipediadom. I keep putting myself out there; MySpaced out, Tribe-alized and Flickring on computer screens here and there around the planet.

I have to ask myself what it's all about sometimes. I don't always have to answer. I think it to be beneficial: checking my hypocracy levels for irony deficiency.

...Something about perspective... Somewhere along the line I thought that being a producer of perspective was as important as being a consumer of other points of view.

I think we human types are in real need of a reality check. I really don't like using that cliche, but if the shoe fits... Some of us know that reality reveals itself in aspects, seemingly complete within the reflecting surfaces of its facets. Others think that reality is the totality of their individual reflection of life. I thought it would be nice to facilitate a dialogue of these two perspectives. Well, maybe nice isn't the word. Crucial, I think, was my original thought.

More Later...

Hanks Bar

Hanks Bar, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Oceanic Cable wats to broadcast our show as a latenight talk show. My god, what have we done....

Rosenthal Show Poster

Pstr5[1], originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

A Dark Night: Press

June 18 049, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

The experiment is recieving some attention (thanks Danny).

Honolulu Weekly Article

China Town

First Friday 8-06, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

A Dark Night - Live @ the rRed Elephant

Show is going well. We've done ten so far. Plannning on shooting the pilot on the 3rd of Sept.

Here is some preliminary footage: ( site down...Stay Tuned)

Complete Conjecture on a Fictitious Scenario

DeadGecko 017, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Conjecture:

A Nation is pretty self satisfied. Happy to be entertained. Relaxed. Open.

The Government of the Nation is concerned. Its currency is going flaccid. The Government fears the People of the Nation will throw an unsightly tantrum when their entertainment is interrupted by news of the growing impotence.

Meanwhile, Professional Criminals take advantage of the calm before the storm to plan a heist. The biggest bank heist in the history of the Planet. It’s preparations are extensive.

Fore knowledge of the event spreads beyond the perpetrators. The Government ignores it and prepares to frame a famed dictator of a land that holds a key to the resource. An economic Viagra.

The heist is bloody and awe inspiring. The People of the Nation are shocked. The Government imprints the vulnerable people of the Nation. Stockholm Syndrome en masse.

The Government takes a hit to the ego with the heist, but more than makes up for it on the back end. War economies are good for Business, good for the Governmental ego, Bad for the People of the Nation. Believing that the Government is theirs, the People of the Nation take the blow of the heist personally, and rally to defend the Government. And the captive identifies with its captor. And the captor perpetuates the imprint.

Humanspirit

Humanspirit, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

A few weeks ago I sent a link to my Mom:

Loose Change: 2nd Edition

I recieved no reply until today, The 4th of July. It was this forward:

This will give you a few chills and perhaps a few tears. BEAUTIFUL!!!


The Flag of the United States of America

(If you're interested, Elvis is singing "America The Beautiful" on this email, so have your speakers on.
If this doesn't give you chills, you should pack up and move on to another country.)

I Am the Flag of theUnited States of America.


I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.


I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher,
My colors a little truer.
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected - and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy.
Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me.
I'm presently in the mountains of Afganistan and the hot and dusty deserts of Iraq and wherever freedom is needed.
I led my troops, I was dirty, battleworn and tired,
But my soldiers cheered me and I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled in the streets of my country.
And when it's done by those Whom I've served in battle - it hurts.
But I shall overcome - for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,

I am proud.

Please forward my message to all who still love and respect me that I may fly proudly for another two hundred years.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

My Reply:

Sir,

This "poem" gives me chills alright. The chills that come from the freedom loving people when the boots of fascism are heard marching down the road.

Your pack-up-and-get-out-if-you-don't-agree-with-my-propaganda stance is un- American idol worship. At least it's un-American from the perspective of the forefathers of this nation. Your blind nationalism and sheeplike adherence to empty dogma would make any dictator very proud. Your characterization of the symbol of a vast and diverse country, as little more than a war banner outs you as a simple person that knows not of which he speaks. This country is far more vast and deep than your very limited perspective of it. You are burning the flag with your words, searing off the beauty and subtle nuance of a great nation.



Your brand of empty rhetoric and poor poetry serves as poison in the well of intelegent discourse. It is not constructive. It is meant to divide a nation between those who share your predjudice and xeniphobia, and those who are willing to embrace this republic as a whole. A nation divided will fall. If this nation stands for another 200 years it will not be due to your particular brand of Americanism, but in spite of it.

America is not a political perspective. America is not an economic agenda. America is not you, not a personified flag, not a brand name, not a philosophy. It is something far beyond and inclusive of all of that. And much more than all that. America bears and fosters genius as well as idiocy. It tolerates intolerance and suffers the arrogant.

I take the time to reply to the perspective you proffer because I care about the land that afforded me a free mind. A mind not afraid to stand up to bullys that tell me to leave if I am not moved by their bad poetry. I am not going to engage in the juvinile "I know you are but what am I?" right-left, good-bad, up-down, see-saw loopy rhetoric. I am not going to tell you to get out of the country because I disagree with you, because I know that recycling our own rubbish is more responsible than dumping it on our neighbors.

I am an American. I am also a human. I have Scottish, German, French, Choctaw, Cherokee in my blood. I would not be me without all that. America would not be America without the rest of the world. America is a nice address to have, but I do not look down on my neighbors, because their hard work and vision enabled me to be here. I will not forget where I come from because to do so is to inflate my ego at the expense of my very being.

As for my countrymen, I will engage them when I see that they are posing a danger to my country. This is why I take the time to reply to you.

Sincerly,

June 18

June 18 058, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Ya yaya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya

Alchemy

Xeriscape, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

More press on the land mess: Advertiser Friday 16

Plantelope on Fire

Plantelope on Fire, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Ag issue on Channel 2 news last night...

Transcript of Story

Plantelope

Plantelope, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hello peoples.

A Dark Night : A SomethingOrOther Live! @ The rRed Elephant!

Sunday nights @ The rRed Elephant beginning June 18th.

Dark Sevier and the Vapor Puppets, Shree Sadagopan, Steven Rosenthal, plus special guests open this weekly showcase event. The Big Time promotion for this SomethingOrOther begins in July, so the last two Sundays in June are going to be mostly word of mouth and friends of friends. You are invited to come down and witness the genesis of a unique entertainment format in Hawaii’s new premier recording/performance space.

Music, Poetry, Dance, Dialogue, and, of course, More.

Stay tuned for more propaganda on this exciting phenomena……

Aloha,

Dark

Honoluu Advertser GIF

Look Ma!, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Look Ma! I made the paper!

Concrete Mosaic, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

An excercise in Spin. (photo above is of the land that's "not being farmed") Here is the Honolulu Advertiser article from today.

And here is my take on things. At least, here is one of my perspectives: A letter I sent to the Waimanalo Agricultural Association and the president of the Hawai'i Farmers Federation-


INTRODUCTION

My name is Big Time Farmer Man (not actual name I used in this document), founder of Alchemy Nursery. We are an organic commercial nursery located in Waimanalo. To our knowledge, we are the only organic commercial nursery in the state, specializing in native and non-invasive trees, climate specific landscaping, and recycling. In September, 2005 Alchemy Nursery began a cooperative business partnership with All Tree Services to build a nursery based on sustainability, organic principles, and inter-business cooperation.

When a nursery partners with a tree trimming company to manage their waste, everyone wins; environment included. Tree growing, tree planting, and tree trimming are three aspects of the business of trees. In the short time we have been working together, all parties involved have been excited by the good work our partnership has fostered, by the economic possibilities of what this collaboration can accomplish, and by the opportunity to serve the ecology that we live in.

Alchemy recycles the by products of All Tree Services, using the mulch as weed control and soil amendment. The purpose is to foster a symbiotic relationship between the business of growing trees and the business of trimming trees. We also provide the opportunity for the tree trimming company to transplant trees to the nursery rather than destroy them.


THE BATTLE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

This flagship operation was immediately threatened by the DLNR to revoke the lease for running a “base yard.” The DLNR has been prompted to move swiftly on this issue by the attorney for the Waimanalo Agricultural Association. The Attorney for the WAA seems to be willfully ignorant about the nature of our operation. The whole case seems to be more of a personal attack by a handful of the WAA members than an actual concern for the right use of the land. The nursery is not even a year old yet. The development of the operation as been stymied by the daily harassment of an overzealous WAA member in the neighborhood who seems to spend more time harassing local farmers and businesses than minding his own business.

I, as much and more than anyone, can understand community concern for the right use of state land. The general assumption seems to be that the “base yard” in question is unrelated to agricultural practices. This could not be further from the truth. This effort to build a better nursery is dependant on the use of all aspects of the tree trimming business. They are interdependent. But the DLNR board does not recognize the connection in spite of the obvious and clearly articulated evidence. The innovation and community benefit of this endeavor is not being regarded as a factor in the equation.

On March 13th the DLNR board met to decide the fate of the All Tree lease.
The charge against All Trees is that they are running a “base yard” to park equipment unrelated to the nursery operation. We have shown conclusively that the equipment parked on site is directly related.

The DLNR board voted on the termination of the lease. One member stated that termination would be a “draconian” move and a decision was made to postpone the decision for 30 days.

An attorney for All Trees wrote a letter to the board to inform them that I, as the operator of the nursery, had existing plans to be out of town and would not be available to be present at the meeting. A DLNR board member, Steve Molman replied, stating that they were satisfied that a viable nursery was being developed, and that the main issue was with the All Tree equipment.

The next meeting on April 16th was held to decide if All Trees had stayed in compliance during the 30 probation. It was clear that All Trees had stayed in compliance regarding the trucks and equipment. The attorney for Waimanalo Agricultural Association portrayed us as “Big Business” abusing state ag land for non ag purposes. The meeting was three hours long and full of oppositional statements rallied by the opposition attacking the veracity of the nursery operation. I was not there to defend it, due to the board members assurance that the issue was the use of the tree trimming equipment.

It was claimed that we were not organic, that we could not possibly utilize the mulch in our operation, that it was impossible to grow plants in the manner that we are in fact doing. In spite of the fact that we are organically farming in ways deemed impossible, only made possible by the relationship between All Trees and its equipment, the board took a vote to not only cancel the lease, but foreclose on the lease. This means that All Trees and Alchemy nursery would forfeit all investments and improvements made in the creation of the nursery, including all plant material. A unanimous vote was needed. The result was four in favor of foreclosure, one against.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

If canceling the lease is draconian, as one board member had said, than what word can be used to describe an unwarranted foreclosure?

We have been given another 30 days of probation, even though we had no violation in the first thirty days. How can we be expected to invest further in the development of our operation when the very real risk of losing it all is looming? This is a clear case of harassment.


If the well funded visceral opposition is allowed to manipulate the State Agency of the DLNR, a terrible president will be set. I do not doubt the good intentions of the DLNR board. I do question their ability to serve in the best interests of Hawai’i’s agricultural future when they allow themselves to be swayed by vehemence over facts.

The board will meet again May 12th to decide the fate of Alchemy Nursery. This decision affects everyone concerned with sustainable agriculture in Hawai’i. We need all the support we can get at the DLNR board meeting telling them that you support the effort of developing responsible agriculture.

If you would like to tour the nursery, or find out more about this issue, please contact me at xxx-xxxx, or e-mail at AlchemyNursery @ Yahoo.com

Thank you
Big Time Farmer Man
Co-Owner
Alchemy Nursery.

In the middle of negotiations...

Walking Iris, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Organic Landscape Nursery: Out of Business Sale
Reply to: serv-165017943@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-05-26, 10:56AM HST


Looking for a land canvas to paint with plants. Must move my nursery, everything far sale, everthing must go. I have trees, groundcovers, shrubs, and more. I am looking for someone who wants to buy it all, for resale or instalation on site. Let me give your place a face lift. Everything is still available. I have not made a big push to unload everything yet. I can send a plant list with prices, and pictures,but the thing would be to come and see the nursery.

The nursery is the only one like it in Hawaii. It's a commercial landscape nursery based in organic principles and sustainable practices. I have plant combonations and instalation techniques that are climate specific, designed to use little water, no chemical fertilizer, no herbicides.

My operation has only been in Waimanalo for ten months so the model gardens have yet to fully come into ther own, though they still look great.

I have a green thumb and a natural talent for landscape design. I started the whole operation with no capital. If I only had to move the place once, I would've been able to last. But my new operation is on a piece of property that has recently become the site of political shenanagans, corruption, and bad blood between neighbors. The problem is with the lease holder, not me. I just happen to be in the middle of this debacle. Oh that magic feeling : no where to go.

So maybe you can own a piece of the dream before I bring in the other nurserys to pick the place clean.

If you would like to make an appointment to see it before it's uprooted, or if iterested in lots of plants and/or a land scaped, e-mail me for a list of plants and photos.. First come first served.


Mahalo

-D

* this is in or around Waimanalo

Banana

Banana, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

HOW TO KILL A BLOG...

When does it end, the blogging. What does one do when they are through with blogging on their blog? I wanted to be a writer, not a blogger. Such an unfortunate name, Blog. Web Log. On Line Journal. Glow in the Dark Psychologist. Un-Official Source of Information. Last Bastion of Free Speech. Cyber Den of Iniquity. Incriminating Evidence. Ego Fluffing Device.

I started writing on this Web Log because it was free. And because my notebooks were molding in the jungle and my hard drives had a habit of crashing. An effort to preserve my writing. And to juxtapose photos with words.

Among other things.

How personal can I get here, really. People sometimes tell me that they read my blog. Sometimes I forget that. Remembering now.

Hello.

There was some kind of motivation in the begining. I thought that I would exploit a public forum and insert my two cents worth of humanity into the information stream. I have to admit, in the beginning I had thoughts of becomming a popular figure in the blogoshere, but I didn't have photo capacity.

I only had words. I didn't think people would read just words with no pictures. So I stopped thinking about an audience and just wrote, like I had a habit of doing. Just write. No agenda necesesarily. Not trying to make a point, primarily. It was more about what was between the lines and behind the letters than what I was saying directly. For me. I was less interested in Obviously than I was Essentially. Until Recently. Obviously has taken Immediacy hostage and won't let it go until I pay Attention.

Gnomeville

Alchemy 2 008, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Politics of Farming

Morning on Olomana, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

“Confidence is the feeling that precedes understanding the situation.”
-foutune cookie fortune found in Weekly World News


Had a State Senator show up to the hearing on Friday. And two District Representatives. A head of a State Farming Federation. Among others. The Senator was wearing board shorts. He came to advise the Department of Land and Natural Resources board to vote their conscience and to not be swayed by the threat of a lawsuit. One District Rep. testified that one of his constituants had called him to see if he could assist in a case of a friend who was facing eviction from State Ag Lands. He motioned to me and mentioned that he hoped I wasn’t the person he was supposed to help. He said that he felt Agricultural Lands should be used for agriculture.

Neither the Senator nor the District Rep. have been to the nursery.

Defending attourney turned on the power point and instructed me to explain the nursery layout and plan. A board member interjected and asked “Haven’t we already seen this?”. I replied that I didn’t think it was understood the first time, really understood, or we wouldn’t need to be in a hearing for the third time in three months. I stated my understanding of a “base yard”(the original accusation) as a place where machines or equpment unrelated to intensive agriculture are stored on Agricultural lands. The board agreed to the definition. I then demonstrated that all the by-products of the Tree Trimming operation were an integral part of the nursery design and concept. Therefore the chippers, the trucks, the boom trucks and the crane were all directly related to the functioning of this particular agricultural operation.

(to be cont….)

Red Elephant

Red Elephant, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Coming Mid-June 2006

Red Elephant

Red Elephant, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Coming Mid-June 2006

Blinded by the Light,

LA Sand 014, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Not what happens, but how we deal with what happens.

How we deal. How we see.

Violet blue green yellow orange
and I see red.
Keeping my head low on the pole.
crouched into this perspective.

So I can capture an image...

LA Sandprint

LA Sand 029, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Remembering what I forgot
For naught
For now I want not to remember
as much as I want to do something
to be remembered and forgotten later.