sensational experiences

just a friendly reminder.. searchlight popular voting ends this monday april 13th.

if I or my music activated any of your senses, you could vote with those senses and encourage more sensational experiences from 'man from jambican'

also, we'll be at market (aberdeen pavilion in lansdowne park) this sunday april 12th with more miso, some natto (new!), herb salt and beans of course.

man from jambican will offer musical treats from 12:30-2:30pm.

thank you for reading

next steps.. the future in the present

next steps.. the future in the present

i've been asked what i would get if i win this searchlight competition..

..and after some thought, it would appear that i would get pretty much what i already have...

..the challenges and benefits of being an accompanist.

for most of my working life i have been an accompanist.

i have played a supporting role.

an accompanist is engaged in participatory exercises

an accompanist is a supporter

an accompanist is a source of inspiration

an accompanist brings people closer to achieving their potential

and i will continue in this role, trodding on the road to possibility and capacity, with health and happiness being the substance beneath my feet

there are endless possibilities - in case you were wondering..

imagine - a farm school.. where children of all ages are encouraged to experience the processes of production on a farm specializing in health and happiness.. and to document some of these experiences in an audio format

a compilation of felt experiences expressed through a filter of sound..

adding to the tapestry of life..

to be continued..

creating refuge - if you vote for me..

if you vote for me..

i have one song / poem which contains this phrase :

"if you vote for me / i will show little mercy / i don't believe in democracy / for the companies loved by misery"

i will listen to misery.

i will hear misery.

but my focus is to turn it upside down, to look at it from another side, another vantage point.

sometimes that is difficult, especially while in the midst of something not so pleasant.

however, there is always a view from above - a view from the future - a view from the past...

everything happens in a broader context.

so whether through my music, my poetry, my farm, or my being, i have consistently focussed on creating a refuge.. a sanctuary of sorts.

a slower place.. a place to 'zone out'.. a place to rise above the current and see what comes before, and what comes after.. a place to see context.

so a vote for me

is a vote to be free

from the companies loved by misery

and we can put the totality of experience 

into a truer context.

www.cbcmusic.ca/searchlight .. and search for 'man from jambican'.

thank you

why searchlight?.. the path to here

so, anybody who knows me must be wondering.. why did this guy enter searchlight?? it's kind of out of character...

yes it is.

but it begins (in a circular sense.. having no true beginning) with my friend Bronwyn.

Bronwyn landed her dream job.  I was and am extremely happy for her and the culmination of many years of hard work and passionate focus.

and i thought to myself, 'what is my dream job?'

of course, i love what i currently do and have a wonderful loving family, but the question became nagging.. 'am i doing my dream work?'

and so, i revisited the passion of yesteryears - hopefully with open and honest eyes - and began (in a circular sense.. having no true beginning) the process of cultivating passion with the most terrifying  and steadfast friend - faith.

faith is that wonderful companion on all great journeys - physical, emotional, spiritual..

those great journeys into the unknown, where resources previously hidden suddenly become abundant.

where the seemingly impossible becomes possible, likely, and ultimately, real...

my current state, of course, seemed impossible at the time when i set out on this journey - and yet here i am, again in a state of preparation.

and is it all about searchlight?.. no, but it gives me a focal point for my energies.

similarly, i don't grow vegetables just to go to market.. there is a passion, a reason behind the growing.. but market gives me a focal point.. a reward.. something to work towards.. an end goal (in a circular sense.. having no true end)..

to be continued..

the enablers

the enablers.. a salute to my mother and my daughter's mother.

today i harvested for tomorrow's market.

long winter, wet spring, and cold wet soil do not make for an early start to gardening / farming.

however, i harvested today.

not much, but that which i reaped was sown in previous years.. which helps illustrate a point.

the lay of my land is not suited to early spring planting.

i would need to perform major modifications in order to make this possible.

i would be asking this land to do something very much outside of its nature.

so after many years of observing and working in a decidedly unobtrusive manner ( i hope)

i've finally managed to understand how to manage this farm's resources in order to reap without going crazy trying to plant before the land is ready.

i have become an enabler... 

... as did my parents when they accepted the task / joy / responsibility of allowing my existence in this world.

so, thank you mom ( and dad) for enabling me to live my life.

and thank you kumiko for allowing me to pass the gift ..

give thanks for the enablers.

welcoming another traveller

we welcome another traveller on the jambican journey..

rinwa has come and joined this journey, and we have welcomed her at every stage along the way up to today.

we honour her choice and pledge to do all in our power to provide her with the means to find health happiness and security.. 

we will change our pace and alter our path as necessary..

..for this journey is a journey of creation ( = rastafari), where we are creating a peaceful place together ( = kagiso).

these have been constants since our journey's beginning.

now we have been joined by our powerful spirit of harmony / peace, and are strengthened as we fondly remember from where we have come, enjoy our presents, and imagine that which may come to pass.

all are welcome on this journey, knowing that the itinerary is clear 

we create a peaceful place together.. through food, music, farming, nurturing, communicating, studying, learning, observing, be-ing, .. and all are welcome.

jambican is hiring

join the jambican experience!

the successful candidates should :

• want a happy life
• be able to recognize what they have been given.. the resources which surround them everyday in every way
• forgo passing value judgements on said resources
• have gratitude for said resources and accept / embrace them in their being
• be willing and able to use their energy to transform said resources into forms useable to others
• be secure in the knowledge that applying inspired acts to given resources gives meaning to one's life (and happiness to others)

here is a job description:

jambican studio gardens is engaged in the business of taking and transforming the offerings from 10 acres of horticultural activities and 20 acres of woodland into products useable to others.

all those involved in this business will have a part in performing the following activities :

mixing soil for starting seeds

planting and transplanting into pots

planting and transplanting into the ground

preparing soil for planting

managing moisture

handling wood chips

handling compost

observing the potentialities in all situations

weeding (providing space and air)

observing insect activity

evaluating plant readiness for harvest

harvesting

washing

post-harvest handling

packing

distribution

communicating business values

communicating potential methods of use (for offered products)

task performance will require 12-20 hours per week from april to october.

remuneration shall be in the form of an hourly wage or payment-in-kind (at market value based on an hourly rate)

other tasks may be added depending on candidate's interests and abilities.

if this posting is sparking some interest, please respond to csamuels at storm dot ca or 613-299-9183

thank you for your time