Goal For The Green

Yesterday was an 80 degree day here in western Washington. We had many things to accomplish at the worm farm, where I work. Work starts at 8A.M. The workers arrive on the Access Bus, ready to start the day. They work a four hour shift. There are five adults, two young men and three young women, all in their 20’s or 30’s. Most of them are Autistic, and in this group they all speak.

We have three 4×30 foot bins that the clients help feed and maintain. The end result is a master gardener’s delight. The product is 100% organic certified vermicompost. A moist, rich soil amendment for both indoor and outdoor plants.

The plan for the day was to feed the worms, bag some product, pick a couple pounds of worms for a customer, and chop some more after market vegetables. Most of the time they do pretty good at staying on task, but yesterday they were just plain silly. They love music, so we have to have the radio on…the oldies station. We got the worms fed in about forty -five minutes. Each bucket is about 20 lbs of vegetable slop mixed with shredded newspaper. It is spread evenly in each bin. On top of that, goes used coffee grounds from coffee stands, and then a light layer of more shredded newspaper.

After the main project of feeding the worms, was done they wanted to work outside. So, they had their works stations with buckets, shovels, chairs and spinach that they needed to chop. Then that song “Shake Your Booty” came on the radio. They all got up and started shaking their booties and laughing. Then when it was over,one of th guys said in a high pitched voice “Chicken dance–Chicken dance.” Well, they all got a big surprise when Christa (my co-worker) and I, came outside doing the funky chicken! It was pretty funny…they were laughing and laughing. It’s amazing sometimes, how it doesn’t take much to amuse them or make their day sparkle and shine. They are all very scheduled and as is typical of autism, they don’t adapt well to change in their routine. All that aside, we do cut loose once in awhile and have fun, even at work.

It always amazes me how most of them usually always wear a smile. They could have so much more to complain about than they do. With autism though, many can not convey their feelings or emotions. For some they don’t feel physical pain and are unable to tell you where they hurt, or if they hurt. For me, I don’t know if I could cope with what they have to on a regular daily basis. That is why I feel they have as much reason and purpose in life as the rest of us do. They just have to try so much harder to have some kind of “normal.” They really do want to be “normal” just like everyone else. I feel like the lucky one, to give them a six hour slice of my day. Most of the time it’s not like work. Besides, it helps me be both thankful and grateful for the blessings in my life.

It’s shocking to hear coming from a billionaire oil man. There is no easy fix to the energy “emergency” we are in. T.Boone Pickens has set out to build an Army of Americans to fight for the cause of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The 80 year old oil tycoon is lobbying for his energy plan, arguing that “This is one emergency that we can’t drill our way out of.”

Currently we are spending $700 billion dollars a year in foreign oil. Mr. Pickens wants to replace more than 1/3 of the oil we import with wind, natural gas, solar and other “green” energy sources. His plan states that it can be done in less than a decade. He sees America as the “Saudi Arabia of wind,” stating that it is the future of this country. To back up his plan, he is currently building the worlds largest 4,000 megawatt wind farm, on 400,000 acres in Pampa, Texas.

Wind could be the source of energy for many of our power plants that currently run on natural gas. This then would free-up natural gas to power planes, trains and cars. It would be cleaner and much more economical, while cutting down our dependence on foreign oil.

As Americans, we need to put aside our political views, stand up and insist that whoever is elected, do something in the area of exploring alternative energy sources. We can start by contacting our elected state representatives and insist that they take action on these issues.

For the last forty years we have been operating “like fools without a plan. ” At least now there is a plan. It is a place to start to put our country back on the track of being self sustaining. Our government isn’t doing anything, so it’s our turn! For more information visit:

With the odds being one in every 150 children, chances are you know someone who has a child with Autism.  It is a brain disorder that affects communication and social interaction and causes repetitive and restricted behavior. It usually shows up before a child is three. Affected children can be anywhere on the spectrum from not speaking at all, to being obsessive-compulsive, chattering repetatively on one topic.

All children with Autism have one thing in common.  Their daily life is a struggle for themselves, their families and anyone who has contact with them. They have to overcome speech difficulties, physical challenges and social issues.

There is no single cause or factor for the recent rise in autism, and there is no cure.  However, it is alarming how dramatically it has increased since the 80’s.  It’s everywhere now.

As adults, few live independently. They live with family or in supported group homes. Some are successful  and work in community sheltered work shops.  Whether autism is a condition or a disorder, that one in 150 with autism may be someone close to you.