Green Options » solstice

Sundial Span Soars into the Summer Solstice

Rhonda Winter — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:58:18 +0000

If you ever find yourself near Redding California, especially on June 21st, you should make an effort to visit Santiago Calatrava’s pedestrian bridge, which spans the waters of the Sacramento River. In addition to being a stunning functional

work of art that attracts thousands of pedestrians, families, bicyclists and nature lovers, every year on the summer solstice the beautifully designed structure also functions as an accurate sundial.

Low Impact Living: Winter Solstice 101 — Celebrating Nature

Low Impact Living — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:28:58 +0000

Growing up in the suburbs of Virginia, I didn’t even hear of Winter Solstice till 9th grade or so. I associated this mysterious Winter holiday with equally mysterious people…pale nerdy folks who liked to wear purple velvet clothing and buy dragon figurines and miniature crystal balls from New Age bookstores at the mall. They called themselves Pagans, and more specifically, Wiccans.

Though I wasn’t raised Christian, I still took on the same dismissive attitude as my local Bible-toting community, thinking of people who worshiped nature as eccentric, campy folks who should be left alone to perform their inconsequential hocus-pocus spells and rituals.

As I got older and became an environmentalist, the Winter Solstice did strike a bit more genuine interest within me; friends of mine- scientists, yogis, Christians, Jews, and treehuggers alike- were celebrating the Solstice in nightclubs, houseparties, and quiet gatherings in nature. I liked that Winter Solstice revelers were actually acknowledging some natural phenomena, something about planetary movement and time. I have been invited repeatedly to these soirees over the years, but never attended- the “hokiness” factor of my childhood kept me closed to the exploration.

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Solstice Seed Swap

Rhonda Winter — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:55:08 +0000

photographs by Bill Basquin

Let’s celebrate the winter solstice this Sunday by swapping seeds and cuttings with our friends and neighbors. Now is the time to start planning our spring gardens; exchanging locally saved seeds that are already acclimated to your specific region is an ideal beginning.

Here in San Francisco there will be a Solstice Seed Swap held at the Exploratorium (3601 Lyon Street) from 3-5pm, which has been organized by local artist and community gardener Bill Basquin. Bring seeds (or rooted cuttings) to share, or just come by to socialize with your fellow humans. There will be snacks as well as 2-D and 3-D photographic projections by Johunna Greyson, Greta Snider and Bill Basquin at 3:30pm.

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Crafting a Solstice Celebration

Lee Welles — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:01:50 +0000

Celebrating the Winter Solstice was one of my first posts here at Eco Child’s Play! I’m a summer lover and today I’m practically giddy that there will 15 HOURS of daylight! What a wonderful day to remind our kids that the sun is, ultimately, the energetic source of all we have.

Making small (or large, if that’s your cup ‘o herbal tea!) celebrations out of the Solstices and Equinoxes is one more way to teach your children that there is a rhythm to nature and a rhythm to life. If Winter Solstice is comparable to a “time to weep,” Summer Solstice is the “time to laugh!” (Thank you, Ecclesiastes for the most beautiful words on the seasonality of life…and thank you to the Byrds for putting it to music!)

Celebrate the longest day of the year with seasonal food and fun.

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