Looking over the last six months, the maiden six months, of the Sweetwater Project, I think of what an amazing/crazy journey its been- getting to know about water more, and at the same time understanding so little. As I learn more,the world of water seems dangerously complex and intricate. Its enough to bowl me over sometimes. So, I stick to what’s important.

For me, what is most important about this whole project is deepening my relationship to water (and maybe,yours too!) – even just having a relationship. Just touching my toe to a lake or a creek, smelling water plants growing, hearing gurgling and sloshing and trickling. Following a water course to its transition. Making even a slight effort to see its nature- the things we love about water, its nurturing and life-giving properties, its beauty, and also, the things that drive us nuts, floods and monsoons.

For it is there, when we see and feel our relationship to water, that we see our relationship to life. To each other as humans, to the natural world, to our own private, delicate existence. We see our desire to dominate, we see our need, our fear of death, our desire for stability and safety. We see our desire to control the uncontrollable. We see the way we play money, political, and ego games; we see our love of beauty, our love of invention and overcoming obstacles, we see the better sides of our nature (and the harder) all reflected back at us.

All the details and policies get complex, but our mindset is under our control. And from a loving mindset, loving actions follow. I sound like the I Ching right now. But hey, seriously, you may think its funny for being a lover of water that I’m (shhh, this is a secret) not really a conservationist. I just like water- simple as that. I have begun (and only begun) to really care about water. And as I care more, my actions change to reflect that. Conservation may flow from my caring mindset. But it is not enough in itself. If we want to get ourselves and other people to save water, do something for the environment, or to make any step towards creating the world we want to live in, we must start from developing awareness into a deep and gentle caring about the world we live in.

The other thing I am even more deeply committed to since the inception of the Project is keeping an ethic of simple.We humans can get kind of complex about things. Especially in the realm of technology. Obviously, I appreciate human creation and innovation, but I like to stick to the ethic of using human invention when its needed, when it does make life easier, not just for the sake of it. Appropriate technology. I love those two words. Expect the Project to move towards simple and effective ways to respect water- swales, making natural filters, contouring land to catch water, graywater, more…

Also, check out what’s NEW with the Project!
Check out the updated Water Organizations page for tons of great resources!
Donate to the Sweetwater Project– Click the Donate button on the sidebar and make a donation to the Sweetwater
Project through PayPal. Thank you for supporting the Project’s work!
Give feedback on where you’d like our waterscape to be, where you’d like the Project to go….

This next week, the Project journeys to the Northern reaches of California, to track the Sacramento River,
the aorta of our river system, to its source at Mount Shasta. Stay tuned for stories!