The Sun is Shining
Joseph L. Sax
and Ralph Waldo Emerson. It took reading the right words, from the right people, and at the right
time, to give me the hope I needed.
There is
much to be concerned about. There is also much to be excited about. Nature has many secrets yet to be revealed, as well as many that have been forgotten. As Emerson says in his Introduction to Nature, ”The sun shines to-day also.
There is more wool and flax in the fields. There are new lands, new men, new
thoughts. Let us demand our own works and laws and worship.”
Pictured: Wild Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)
As though it's beauty alone wasn't enough value to humans, this plant is also useful for a variety of other purposes, such as in the making of ropes, cords, fishing lines and nets. The stems contain long, tough fibers. Flax is also cultivated for linseed oil. As a "drying oil," linseed oil polymerizes as it dries, meaning it becomes hard. This makes it useful in the treating of wood products, such as axe handles, which is where I find my own utilitarian experience with it. Linseed oil is also used in the production of linoleum. Beyond being useful for the production of industrial goods, linseed is also edible and is a good source of a-Linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). In Europe, linseed is considered a delicacy and is typically paired with potatoes and quark, enhancing the flavor of an otherwise bland dish.
As though it's beauty alone wasn't enough value to humans, this plant is also useful for a variety of other purposes, such as in the making of ropes, cords, fishing lines and nets. The stems contain long, tough fibers. Flax is also cultivated for linseed oil. As a "drying oil," linseed oil polymerizes as it dries, meaning it becomes hard. This makes it useful in the treating of wood products, such as axe handles, which is where I find my own utilitarian experience with it. Linseed oil is also used in the production of linoleum. Beyond being useful for the production of industrial goods, linseed is also edible and is a good source of a-Linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). In Europe, linseed is considered a delicacy and is typically paired with potatoes and quark, enhancing the flavor of an otherwise bland dish.
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