Back to the Future

Back to the Future I just had dinner with my friends K and MJ, who reported on the progress of the house that they are building in southwest Virginia. They plan to retire there when the time is right. A big part of K and MJ’s plan is getting back to a... More

Back to the Future I just had dinner with my friends K and MJ, who reported on the progress of the house that they are building in southwest Virginia. They plan to retire there when the time is right. A big part of K and MJ’s plan is getting back to a more simple and satisfying existence. They are looking forward to having animals on their land. (K votes for a goat and a donkey, perhaps a border collie. MJ wants dogs, cats and perhaps a pony for the grandchildren. ) Their house is being designed to incorporate natural light and energy-efficiency features, and K and MJ are looking forward to buying produce at the area farmers’ cooperative. Another friend, JD, has been thinking about starting a new business: helping homeowners to plant and maintain organic produce, including vegetables, herbs and fruits, on their land. I’m enthusiastic about JD’s idea. It is a moneysaver in troubled economic times, counters soil erosion and stormwater runoff by installing vegetation, and offers a Less