Welcome to the Myra House Holistic Living Center -Backyards as Forests for Food and Beauty
An Urbanite Manifesto for Earth Day 2023, Inspired by the Work of A. N. Whitehead
This April, we mark the fifty-third anniversary of caring for our earth, and many efforts thus far have never been more apparent. Following the National Environmental Policy Act (1970) and the Clean Air Act Amendments (1977), numerous regulations have been implemented, such as the Clean Water Act (1981), sustainable development treaties (1992) and the Global Warming Solutions Act (2006). Urban agriculture, a social trend for climate resilience and sustainable development, is another expression of this type of caring endeavor. Community farms and food gardens have increased at the grassroots level, becoming prominent in a variety of places, from elementary schools to colleges to private homes in urban areas. Also, regenerative farming practices have been identified and promoted, as there is a growing awareness that the health of our bodies and ecosystem depend on sustainable agriculture.
Happy Spring
Dear Friends,
We hope this letter finds you well since the Pandemic has affected our lives deeply. This years’ spring equinox feels something special sensing a warmth and hope in timely manner.
Myra and I are doing well, though our hearts are broken by what’s happening in Ukraine, gaining restorative power in our daily gardening as usual, hopeful for more peaceful days to come. Myra House is also doing well, whereas keeping public event minimal, hosting overnight guests at upstairs via Airbnb network while Lydia-James family is living at guest house.
The major challenges upon us today, from an Agricultural point of view, can be narrowed down to two issues: (1) Soil degeneration and (2) Humans’ poor health. Humans began agriculture over 10,000 years ago, starting with the annual crop wheat, then rice, and later corn. The topsoil is being killed on a large scale by the forces of deforestation, repetitious farming of monocultural annual crops, extensive tillage, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers since the invention of industrious technology. As the amount of living soil decreases on our Earth, so does the potential for carbon sequestration via photosynthesis. Today, some studies suggest that we only have 60 years of farmable soil left on the planet and mainly caused by massive agrobusinesses who dominate industrialized food system. The fate of our lives is directly connected to soil degeneration and loss of eco-diversity.
As COVID-19 claims its 1 millionth death, the other greatest risk factor for human mortality is poor health. Ill health conditions are caused by the non-stop consumption of addictive junk foods that make-up 60 percent or more of the calories in the typical American diet. Calorie and chemical-laden, humans have become more vulnerable to diseases and the earth community has become more vulnerable to destructive pandemics. A basic human right—access of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is threatened by unprotective, heavily refined and processed cheap food. Especially ultra-processed food system severely affects our children’s weight, cognitive function, and long-term health. Our health, our gut microbiomes and our immune systems are in danger. Our global health emergency cannot be solved without a fundamental change in our diets, monopolizing food system by mega size agribusiness.
New Year’s day began with full of snow marking lowest height of attitude of the mountain front of the house. Twenty years ago, the Myra House project began to meet the need for a holistic way of living.
As we continually re-vision the mission of the Myra House, always reflecting on our original mission “to educate future leaders of the local and global community facing emergent ecological crises and human illness,” we hope to continue to live out a strengthening of our interdisciplinary practices in the areas of integrative health and sustainable living. As we connect with the inspirational stories of other people and communities, it is crucial that our mission can be reflected on, reviewed and refocused. We can envision a new model to be germinated by reframing the Way of Eco-Biotic Community Life in Seven Rules:
Lessons from the Healthy Biotic Community Life Cycle
This blog is a partial content—Dr. Sung Sohn’s most recent article has been updated participating two conference: Claremont Eco-Civilization Conference (April 19 – 20) and Korea Eco-Forum Conference (October 2-5), 2019.
Holistic educational models have emerged interconnecting religion, education and spirituality. The primary intention of these models is to guide people toward an ideal of holistic health where there is appreciation for the natural environment, spiritual awareness towards the self, strong sense of community, and sustainably built physical structures. Examples of such models are: The Native American Tribe Center Model (Cajete, 1994), The Stewardship Model (Moore, 1998) and The Eco-Therapy Model (Clinebell, 1996). However, these models are not universally applicable to different contexts; each model faces difficulty in being applied beyond indoor classrooms, weekend workshops or a seasonal or yearly events. Such education models, if they truly want to be transformative, must be continuously and consistently applicable to any context, such that they help one to learn transformative habits for life-long wellness of the individual, the community, and the Gaian earth.
Path into a New Journey
“Very scenic and peaceful accommodations. Myra and Sung were very helpful and kind. A retreat in every sense. So much more than what we expected.” “One of the best retreat experiences we’ve had. Lovely host and amazing space – inside and out. Built with so much love and thoughtfulness. We will be back! Thank you Sung & Myra!”
Myra House has hosted many retreatants this year from different countries besides United States: England, China, Switzerland and Germany so on. As quotes from our guestbook above the facility seems offering a quite nourishing and pleasing space for those eco-philia visitors. Most bustling season was spring when Earth center events were happened. Disciple Seminary Foundation’s students came by for “Body, Mind, and World Awareness.” Claremont School of Theology’s group had a class for the “Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization.” Among many grateful things I can list three:
Audacious 2016
Audacious new year of 2016 seems like it began just yesterday. Alas, we are already in September. According to the Asian Lunar Calendar, the year of Red Monkey returned after sixty years’ cycle. We are told it is a benchmark year, the ending of one era and the beginning of new one. This new era expands from the local to global scale, affecting our whole social fabric-politically, economically and culturally. Indeed, this catalytic year has been especially meaningful both for myself and Myra House.
It was 60th year since my birth. In April I was able to celebrate my birthday intimately with a family gathering. I was delighted to receive a gift-precious booklet. It contained a collection of letters, of blessed words and congratulations, from thirty dear friends* whom Lydia and David coordinated beforehand. Some letters from intern-residents, writing about heartfelt memories and experiences of fulfilling the internship program. Others were from long term residents(3-4 years), who wrote about unforgettable incidents and happenings that arose at Myra House. I consider this collection of letters as highlighting every of what a truly amazing experience Myra House has seen over the last 16 years!
An Ecological Manifesto
One of my resolutions in 2015 is to live as calmly as possible, consistent with what the year of the Sheep in the Asian calendar is scheduled to bring. Instead of taking up new projects, I try to appreciate what has already been accomplished. The Living Water Farm keeps me busy enough with all its daily chores and demands. Additionally, much of my energy is going towards completing the final year of my four year Oriental Medicine program.
Although the past few months have passed without much excitement, the memories of last summer’s backpacking trip with my son, David, in the United Kingdom, sustains me with passion. The trip reminds me of the importance of committing to the ecological principles that remain the bedrock of Myra House’s manifesto.
Sustainability Fest 2014
Our 3rd Sustainability Fest was held with current & former residents, dearest friends and family members. With no invited keynote speaker, we celebrated this yearly event and Sue’s Birthday with Music, Poetry and Storytelling composed by each own creativity.
Come, bees! Come, butterflies!
On a bright Sunday morning in April, the ears of my heart opened to a short poem by Emily Dickinson:
In the name of the Bee-
And of the Butterfly-
And of the Breeze- Amen!
It was a perfect invocation for us to the garden. Many things happened this spring and was as busy as previous years. As always, spring is a time of renewal and change. But this year, spring seemed even more active. All the soil beds were planted with vegetable seedlings that are now growing abundantly. Thanks to our two years of farming experience, we were finally able to recognize the edible greens that were best suited for the Inland north Claremont weather. They are lettuce, peppers, zucchinis, cucumber, basil and egg plant. Two dozen lavender bushes found their niche near the north side fence. The variety of tomatoes was placed along the west side of the farm fence. The avocadoes and figs are thriving, which is a new occurrence in comparison to past years. Every task including the Earth Day event has been well taken care of by residents, especially our newest residents, Natalie and Lauren.
