farmdoc's blog post number 61

Tasmania in early winter is so green. Green: The colour of envy, St Patrick, emeralds, shamrocks, environmentalism, the Australian cricket team’s baggy cap, the Hamas flag, the antioxidant-rich tea, Anne’s gables, the thumb I don’t have, the worldwide political movement that originated in Tasmania, my favourite traffic light. Green: The surname of Antony, the ABC political pundit; Bryan, the ex Tasmanian Deputy Premier; Russell, the Mole Creek farmer and butcher; Colin, the CEO of the Melbourne High School Old Boys Association. Green: A village common area, a lawn bowls rink, the golf course area surrounding the hole. Greenberg: My pal Harry. Greencorps: An Australian Government youth development and environmental training program. Greensleeves: A 16th century English ballad that reminds me of Pete Seeger and Mr Whippy. Greenpeace: The international environmental activist group. Greenback: The 19th century American political party that advocated a government-issued national currency. Greenwash: The act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental credentials of a company, product or service. Greenpower: Renewable energy sourced from the sun, wind, water and waste. Greenhorn: farmdoc vis-à-vis farming (but not doctoring). Greenstick: A partial bone fracture caused when children’s soft bones do not completely break through. Green: A colour formed by mixing yellow and blue, derived from the Old English verb growan meaning to grow. Tasmania in early winter is so green. But nothing much grows.