The first seven years “The first seven years of our lives form the emotional foundations we build our lives upon.” Says Canadian Doctor Gabor Mate. “And the first three years form our emotional floor. If these are solid, grounded, stable, we are able to withstand all...
The Bedford House Blog
In a circle
In a circle. We sit equ-distance from the centre. The centre is a sacred place a safe place a place that no one owns wouldn’t it be nice if my seat were the centre and all would come to where I live see things through my eyes know my truths feel my heart wouldn’t it?...
A Future Story
The gift of imagination is a divine birthright we have been given to use (or abuse) to be co-creators of our days, our families, and our communities. Bill Plotkin in his book “Soulcraft” captures a teaching about two threads, or two paths we can weave in our lives....
2022 Annual Report
This year, the annual report is available as an “e-book” that you can read online.
Enough Already
Enough already Our local economy, our local watershed, is our household. In our household there are some with more than enough. In our household there are some with less than enough. In a consumer culture we can forget how to depend on one another. How might we...
Precarity
Winter 2023, draft for Bedford House Annual Report Here we are again at the end of another amazing year of grassroots relationship-growing. Lots of lessons learned. The challenges of being “guided by the voices of under-resourced catalysts” while trying to meet the...
if the voices of marginalized peoples
I came across the Alliance model for change on a visit to Calgary last spring. Lead organizer Ryan Anderson gave me a thumbnail of how ordinary citizens have been Changing the Conversations in Calgary’s municipal politics.
Words of Wonder
Wind, rain, snow, moon
The Wind that wants to be seen
From my bedroom window I look up the driveway between the lilac hedges north over open fields from where winter arrives most days She arrives with her weather silent and naked I have to look for her in treetops But today She rushes at my doorstep Howling...