Nine Shift

Organic farming is traditional

Organic Valley Farms is a cooperative of 800 plus farms producing organic dairy produce.

Wisconsin, where we live, produces one-third of all organic milk in the entire nation.  Willie drinks organic milk and eats organic natural produce.  Organic Valley is headquartered here, in a rural area. The distribution warehouse is in another really small town too, so they practice what they farm.

So Willie was really angry with a newspaper article on organic farming that compared it to "traditional farming." Organic farming has been done for 10,000 years, and chemical farming fewer than 100. So Willie has a good argument that organic farming is traditional.  People living in the last century seem to think the situations of the Industrial Age were always so, when in fact they are quite temporary.

Is Mind Shift possible for adults?

Can grown ups do a mind shift into the 21st century?

"It's not just technology, it's a whole mind-set," notes Hitoshi Ikuma, a specialist in energy issues at the Japan Research Institute.  He said it in a story about the Japanese consuming only half the energy of Americans, but it could be applicable to any NineShift change in this century.

Generation Y and succeeding generations were born into this century. They already think 21st century. There's nothing to change. But:

Can adults do a mind shift into the new century? What do you think?

A secret on how we named it "Nine Shift"

Our second of a three part series on "mind shift," here's a little (really little) secret. Promise you won't tell anyone. Here's the story.

I was on the phone in 1997 with an association executive offering online courses, very new at the time. "How's the reception to online courses?" I asked.  "Oh, it's slow," she replied. "They haven't gone through the Nine Shift yet." 

"Nine Shift!" I exclaimed. "What's that?" 
"Not nine shift," she explained, "I said mind-shift you idiot. There's no such thing as a Nine Shift." (italicized is literary interpretation of her mental state. She didn't actually say that)

I loved the term Nine Shift.  Everything about 75% of our lives (9 hours of 12) is absolutely correct, but the title of the book came from a little misunderstanding. And I am so glad.

Stay tuned for the third posting coming in two days, where you get your say on whether mind-shift is possible.

Mind Shift to trains

The mind shift to trains is just very hard for grown ups used to cars and traffic.

We were at our annual conference in Baltimore. We had a preconference seminar in Washington DC, about an hour away.  I suggested we all take the train at $14 each round trip.  I lost. The majority wanted to rent a van at around $40 per person.  Both took an hour.  As I was sitting in the van (I took the train back and loved it!) it became apparent to me how mentally difficult it is for people used to cars, highways, driving and even congestion to switch to pain-free trains, even for a day. The "mind shift" is just too difficult for grown ups. Or so it seems....

Our homes waste energy Part III

Now it's your turn to vote on the solution to energy inefficient homes.
Pick from these possible solutions:

1. An energy tax. To force conservation.
2. Energy costs will simply go up. Let the market rule.
3. Make it illegal.   To waste energy.
4. Ration it.  Like sugar in WWII.
5. Fuel cells.  On their way to save the day!
6. Conservation.  Voluntary, grandparents sacrifice for their grandchildren's future.
7. New appliances. That cost more initially, but save money long term.
8. Smaller residences.  Apartments for all!

"All of the above" is not accepted. Choose the ONE solution you think will be Most Important in reducing energy inefficient living in the U.S.  Vote now!