March/April 1984 RAIN Page 29 and by discussing the ecology and environmental problems of our region. Agriculture and food are very important issues to KAW Council. We live in the breadbasket of the country, and we export tremendous amounts of wheat and other grains. (See The Kansas Food System study published by the Cornucopia Project of Rodale Press for more information on the flow of food in the region and the environmental impacts of its production.) At KAW events, people bring and share a cornucopia of food. While we prepare and eat the food, the conversation usually turns to the food system that created it—who brought it, how it was grown, the weather, how it tastes— nourishing both our bodies and minds with homemade bread, watercress, venison, watermelons, and other foods of the bioregion. Changes in the ecology of the prairie are disturbing. Only a small percentage of native prairie is left, groundwater depletion is causing rivers such as the Smoky Hill to be reduced to intermittent streams, and an excessive amount of soil is eroding from our farmlands. We write about various aspects of prairie ecology in our newsletter, Konza. Also, we are currently putting together a bundle of materials on the ecology of our prairie bioregion that will have charts on seasonal cycles of plants and animals, edible prairie plants, and much more. It will be the focus of our next council—our Prairie Heritage Council—to be held April 27-29, 1984. The cultural focus of KAW Council has emphasized bioregional poetry, songs, dance, and the reviving of storytelling. Emphasizing our culture is important to us because we believe that sharing and further developing our prairie culture will strengthen our roots and give us a greater understanding of this land we call home. Artistic expression is encouraged because it can give us new insights into the natural world around us; and stories, songs, and poetry can tell us more about the culture, ecology, and our "sense of place" in the prairie bioregion. Stories that were told of eagles, springs, pioneers, and previous prairie inhabitants, while the full moon was rising over the Flint Hills at our 1982 Labor Day Campout, are now part of KAW Council's own story and folklore. Stories, songs, and poetry that we have shared at this and other councils are then printed in our newsletter for a written record and to share with those not present. We look forward to the long-term process of developing and sharing our bioregional perspective here in the heartland. As cosponsors of the North American Bioregional Congress, KAW Council will help coordinate food for the event and emphasize our ecological and cultural perspective. If you would like to know more about our council, our prairie bioregion, or be kept informed of our upcoming events, please subscribe to our newsletter—Konza, $5 for the next four issues, do The Appropriate Technology Center, 1101 Vz Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. □□ Betty Dutton
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