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GREENFUSE
Published mostly monthly, in Southern Humboldt County
& distributed through six Northcoast counties since 2000-
Until the untimely death of our Editor-in-chief who described it thus:
"Greenfuse bears witness to the love
and enduring stubbornness of a
small group of supportive, creative activist known as the:
Waking Dog Collective-
(Unlike sleeping dogs, waking dogs never lie).
The group includes a various assortment of beings,
including some actual Dogs & Cats, Ravens in the air,
and the memory of dead goldfish and humans."
Published mostly monthly, in Southern Humboldt County
& distributed through six Northcoast counties since 2000-
Until the untimely death of our Editor-in-chief who described it thus:
"Greenfuse bears witness to the love
and enduring stubbornness of a
small group of supportive, creative activist known as the:
Waking Dog Collective-
(Unlike sleeping dogs, waking dogs never lie).
The group includes a various assortment of beings,
including some actual Dogs & Cats, Ravens in the air,
and the memory of dead goldfish and humans."
Publishers dispatch- Winter 2015:
As you may already know, Kathy Epling died June 15. Because of this you haven’t seen a Greenfuse since May. Kathy was the editorial core of the newspaper, with a unique genius for getting to the personal heart of the matter with texts and graphics. There was no replacing what she did.
Which has put the future of Greenfuse up for grabs. But, a significant number of people from Ukiah to Arcata have responded with commitments to keep the paper going in the spirit of the Waking Dog Collective. At an Oct. 13 meeting in Garberville, the consensus was to continue on its same uncompromising radical track.
Greenfuse meant always to counter the drag of that political inertia so we are not quitting. I will be continuing my role as necessary in producing, printing and distributing the future Greenfuse. I will continue also to help coordinate advertising
-Paul Encimer
As you may already know, Kathy Epling died June 15. Because of this you haven’t seen a Greenfuse since May. Kathy was the editorial core of the newspaper, with a unique genius for getting to the personal heart of the matter with texts and graphics. There was no replacing what she did.
Which has put the future of Greenfuse up for grabs. But, a significant number of people from Ukiah to Arcata have responded with commitments to keep the paper going in the spirit of the Waking Dog Collective. At an Oct. 13 meeting in Garberville, the consensus was to continue on its same uncompromising radical track.
Greenfuse meant always to counter the drag of that political inertia so we are not quitting. I will be continuing my role as necessary in producing, printing and distributing the future Greenfuse. I will continue also to help coordinate advertising
-Paul Encimer
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Autumn 2015
The life & times of the Greenfuse. Waking dogs never lie. The monthly Greenfuse, was originally the product of a very short-lived newspaper committee formed during a small gathering of Green party enthusiasts in Garberville during the build up towards the momentous 2000 presidential election. For a room of die hard progressive activists, desperate to create political change, creating a newspaper seemed a natural tool towards the goal of organizing. This appeal- to create media through the consensus process of the embryonic local Green chapter was however a bit of window dressing. The torch of media publication was in fact a foregone conclusion for cultural activist Kathy Epling and Paul Encimer, For Paul and Kathy As committed peacemakers, environmentalists and humanitarians, activism had always included creating your own media. When the Greenfuse solidified as a project, Kathy was quick to take on the task of Editor-in-chief and steered the infant rag away from the purely utilitarian political screed it may have become in those heady days of Green politics. The Green Party organization was on the move, but Kathy recognized that the Green Party had no monopoly on the ideals of a peaceful, environmentally sound humanitarian future, and was reluctant to devote the work of a regular publication to simply building a party of like minded people. Her literary heart gave a soul to the project that included finding seldom heard voices, the victims of war, the eyewitness reports, innocents abroad and a diversity of thinkers, writers, and activist. With the new technology of the internet acting as a virtual wire service, the Greenfuse had no qualms about capturing relevant content where ever it could be found, adding local voices and issues, and distilling it down to say something important about people and the world that confronts them. Kathy called the production; ‘a project of the Waking dog collective.” As a founding member of that collective I can tell you now, that is an elegant fiction. There were no staff meetings beyond passionate discussion, no editorial conferences beyond casual suggestion, and no schedules beyond deadline. The Waking dog collective is a dream, a vision, the poem of a rag-tag collection of fellow travelers, an extended family of activism that swirled around Paul and Kathy’s bookstore. The actual production was in their hands, on wrinkled recycled paste-up mechanicals- old school cut and paste production, often into the wee hours to make the self imposed deadline, followed by a trek to the printer to wait while the archaic inky web press churned out another edition of inspiration and truth. I created the masthead and contributed the art that set a style that Kathy pursued with graphic internet searches. The writing I contributed for many years with a three part formula, blending: historical observation, current affairs, and personal experience- with a goal of supporting others waking interest, was always accepted cordially. But I always knew I had hit the mark and had a sense of accomplishment when editor Kathy placed my piece in a prominent position. Preaching to the choir was always given with a project like this, but the hope was always that some turn of phrase, some historical precedent, or inspiring action could temper and strengthen the leading edge of progress towards a better world, perhaps teaching that tired well rehearsed choir just a bit more about the intricacies of harmony, or intonation. Given the world we find ourselves in, the danger was always the possibility of being too depressing as the chaos of political, environmental and human tragedy played out. Personally I can attest to closing down emotionally during the spiral down the rabbit-hole that was the Bush years, and the predictable banality that followed. One can only say the same thing a few hundred different ways before it seems ridiculously futile. The political/economic reality of the game table we share is rigged beyond hope. Hence, finding hope has never been harder. Kathy is shockingly, and suddenly gone now, a local motto has been adopted: WWKD: What Would Kathy Do? Well, obviously, regarding the continued publication of the Greenfuse without Kathy- she would say: "Impossible!" and so it is. But the future continues. With the dominance of the digital social media-sphere, is there still a place for inky hard copy newsprint? Why would there be? Because independent thought and voices, the kind of thought and voices that questions authority, challenges assumptions, and provide the facts, insights, and testimony that inform decisions are a basic requirement of social progress. The advent of electronic social media, and popular programming fill the need to some degree, but media literacy demands an awareness that recognizes for-profit corporate organization of news and commentary, and the way it is delivered matters. There is a reason freedom of the press is specifically named as a basic right that government may not infringe. Sharing knowledge, practicing and sharing freedom of thought, and the free trade of ideas is the power we have. As that creativity narrows, so do our options. But, we creatively share, work together to expose fallacies, document history, voice objections, and explore options even if we are going to the proverbial "hell-in-a-hand basket," that journey can be so much richer if we celebrate humanity, nature, and progress. Randomly acquired periodicals; zines, newpapers, journals, rags, like a synchronistic casting of a message-in-a-bottle, will always have a home amongst the aware and literate. If you have ever been inspired by found words, are a seeker of truth, a peaceful warrior, and a giver of care- you are a member of the Waking Dog Collective- pass it on. -Joshua Golden |
Kathy Epling, Editor & Co-publisher of the GREENFUSE- Poet, romantic, book lover and nurturer of plants, animals and champion of all people; regardless of their flaws, or station in life. A savior of the oppressed, friend to the friendless, and tireless activist for the good and true- The closest thing to Mother Theresa Southern Humboldt had, died suddenly June 14th 2015. From: Prairie Schooner, Volume 80, Number 3, Fall 2006: The summer sun was bright sweet as licked candy those hot days Cooling our bodies in the green waters we closed our eyes. We believed even the sunlight loved us. All our games were dotted over with stars. We shone in each others light & turned & turned our hurts minor & kissed away. It has been dark now for some time shadows taking our hands. One by one our friends are not here I can't see who it is, there, far in that cold shade, the golden leaves fallen all around, such tired children, who in that darkness calls us in. -Kathy Epling. 
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