Wednesday, April 14, 2010

". . .going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir


The 40th anniversary of Earth Day, an observance especially meaningful to gardeners, is April 22. Yet, when I saw the invitation to participate in the Garden Bloggers Sustainable Living Project, I hesitated.
I'm a novice gardener and a novice at sustainable living practices, and so the things I'm doing to keep Mother Earth green are small in scale.  I don't grow my own food -with the exception of herbs and a few tomatoes.  I don't make my own compost (but I do use compost - and especially like mushroom compost).  But there are some things I feel pretty passionate about.. 
  • Sustaining an environment friendly to butterflies, birds, and bees (as well as humans) - avoiding pesticides and chemicals that are harmful to them is part of that.
  • Minimizing the size of the lawn and maximizing the use of native plants and trees. The beauty of plants and trees is far greater than that of a green expanse of lawn.  And shade is essential to those of us in the South who don't want to be confined to air-conditioned spaces.
  • Reading and learning about other ways to be a good steward of this earth, for  "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1

And I do, as a practical discipline, try to practice the three "R's" - Reuse, Recycle, Reduce - noted in this article by Stacey Schifferdecker. though it would be a lie to say that I'm passionate about them. As with all disciplines, it helps to be reminded of why they're important.  What better reminder than time spent working in the garden, going for a walk or a hike, or sitting on the porch admiring the marvels of God's creation?

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.  
- John Muir Preservationist 1838-1914

3 comments:

Deborah Verhoeven said...

That's the way I see it, just to have a friendly environment for living things. I think if you just dig your hands in the dirt and appreciate it, you are doing something special for our planet.

Unknown said...

I like the three points you bring out as the things to get passionate about. Especially not using pesticides and herbicides in the garden. I'm very passionate about that. Helen at Summerhouseart

Phillip Oliver said...

I like the 3 R's - I'd never heard that before but it is sound advice. Good luck with the contest!