I wish we would stop and think about this planet that we live on more than just one day out of the year. It should be 365 days of Earth Day.
On April 22, 1970, more than 20 million Americans took part in Earth Day events, eventually leading to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The first official Earth Day was in 1990. In 2009, Earth Day was officially renamed by the UN to International Mother Earth Day. Organizers hope to plant 7.8 billion trees during this year’s Earth Day activities.
I think we, as a species, can do more than commemorate. It's estimated that more than a billion people, in over 180 countries, are believed to mark this day by holding rallies, planting trees and generally cleaning up the outdoors. I hope it's not too late. I have my own personal beliefs/fears on this subject.
Just in this year alone, I've witnessed some events that make me take pause here in my little corner of the world. From an unheard of, record breaking snow storm in mid-April in western Washington state to...
some major flooding that caused many thousands of dollars in damage, not just once this past winter, but there were 3 times that the Cowlitz River came over the banks...
to skies so filled with smoke that they turned yellow and blocked the sun for many, many days in September 2020...
and when we could finally see the sun, it was pink because of the smoky haze.
We've got to do better than this. We've got to be better than this.
I can only tell you what I am, personally, doing to change in my little slice of the Earth. First and foremost, none of this timber, on this property, will be going anywhere unless nature takes it out.
Rather than buying everything that I need in the store, I've learned to grow my own produce. Today was carrot planting day. I think these 5 varieties, of which, one is a landrace, will fill my yearly carrot needs quite nicely.
I tend to purchase the majority of my seeds through Baker Creek. There is a reason for this. They sell only heirloom and OP varieties. What that means is that I can save seeds from any of these and they will grow true for me. If you want to view Baker Creek's website, click here.
So, why do I knock myself trying to get this area seeded in and planted? Well, that goes back to an Earth Day concept. Instead of purchasing vegetables that were shipped from all over the world, I want to save the fuel it would take (not to mention the pollution) and simply step out my door and pick what I may need for a meal. I'll be getting chickens up here soon. I'm going to have a rabbit or two. We want some ducks. We're debating on getting alpacas/goats or pigs.
I digress....
I garden. I make things from scratch. I try to lessen my carbon footprint in many, many ways.
Those are some of the things I do to try to save this planet.
We've no interest in removing any trees from this property.
We don't let anything go over the bank down to the creek below. We keep that area as natural and pristine as possible. I'm actually putting in fig trees to act as a buffer.
I discovered some old tires under my favorite cedar tree that we will be removing and repurposing into flower beds. I'll put them by the pig pen and plant them out with borage. These tires will not be going into a landfill. They won't be pretty, but they can certainly be used to grow flowers in.
When this fir tree drops it's cones and the seeds take hold, we won't be just pulling them up and discarding them. They will be transplanted into other areas on this property.
And I can't wait for these apples to come on! I'll be making applesauce (no more little plastic containers in the landfill), dried apples (no plastic waste). If we all take small steps it will, eventually, equal a huge step.
Happy Earth Day 2022.
