This past week's Change the World Wednesday was actually very hard for me. First, there were two challenges and it's the second one that really got me. I'm going to post about the 2nd one here, and I'll post about the other one soon.
Here's the challenge that got me:
Challenge #2 - A recent post on It's Not Easy To Be Green (you can read it HERE) talked about the dysfunctional relationship between humans and the planet. To put it briefly, humans take much more than they give in that relationship. So ... the challenge this week is to explore different ways to give back to the planet and nature ... and then take action. What we're talking about, here, is not just reducing our footprint, but rather giving back. Come up with as many ideas as possible, share them here and accomplish at least one of them this week.
I'm having the hardest time coming up with what I could do for this one. I seriously need suggestions.
I've thought maybe I could plant a tree or some shrubs, perhaps something the deer would like but wouldn't be ruined if they ate it, but I can't exactly take action now since it's winter and the ground is covered with a couple inches of ice. But that's basically what I came up with. And it's not enough!
In fact, that's why it's taken me so long to post this, because I've been trying to come up with something.
Please do give suggestions.
I did take one action this past weekend, I bought some organic seeds to grow lettuce and tomatoes. I haven't planted them yet though. I'm still playing around with what to do. Should I attempt to grow some completely in doors, which means I could start now. Or should I wait a month and start the seeds indoor and then transfer them outside when the weather is right. Either way, I'll be attempting these as a vegetable container garden.
I'm anxious to see what others came up with and hope I can steal their ideas.
Don't feel alone ... from what I can tell, everyone (including me) has had a tough time with this one. It's that line between what is actually just reducing our impact and what actually gives back. Some of the things I'm doing (which I hope qualifies as giving back) is putting up a bird feeder, composting (to return nutrients to the soil), picking up trash when I'm out walking and planting things. And yes indeedy, feel free to take those and make them your own. :-)
ReplyDeleteRe your seed planting question ... I've tried planting seeds early to grow indoor but I firmly believe that plants have their own time schedule. Because of a previous challenge, I have a pot of herbs & lettuce in a window sill. The plants do grow but not as well and their taste isn't all that good. So, I don't know if it's worth it. For my outdoor, container garden, I start veggies about 6 weeks before I want to put them out. I usually put them out around the middle of May so that means I need to start them at the beginning of April.
Hope that helps! :-)
I'm also struggling with how to make a positive impact. On a follow-up entry, I mentioned a few ideas -- volunteering your time for an earth-friendly cause, reaching out to grow/educate/encourage your own green community, donating to a local cause that needs it. However, I don't have a great deal of time and am not very sociable, so I'm having trouble following my own suggestions!
ReplyDeleteSo far, I've made seed bombs (clay, earth, native flower seeds to pitch into bare lots), picked up trash at a nearby state park while enjoying a walk in the woods, and upped my indoor gardening efforts to include herbs and kale. I figure I can water them with gray water or shower water that would usually go down the drain. I would love some more suggestions, too.
Small Footprints - thanks for the suggestion! I've thought about putting a bird feeder outside, we get a lot of cardinals and yellow finches at our house. I just don't want the squirrels. We have enough animals with all the rabbits and deer. haha
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info regarding planning seeds indoor. I think I'll just figure out when they should go outside and start the seeds 6 weeks before that.
Noteasytobegreen - The seed bombs sounds like a wonderful idea! I like the idea of picking up trash while walking at a start park too. I run at one state park and sometimes run at another county park. I would say I would do that, except that I rarely see trash when running there. haha! The only time I see it at the state park is when I'm doing a flat long distance run, and then it's things like johnny on the spot, old cars, etc...things that I can't carry out. I suppose it's a good thing that the parks don't have trash though.