Regeneration in this generation
We plant seeds for trees we may never get to sit under but that our children and childrens children will. It’s for that purpose we make decisions, decisions daily, that may not solve our planet's collective problems, but that make significant impact in the years to come. Individual action is fundamentally the only way to make mass change. What we consume both in our mouth and on our bodies, where and what we shop for, from whom and how far have rippling effects in the movement towards sustainability.
We consume too much. We waste too much. We think too much about ourselves and not enough about all of the other living creatures with whom we share the Earth.
Humans are part of nature. We are one of many species who share this planet. We have the capacity and opportunity to have a positive impact on the planet and help heal.
How can you make an impact at home?
Compost - Composting food scraps is quite simple and there are, many ways you can do it at home that nearly all of us can find a way to do.
Re-wild your yard - A perfectly manicured lawn is highly overrated. Open grassy areas are wonderful play spaces for kids. But chemical-laden, fertilizer-driven, weed-free monoculture lawns are terrible for the environment and for so many species that need biodiverse habitats to survive. Rewilding your yard is essentially an intentional decision to give control back to nature, with a bit of pruning or assistance along the way. Rewilding your yard does not require you to let everything grow into an uncontrolled mess. Instead, it entails creating intentional spaces where you allow wildflowers and other natural elements to thrive. These spaces also become home to a large variety of bees, bugs, and other small creatures that foster a healthy and flourishing ecosystem within your yard.
Start a food garden - At some point in modern history, we clung to the idea that a front yard is a pristine monoculture of boring grass with a few trees and maybe a handful of precisely manicured bushes. Create a home for loads of healthy biodiversity by planting a food garden in your yard, even if your front yard is the sunniest and most spacious place for a flourishing garden of fruits and vegetables.
When managed thoughtfully and with regeneration in mind, food gardens build healthier soil and draw down carbon from the air. They provide a habitat for all sorts of good bacteria and microorganisms, bugs, and birds, all of which lead to a thriving hyper local ecosystem.
Be mindful before consuming - Consider if you already have something that will serve the purpose or the gap you’re looking to fill. Search secondhand markets before buying new where applicable. Get creative about how you bring new things into your life to be sure your purchases aren’t impulsive or not useful.