After a the long dry summer, we had a 3-4 inches of rain in one day last week. The brown Bay Area hills are already showing some green as a result. My back patio has its own explosion of new life. The pile of niger seeds and discarded sunflower seeds below the finch feeder has grown what from a distance looks like some long black animal fur. In fact, the first time the cat saw it, he was taken aback and very hesitant as he went over to examine the strange fur on the other side of the patio. Upon closer view, one sees some impressive spore growth. Each day it gets taller and thicker. Flies buzz around and get stuck amongst the sticky thick. I rescued one with a tiny twig, but one of his legs was injured from being stuck to the mass.
Exploring the sciences of cosmology, biology and genetics help us to better understand the deep human connection to nature.Cosmologist Brian Swimme explains how being human is an extension of the original energy that emerged from the eruption of light that occurred 13.7 billion years ago in our universe.As the universe expanded and cooled the actual components of our bodies emerged.These components exist throughout the planet in various species and forms ranging from water to rocks.Biologist Lynn Margulis discovered that all complex life developed from an original symbiosis of four different bacteria.Three of these bacteria were incorporated into the first nucleated cells, and the fourth was the one that gave them mobility.These nucleated cells eventually fused into more complex forms including plants, fungi and animals.Biologist Edward O. Wilson has described how all higher eukaryotic organisms, which are organisms containing one or more cell with visibly evident nuclei and organelles, from flowering plants to insects to humanity are thought to have descended from a single ancestral population that lived about 1.8 billion years ago.A genetic comparison between humans and other primates highlights the similarities.The typical human protein has accumulated just one unique change since chimps and humans diverged from a common ancestor about 6 million years ago. Jane Goddall and Mark Beckoff explain that we share 98.7% of our genes with chimpanzees, 97.7% with gorillas and 96.4% with orangutans in their book "The Ten Trusts."Geneticist David Suzuki speaks about how humans literally are our environment.The air that we breathe; the water that we drink; the sun that generates energy in plants that we eat; and the soil that grows these plants; all exist as elements within our physical bodies.Johan Galtung reminds us of how the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, micro-organisms and plants all come together for the successful operation of photo-synthesis, which in turn is the basis for the food chains on which we all depend.The components of nature all exist within us.Elisabet Sahtouris explains how humans see through their eyes that plants, animals and even rocks are separate, but if we look into a magnifying glass all of nature exists in an energetic molecular dance of chemical reactions and recombinations. We are connected to all aspects of nature, and its preservation is critical to our very survival.
Lavender is one of my most favorite herbs in the world. The smell so calming and relaxing. It makes me happy. Not only does it have amazing healing properties, it also is a community builder during the harvest season. Festivals can be found throughout the world. In North America, France and the UK it festivals occur in the summer months from June-August. The Australian harvest kicks in during December and January. In recognition of these special events, I created a list of all of the festivals throughout the world.
Last week I was preparing a research proposal about the human connection to environment/nature.I had to decide the best word to use to describe the concept I was looking for.After looking on dictionary.com I came up with a few definitions for each.
The American Heritage dictionary (2000) defines “environment” as:
“The totality of circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms, especially: The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms: ‘We shall never understand the natural environment until we see it as a living organism’ (Paul Brooks).”
“Natural” has a couple of meanings that are of interest:
1.Present in or produced by nature: a natural pearl.
2.Of, relating to, or concerning nature: a natural environment.
3.Not acquired; inherent: Love of power is natural to some people.
4.Relation by blood: A natural blood relative.
“Nature” is defined as:
1.The forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world: the laws of nature.
2.The world of living things and the outdoors: the beauties of nature.
3.A primitive state of existence, untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or artificiality: couldn't tolerate city life anymore and went back to nature.
What I didn't like about the definitions for environment or nature is how they are described as something that is external.We remove ourselves from the intimate connection that humans have with nature by defining the environment as something that is "outside.”Nature is a part of all of us.It includes the air that we breathe, the water that we drink to the fruits and vegetables we eat that come from the soil.For this reason, I ultimately selected the word nature as the best choice for my purposes.
This posting is a comment I made to loveman lovenature who was going through the same analysis on the Inspired Protagonist site.
This is a personal story of human connection to the land. Late last fall toward the end of the rainy season, the ground was over saturated with water from daily downpours. There was one particular evening when I went to bed highly conscious of the effect of the rain on the land. While sleeping, I dreamed of a landslide that occurred on the other side of the river that runs below my casita. The location of the landslide was just after crossing the bridge on the way to the University for Peace. The next day, I was amazed to find that in fact this landslide had occurred in the very spot I had seen it in my dream. The dirt had to be cleared to each side of the road so traffic could pass. I just managed to make it over to take a picture of the landslide a few weeks ago, several months after the slide occurred. This tree is located near the bottom of the slide just above the road. Now that the rains have started again it is very possible that if another slide occures, the tree will fall and block the road.
I am a big fan of David Suzuki. This 30 minute-clip It’s Not Just Empty Space discusses what it means to be fully human in our interconnected universe. It is a shortened version of his series Sacred Balance, based on the book he wrote of the same title, that aired on PBS in 2003.
I just watched a lovely presentation from UNEP called Biodiversity Benefits People. The presentation talks about the importance of biodiversity, celebrating its relationship with people and society's immense responsibility to protect the world for future generations. It provides an overview of why we need to take action to protect plants, the seas, drylands, forests, islands, freshwater, mountain habitats, agricultural biodiversity, address global consumption patterns and live more sustainably. It goes so well with the theme of this site. I hope you will watch it. It takes about 5 minutes.
Our guide at Tortuguero National Park reminded us of the importance not to spray insect repellant on your body like purfume. There are many creatures such as amphibians who are very sensitive to the chemicals, and it will reduce the very biodiversity we want to see. Instead, spray the insecticide on your hands in a place as away from the flora and fauna as possible, and then rub it on your body. This protects the wildlife, such as this poison arrow frog, who we spotted right in the middle of the park trail.
Rather than using DEET or other pesticides on your body, two natural insect repellants I have used that work well are Bye Bye Bug or Bite Blocker.
For info on human risks of using DEET insect repellants:
An acre of healthy soil can include as many as 2 tons of worms, and another 2 tons of bacteria, fungi and other soil organisms. They are constantly on the move searching for food, eating and execreting. In all of these activities they are moving food around for themselves, for other soil life, and food for plants. Worms turn over as much as 25 tons of soil per acre per year, or the equivalent of one inch of topsoil over the Earth's land surface every ten years. This photo is of worm composted soil at an organic farm in Costa Rica.
As stated in the UN Convention for Biological Diversity, "These services are not only essential to the functioning of natural ecosystems but constitute an important resource for the sustainable management of agricultural systems."
You can build the health of your own soil in your back yard by starting to compost. Begin by pruchasing a compost spinner. I got mine from the Gaiam Online Catalog. Instead of throwing away your kitchen waste, you can throw it in the spinner and eventually spread it back into your yard.
In contrast, pesticide use causes of land and soil degradation. According to a 2002 UN Environmental Program report on Land in North America, the continent is the world's largest user of pesticides accounting for 36% of the world's total use. About 5-10% of this is for use on home lawns. Not only do these products kill the soil organisms but they have an accumulating when they make it into the food chain.
Ultimately it is a value choice that you make to support your own health, the health of the land that you own, and our farmers who are taking steps to preserve the health of agricultural lands.
Buy organic products for your own health and to support organic farmers who are caretakers of a large portion of our land
Eliminate the use of pesticides on your property
Campaign for reducing pesticide use in your community (schools, parks, businesses), state and country
In Slash and Burn on 12/14 I discussed the frequent burnings on the property next door. They still continue, and there seem to be new spots showing up each week that have been cleared away by burning.
However, just 6 weeks later I am happy to find that there are already new plants sprouting out of the ground where I reported the initial burning. Some plant seeds are only activated by fire. This may be one of them, because they are all the same plants popping up. My hope is that the landowners will allow the regrowth to continue. We'll see...