Be land wise

The late author Kurt Vonnegut once said, “We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap.”
Some people won’t recycle. It costs extra in some towns to do so. Others think no power can come from sun or wind despite the fact that every mountain face and beach is created by just those elements. Besides they say it is expensive to install solar panels.
We also balk at cleaning up the messes that humans have rendered from not recycling or being good and wise stewards of the land. Too cheap to look for alternatives, if the country had listened to a few ecologically minded people 30 years ago, today it would look far different.
But some folks are doing their part. For instance, Amish in Ohio have turned to solar power replacing to some degree the less safe kerosene or natural gas as a source of light. The safe alternative of the sun keeps the tradition of independence from the outside world. Sure, they had to spend a little money to make the switch, but their carbon footprint remains the lowest of any people in the country.
So what’s the answer and how do we proceed? It’s a question that was asked of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last Friday night during the Sun Valley Wellness Festival. His advice? Vote. Be involved in the process. Throwing up your hands and saying, “what I do doesn’t matter,” is a cop out.
Meanwhile, planting trees and shrubs, landscaping using xeriscape (water conservation) principles and composting are simple ways we all can make a difference in our own backyards. We are in a drought year, so it behooves homeowners to create their outdoor living space with water needs (and limitations) in mind.
Much of our food comes from plants. And plants recycle carbon dioxide and create oxygen, which we need to breathe. Animals eat plants, which we in turn eat. Flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and birds. Birds and bees pollinate, and the cycle of life continues.
If you have a dirt and weed strewn yard even a few containers full of fresh smelling herbs and flowers add to the health of your home. Nurseries have them made up. All you have to do is water them a bit everyday.
It’s what a garden, a plant and a land take. A little water begets a little more of life.