One of the many things that I loved about England when I visited there, was the miles and miles of rolling green hills and hedgerows. Here in America, we have an endless array of fences. Fences line our highways, our farms, and our ranches. Tall chain link fences topped with barbed wire or electric fencing, surround numerous buildings, especially high security government or military institutions. We have border walls to keep out immigrants. Most of our houses have fenced back yards; and some even have fences in the front yards. We have fences around our school playgrounds; and we even have “gated” communities. Many of the fences portray signs saying “keep out” or “no trespassing.” It seems that the more human beings that crowd onto this tiny planet of ours, the more inclined we are to isolate ourselves from one another.
The styles and materials of which fences are made, are endless. We have numerous wood fences, vinyl fences, wrought iron fences, and bamboo fences, to name a few. We have stacked stone walls and brick walls. The problem with all of these fences is that, along with the parcelization of land, wildlife is unable to move freely from one area to another. This inhibits their ability to find food and water; and it often results in their death from having to cross our dangerous highways. If it is a female animal, she often leaves behind her orphaned offspring.
I would love nothing more than to see our fences replaced with hedgerows. Hedgerows are vitally important as ecosystems, providing habitat that rivals that of forests. They serve as shelter and shade, as a food source, and as a corridor for animals and insects to travel from place to place. The more diverse the plants that make up the hedgerow, the more benefit they provide. The plant life contained within them also stores carbon, which is hugely important as we battle global warming. Hedgerows help to prevent erosion and to slow down the flow of water. Best of all, they are lovely to look at.
Many people panicked during the pandemic a couple of years ago. The disruption in supply chains and the resulting empty grocery store shelves had them truly worried and afraid. Some of them grew gardens for the first time. A surprising amount of food can be grown in a small space. Planting fruit trees, fruit bearing shrubs, and vines within a hedgerow can provide food for wildlife and for us. Perhaps it is time we stop looking at the plantings in our yards merely as “ornamental.” If we are fortunate enough to have a small yard of our own, we can grow an edible hedgerow and share it with our neighbor. There really is no reason why any of us should go hungry. If we give back to Mother Earth, by caring for her soil, plants, and seeds, she will provide us with a bounty of food.
10 APRIL 2023 HEDGEROWS
5 APRIL 2023 NAKED APES
My cat communicates many things with his tail. It is a very long tail and he whips it back and forth when he is angry. He often wants to have his way, so when I scold him for jumping on the kitchen counter, where he likes to watch the birds outside the window; or for taking bites out of my houseplants, he lets me know he isn’t happy. I often wonder why humans don’t have tails. They are very useful. Many animals use them to help them balance. Some use them to wrap around tree trunks where they act like an extra arm. Fish use them to propel them through the water. Many grazing animals use their tails to swat away flies.
Yesterday, after a spring snowstorm dumped more than a foot of snow here, I amused myself watching the wildlife outside. I saw at least half a dozen juncos foraging in the snow around the birdfeeders. The only time I see these charcoal grey and white birds is when it snows. Later, when the snow had let up, I watched a squirrel digging beneath it to retrieve the peanuts that he had previously buried there. A while later, a hawk sat majestically on a chunk of snow, in the middle of the street, scanning for prey until an oncoming car scared it away. Regardless of the weather, these animals must eat. They have fur or feathers that protect them from the cold and the wet.
Not only do we humans lack tails; we also lack insulation that keeps other species warm. Author and zoologist Desmond Morris, referred to us as naked apes. We have learned to survive in spite of our lack of tails or feathers. In doing so; however, we have exploited our Earth. We have cut down forests to build our own homes and to heat them. Thinking only of ourselves, we have destroyed the homes of thousands of other species. While I sit here in the comfort of my heated home, with running water and food in my refrigerator, with warm blankets and a comfortable bed, I cannot help feeling somewhat ashamed.
There have been small groups of humans that have managed to live in harmony with other species. I can do very little to atone for the suffering that my fellow man has cause to our non-human relatives. I cannot bring back the ancient trees that have been felled. I feed the birds and other wildlife. I provide water for them in a small birdbath. I seek to cause them no more harm. I am a naked ape. I do not have a tail, nor feathers, nor fur; but I have a heart. I have compassion. I have respect for all the other species with which I share this planet. What more can I do?
3 APRIL 2023 THE PRISON OF DOING
Beyond the prison of our doing, lies the freedom of simply being. We have all been born into the constraints of our family situation. As part of the family we were born into, we must also adhere to the rules and expectations placed upon us by our government and our country. We must conform to the rules of society, both verbal and non-verbal. We succeed in life only so far as we are able to play by the rules and meet the expectations of others.
The majority of people do not mind being told what to do. They obey, often complaining, but unwilling to rock the boat that is both a vessel of safety, and a prison. While seemingly participating in this world based on capitalism, they grasp at straws of happiness. They are never fully content, but they become comfortable with the vague sense of unease that hangs like a cloud above them. They may feel that something is missing from their lives – that there should be more. They paint over the images of their lives that make them uncomfortable by finding a myriad of ways to cope. They color their dull existence by drinking, smoking, doing drugs, or indulging in sex, or sports, or gambling. They use every kind of distraction to ignore what disturbs them. Others turn to religion, join a monastery, or seek answers from psychics, astrologers, or spiritual gurus.
From the moment we learn to walk and to talk, we are told what to do and what not to do. We were born into a world where we have been “should on” and made to feel that it is what we “do” in life that matters. But, it is not at all what matters. When we are gone, very little will be remembered about what we “did.” We will be remembered by our “beingness.” How we were perceived by others is how we will be remembered. Were we kind? Were we honest? Were we brave? Did we smile often, or did we frown and begrudge our circumstances? Will others remember us as angry, judgmental, hateful? Or, will they recall the light that we reflected? As we busy ourselves in the doing, let’s remember to free ourselves often to the present moment. Let’s be who we truly are and not the story that we have come to believe.
29 MARCH 2023 RAINWATER HARVESTING
It is still late March – almost April – and we are still caught in the throes of winter here. I am chomping at the bit to break free from confining walls and stuffy, indoor air. My thoughts turn automatically to the garden. I strain my ears to hear the birds as they busy themselves with building nests, to bring forth their young. I dream of beautiful flowers and the insects that help to pollinate them. I long for the soothing sounds of bumblebees, which technically should not be able to fly, yet glide gracefully from flower to flower. I want to smell the petrichor rising up from the soil and feel my fingers plunging into fertile earth that has been warmed by the sun.
Our planet is running out of potable water. Our aquifers are drying up and parts of the world are experiencing drought. Gardeners understand the importance of water for growing healthy produce and beautiful flowers. The use of rain barrels, to capture rainwater during heavy rains, has long been in use; but the problem is that once the barrels are filled, no more water can be saved. Rainwater harvesting takes the idea of saving water into the garden itself. By connecting hoses to roof downspouts so that they can flow into rain barrels, and from there into soaker hoses, water is distributed slowly and spread out to where it is needed. Directing water flow through the use of berms, swales, and rain gardens, will also help to replenish underground reservoirs to preserve precious water. I am certain that every property, building, and home can be structured in a way to prevent water from being lost forever in storm drains and sewers. By keeping the water that Nature provides us, where it is needed, we eliminate the wasteful practice of overhead watering and the costly installation and maintenance of sprinkling systems.
In Question Everything, I talked about the importance of protecting our water, our air, our soil, and our sunlight – those things that are essential to life itself. It is high time that we stop taking these things for granted. Quite simply, our planet is drying up. We can begin now, to conserve. We can replace lawns with drought tolerant ground covers and native plants. We can grow food. We can plant trees to help anchor the soil, preventing erosion and the loss of topsoil in the drying winds. We can harvest the rain dripping off of our roofs. We can each do our part to care for our planet.
27 MARCH 2023 FORSAKEN LAND
I can see by the calendar that time is marching forward. Here in Wyoming; however, we seem to be trapped in eternal winter. Nighttime temperatures have not climbed above freezing for months; and daytime temperatures have rarely exceeded more than ten degrees above. I am quite certain that autumn skipped us entirely, as I never had a chance to rake the few leaves we had, for adding to my compost pile throughout the winter months. In fact, I have not been able to turn the compost because it is completely frozen.
You may think, for frustrated gardeners like myself, why not just make a greenhouse? Certainly, a greenhouse has aided many gardeners who live even further north of here; but when I tell you that the weather here is brutal and inhospitable, it is no exaggeration. The winds that range between 25 MPH and over 50 MPH, on an almost continual basis, prevent one from doing even the simplest gardening tasks. Even going for a walk is far from enjoyable when you factor in the wind chill.
I would like to believe that having a greenhouse would solve my gardening dilemmas; but the wind would flatten it to the ground in no time at all. What is a gardener to do? I gaze out my window, watching the birds attempting to hang onto the birdfeeders that are hanging nearly horizontally in the wind. They are obviously struggling and I know they are grateful for the unfrozen water that I provide for them. There are very few trees here. Many of those that have managed to survive are bent over; and many that are still standing have suffered severe damage. If the weather alone is not challenging enough for them, the profuse use of herbicides and pesticides deals them still more to contend with. The drying winter winds and injury from string trimmers leaves them vulnerable to disease and insect infestations. While I lament my own frustrations, I am filled with compassion for the trees, in this land that has been seemingly forsaken. The resident flora have no choice but to endure stress on a daily basis. I, at least, have the option to leave, and never ever return.
22 MARCH 2023 AI
You hear a lot these days about artificial intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI. What is intelligence? According to the American Heritage dictionary, it is the ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge. Based on this definition, it is clear that intelligence is not unique to human beings. Every species acquires knowledge and understanding about its own environment and needs. It learns what it needs to know for its survival, such as finding and/or hunting for food. It is able to seek out shelter and habitat that suits it; and it can solve problems like where to find water, which nearly every species requires. It has memory as well because what is learning, if not an accumulation of memories? Many animals have the ability to count; otherwise, how does a maternal mammal that has litters, know when one of her offspring is missing?
The definition of artificial, is something that is produced by human beings, rather than by Nature. While AI has the ability to “learn,” its learning does not occur naturally. Why do humans want, or even need to create, artificial intelligence? Am I the only person who finds this disturbing? Is it really necessary to “talk” to our phones and other electronic devices? We now have a generation that habitually gives commands to Alexa: “Alexa, turn out the lights.” “Alexa, play sleep music.” “Alexa, take me home.” etc.
It concerns me that AI has no sense of right or wrong – no moral compass. It simply does what it is told to do. Modern society has focused its attention and resources on intelligence, falsely believing that this will provide us ultimate power over the world we live in; but intelligence without wisdom is a dangerous thing. Why are we not content, knowing that we are a part of Nature, rather than separate from her; and why do we believe that we must control the world around us?
20 MARCH 2023 HIRAETH
My family, on my paternal grandmother’s side, immigrated from Wales. I learned last year, from DNA testing, that I am 95% English. (Wales became part of Great Britain in 1707, and in 1801 it was incorporated into Ireland and Great Britain.) I have always been drawn to everything English, so learning about my ancestry helped me to understand why. When I recently came across the word “hiraeth,” it gave meaning to a feeling that has haunted me for my entire life.
Hiraeth is an ancient Welsh word that describes a longing for home. It is a kind of yearning, imbued with nostalgia, or a feeling of homesickness. For me, it is a heavy heart, weighed down with melancholy and a desire to return home.
Where is home? I have owned my own homes in Colorado and also in Virginia. I have rented homes. I have always had a natural ability to bring forth a “homey” feeling into every place that I have lived. Each house; however, was lacking some intangible something. There has been within me, a vague loneliness that I could not put into words, even when I was married. This longing for something that I cannot quite convey, accompanies me to every new place that shelters me.
I often think of Earth as my home, for indeed, it is home to all of us. And yet, I have never felt that it is truly my home. I suspect I may have come from somewhere else – perhaps the Pleiades – which is why even as a child, I never felt like I belonged here. At other times, I have felt that this hiraeth that surrounds me is actually a longing to return to my Source. I believe that as long as I occupy this physical body, I will continue to be haunted by hiraeth. Perhaps, in being born into this physical existence, we must separate from our creator. It is only when we establish that spiritual connection with it that we can ease the pain of separation. Most try to fill the void of that separation through relationship, through finding true love or a “soul mate;” but it is only in deepening that relationship with our higher self that we can truly go home – to that place from which we came.
15 MARCH 2023 THE NEW ADDICTION
Human society has indulged in addictions for centuries. Alcoholic beverages are of course, the first one that we think of. Cigarette smoking addiction overall, affects only about 20% of the population; however I would venture to guess that here in Wyoming, it is far greater than that. Drug addictions are a growing problem as more dangerous drugs, both legal and illegal, are being created and peddled everywhere. Sexual addiction probably occurs more often than is currently believed, because it is something people are less willing to talk about. There are other seemingly “minor” addictions, like gambling and watching television. What do all of these addictions, and the growing numbers of them, say about the human species?
There is a quieter, less noticeable kind of addiction that has crept into our society in the past twenty years. The emergence of smartphones and text messaging has become commonplace. Many people my age and older have kept up with the technology because it has become a mainstay for our children and grandchildren. My generation must either keep up or drop out.
It concerns me that the cell phone has become the favorite blanket or stuffed toy for today’s younger members of society. It seems that the youth of today cannot function without them. The phones have become a kind of smokescreen behind which many people hide in order to avoid actual communication. Hunched over their devices, they are freed from engaging in eye to eye contact. Smartphones have become a means by which we can isolate ourselves in an overcrowded world.
Before cell phones, I would often let my wall phone ring if I was busy, or if I did not want to deal with a telemarketer. This drove my ex-husband crazy, but I knew that if someone truly needed to get in touch with me, they would either call back a little later or leave a message. I occasionally forget my phone when I head out to go to work or to the store. I don’t mind. I turn on “Do Not Disturb” mode when I am napping and I have it set to automatically go into “Bedtime Mode” between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. I don’t like addictions of any kind because I don’t want to give power to the “things” in my life. Cell phones may be the latest addiction, but I value my freedom too much to ever succumb to any addiction.
13 MARCH 2023 SHE WILL DECIDE
There seems to be many people leaving the planet in recent years. It began with the pandemic. There have been suicides, murders, drug overdoses, and natural disasters. People that are my own age are dying now. We were the baby boomers, the ones who perpetuated what is now a seriously overloaded planet. The last world war ended technically, in 1945; but not formally, until the peace treaty with Japan was signed in 1952 – the same year in which I was born. War, it seems, had kept our population in check up until that time.
The current human population is 8 billion. This number is not sustainable. Human beings have made many advancements in the last century; but we have deluded ourselves into believing that we are in control. We have exploited other species that we share the planet with. We continue to eradicate many others – those that we feel do not have a right to be here. We “cull” them, confine them, imprison them, and “domesticate” them to suit our own needs. We have even “created” new species to satisfy our whims – domesticated animals that breed even more prolifically than we ourselves do.
There is much talk these days about slowing down global warming as though this too, is all up to us. Clearly, we need to be talking – and doing all that we can about this growing problem; but if we succeed, will we pat ourselves on the back as though we have saved the day? Will we continue to erroneously believe that we are superior to our fellow species? Mother Nature has maintained balance on this planet since it came into being – long before human beings arrived on the scene. Every plant, animal, and fungi has been designed to serve and to sustain one another in symbiosis. Humans have drastically upset the balance that once existed. We need to heed what Emerson advised: to “take our bloated nothingness out of the way…” It is only then that we can hear what is being communicated through the Divine Circuits, from Nature herself. Whether it is our individual egos, or our collective ego, we must concede to Nature’s ultimate power, for it is she who will decide in the end, if we are worthy to remain here.
8 MARCH 2023 ANTICIPATION
I await springtime with the same fervor that a child waits for Christmas morning. Turn me loose in a garden center and I am like a kid in a candy store. Give me the opportunity to talk about swans and I light up like a Christmas tree. I used to think gardening was my passion. I moved to the country in early 2000 so that I could garden and write – and have swans. When I was led to the swans at Airlie, in Virginia, they took precedence over my gardening. Working with the swans; however, opened up an even larger world for me, where I learned about other species, their habitats (and the disappearance of those habitats) and climate change. This elevated my gardening to a new level – one in which gardening for wildlife became my primary focus. My love for gardening had led me to swans – and the swans led me back to gardening. Both gave me a whole new perspective for my writing. From there, I was guided to permaculture, which I am just as passionate about. My passions have grown, merged, and expanded to encompass this entire planet.
It is the time of year when young swans, of about four years of age, are pairing up to nest for the first time; and older, seasoned couples begin to refurbish their nests from the previous year, to prepare for raising another brood of cygnets. Their mating calls fill the air, joined by that of other species preparing to reproduce as well. This is an exciting time of year. Soon, I will be privy to migrating bird species dropping in at my bird feeders to refuel, on their way to their breeding grounds. Occasionally, I can look up into the sky to see and hear flocks of birds on migration. This is the anticipation of spring. This can also be a busy time of starting seeds indoors and waiting anxiously for them to germinate.
It has been a long, cold, and relentless winter which shows no signs of moving out of the way of spring. But, as a gardener and a lover of wildlife, the anticipation is in my DNA. I have not only the hopes, but the knowing, that spring will come.