To earth guardians, what an incredible trip you’ve been on for the past while. Jobs lost, or not. More time to yourself, or not. Less stress, or not.
You’ve all been riding this pandemic recalibration with as much grace as you can. New considerations at your doorstep are nearly impossible to ignore this time. It’s not happening in someone else’s backyard. Well, it is, but it’s in everyone’s.
Amid all of the adapting, you deserve a huge (air) hug or virtual high five for doing the best you know how in each moment, and that “best” is ever-changing as both our inner and outer landscapes do.
We want to express our deep thanks for any and all efforts you are making to care for the planet we all call home, especially at this turbulent time. Some of you are pandemic gardening. Others are leaving the car at home and adventuring from doorsteps.
You are gifting plant starts, finding innovative ways to share goods, and teaching yourselves how to bake your favourite treats and mend broken zippers. You’re saying a deeper thank-you to the garbage person, recycling depot staff, and all the farmers in your lives for keeping systems you rely on afloat.
You are upping your game, taking that extra moment to learn about composting at home, and presorting your recycling or using the curbside program for the first time. Nicely done.
You’re adapting the way you look at items you were thinking to discard, seeing treasure rather than trash. Broken rakes are becoming garden features, yogurt containers are holding baby plants, weeds are becoming compost tea, wine corks are upcycling into corkboards, and grocery carts are being wheeled to cars where you are packing your own produce into reused bags.
For all those inglorious tasks you do to care for the earth, we thank you. You are fluffing your compost with a gardening fork, cleaning out that nasty milk bottle to recycle, and using eco-weed suppressants like plant pairing, mulching, and laying down cardboard.
To those introducing more plant-based, local foods to their diet, great job. Your footprint is lighter, and nature breathes a little easier.
To builders opting to root around and reuse what is lingering in the back of garages before buying new, you’re amazing.
We see you, and even when we don’t, we know you’re out there, caretaking not only for yourselves, but for all of us.
Go on and give yourself a juicy self-hug. You certainly deserve it.
You are an inspiration to others, and each tsunami of change starts as a mere ripple. Keep making waves. By caring for the earth, we care for each other.
Let’s Talk Trash is qathet Regional District’s waste-reduction education program.
