May 12, 2014 - The Daily Climate features an article by Al
Kesselheim today. Kesselheim
writes about the need for Americans to notice the beauty of nature in their own
backyards, rather than expecting to encounter nature only when they visit a
state or national park. Actually,
Kesselheim writes about wilderness; I will, too, but on a very small scale.
For many Americans, what Kesselheim advises is a bland
prospect, at best. First-time
homeowners many times own just enough yard to mow, a miniature imitation
pasture of sorts that has been scraped off and graded. Those lucky enough to own property that
has been tended and loved (or, better yet, neglected!) probably would find a
great deal going on in their private outdoors that would be worth
noticing. What so many of us lack
is the time it would take to do so.
The bugs and the birds are, nevertheless, right there under
ignorant and knowledgeable noses alike.
What if you were to decide that your own natural paradise consisted of
the square yard of lawn nearest your back door? Let’s say – you devil, you! – you’ve decided to let it “go
wild.” No mowing allowed. Gadzooks, you could even up the ante:
no chemicals, either. The rain
would rain, the breeze would blow, the days would follow one after the other,
just like always.
What do you suppose would be the first thing you would
notice? How pretty the long grass
looks as it waves in the wind? The
fact that a Cooper’s Hawk now occupies a mature tree in your neighbor’s yard,
expecting a mouse or chipmunk to exit the newly created “wilderness?” How about the butterflies stopping by
to enjoy the wildflowers that have shown up, seemingly out of nowhere?
One day it dawns on you that you’ve been getting up a few
minutes earlier in the morning so you’ll have time to observe what transpires
out in the back 40 (ho ho). That
you’ve been scrawling the occasional note on random pieces of paper. That your spouse now takes an interest,
and your children surprise you when they mention having told their teachers
about Daddy’s Wilderness Project.
One of them commented that Daddy’s project had science fair written all
over it!
Being interested in and caring about the outdoors is exactly
as far away as your back door. All
it takes is a modest amount of personal involvement. After that, sit back and see where it takes you. Find out what interests you most. What you will discover after awhile is
that it’s all pretty interesting, all quite beautiful, and that the world
absolutely would be a sadder, poorer place without the outdoors.
Ready to take that first step?
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