A short post to pass on a couple of wise observations.

According to Robin Wall Kimmerer, April 13 being International Plants Day, was a good opportunity to reflect on how cultures other than the white western consumer culture view the plants in our lives.  She says: ‘In some Native languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us”. Plants support us in many different ways. So how about we do something in reciprocity to a plant that crosses your path as a way of celebration for the gift of life that is the lives of plants.  After all, plants are a first order species, we come some way down the list.  And it’s worth noting that most animals, at least the ones humans eat – beef, poultry, lamb, pork – are all vegetarian. The largest land mammal, elephants, are herbivores. So plants need a bit more attention and respect than they currently get.  How many species of plant, compared with the make of car, or movie titles, or popular singers can the the average person recall?  None of these will take care of us, when compared with plants. 

And Earth Day which was celebrated on April 22 reminds us of the importance of caring for this beautiful living earth in order to ensure life for all beings. In honour of this day, the Earth Day folks would like to share a beautiful quote from Rachel Carson that sums up how many feel about Mother Earth. “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature, the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”