In a letter to his brother Theo in 1874, Vincent Van Gogh wrote, “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” His love of nature radiates in the vibrancy of his paintings.
So many find peace, spiritual strength and overall well-being in nature. Eco-therapy, spending undistracted time in nature, is acknowledged and embraced as an important component of physical and mental health.
April is referenced by many countries and organizations as Earth Month, expanding the focus of April 22nd as Earth Day. At a time when our climate is rapidly changing, Earth Month serves to rally collective impact towards sustainability. Action at every level, from individual to global, is critical.
U.S. Census Bureau figures show an estimated 3.3 million American adults were displaced due to wildfires, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes in the U.S. just last year. That’s more than 1 percent of the population. About a third of those were displaced short term for about a week, with some half a million people never returning home. I can’t imagine what that would be like.
Recognizing a future of either too much or too little water and extreme heat in seaside and desert communities, climate risk experts talk of a need to plan for “managed retreat” to other areas. Sounds like a plan. Our homes however are not only places to live, they’re also part of our heart, embodying our sense of work, history, family and community; a reality not so easy to recreate.
Most of us who haven’t felt weather related tragedy acknowledge the increasing severity of wind and storms, but think of danger as happening elsewhere, over there somewhere. Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing we can do, but there is.
Curbing our personal consumerism is an individual challenge we can all take on. I’ve recently enjoyed reading the national bestseller Braiding Sweetgrass, sharing indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge about living sustainably with the environment.
It encourages us to think about what’s been sacrificed in the living world for our convenience and short-term whim. As I blithely grab yet another paper towel for instant use and disposal, it makes me think about the trees sacrificed for that privilege. Multiplied by immeasurable demand, we deplete forests and destroy habitat, for what?
We need to be inspired by the positive action gaining momentum through so many organizations and get involved. Months back I was attending one of the Mendel Center’s outstanding National Geographic Live presentations. During Q&A, an audience member asked the presenter’s opinion on which national environmental organization to support.
The answer was a nod to all of their good work, but he commented that often the biggest and most direct return on a local dollar comes from supporting state or local groups. Locally we have wonderful nature centers, nature preserves, clean-up efforts, and trail development. All offer terrific opportunities for involvement.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Sierra Club have active Michigan chapters and routinely take on projects in southwest Michigan and throughout the state. Check out TNC at www.nature.org/michigan, and Sierra at www.sierraclub.org/michigan .
Knowledge breeds understanding and respect. Consider environmental gifts to family and friends of all generations. Maybe taking out a membership or treating to a hike or kayak trip with a local nature center. Sarett has an outstanding Butterfly House.
My family is pretty spread out so I treat the wee ones to annual subscriptions to National Geographic’s “Little Kids”, and the slighter older ones to “Kids”. There’s great age-appropriate pictures and activities. Other organizations have related products.
Anything that helps move us from taking our world for granted to a collective sense of preservation is worth the investment.