The planet is an infinitely complex but beautifully simple and efficient exchange of energy. Humans have lived successfully within this exchange for thousands of years. We slowly detached ourselves from this system that is self nurturing and self supporting and replaced it with a money and materially hungry capitalist model that focuses on growth at the expense of so much of what is important, including planet earth. The evidence of this shift is seen in debilitating global issues such as climate change, species extinction, unbalanced distribution of wealth, poverty and a westernized society that poisons our bodies, minds and environment.
Due to the magnitude of the situation, finding a way to make a positive mark on these issues can be a challenge. A growing number of people are moving towards solutions that display similarities to ideals, processes and philosophies of the past. In protest of the debilitating industrialized food system people are feeding themselves with wholefoods, where grains are sprouted, vegetables are fermented, ingredients are truer to their original state and eaten fresh or preserved naturally. As a way of dealing with the burgeoning house and land prices, people are building tiny homes from reclaimed materials. Instead of resorting exclusively to synthetic health products such as antibiotics, we once again use food, socializing, exercise and mindfulness.
Gardening is another articulation of this movement to heal our selves and our society. All of life is linked to plants. They are sustenance, materials, air, shelter and are pivotal in the exchange of energy that enables our planet to function. So much of our plant life has been erased for the capitalist agenda. Mono culture crops that are the result of Big Agriculture are dominating once biologically diverse, complex and unique ecosystems. Toxic herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers are poisoning water ways, soil and the health of flora, fauna, fungi and microorganisms. Our best option for changing this reality is to garden. We need to do it organically, on a small scale, using permaculture design and understanding that is part of a great and glorious cyclical system.
