“To see things in the seed, that is genius.” – Lao Tzu
Have you ever felt like you didn’t matter? Have you ever felt like your actions were too small to make a difference?
Sadly, it is easy for humans to feel this way – that the world’s problems are so big and our actions so miniscule. We may think, “Why bother doing anything at all? Nothing will change.” This often seems more rational than taking tiny steps toward a big goal.
But the truth is that nature thrives on small, seemingly unimportant actions. Just think about the fact that redwood trees can grow up to 327 feet tall but their seed is as small as a pinhead. Or that the poop of spinner dolphins somehow magically regrows the coral reefs they swim amongst. The importance of “unimportant” acts is one of the universal life-truths nature reminds us of daily.
We know that hearing devastating facts about climate change causes anxiety. And taking action when you’re feeling anxious can be really difficult. But we thought it was important to boost our confidence – and yours, dear reader – in preparation for Earth Day, to remind us that it doesn’t matter how small the action is or how unimportant it may seem. The earth needs us. She needs us to stop talking ourselves out of action and start planting tiny seeds.
In honor of Earth Day, we want to share a few stories of some plant-loving people from around the U.S. who are helping protect our earth and heal one another – by planting seeds and building community.
These stories come from a moving series created by our friends over at Seed Your Future, an organization wholly dedicated to providing resources, encouragement, stories, and knowledge in hopes that more people will feel a calling to become horticulturists in the fight for our earth.
We hope that you enjoy hearing the stories of these horticulture heroes – people who started out where we all do, not knowing what we’re doing, but courageously learning how to help in small ways. We hope that maybe their experiences motivate you to pursue an interest in horticulture. But most importantly, may their lives remind you that every small, diligent action is SO important in the slow, steady march toward healing our planet.
“So many things divide us in this small world, but growing plants is the opposite. It is something that almost everyone likes to do.”
“Please don’t give up, but also don’t be afraid to be an entrepreneur. The more freely you give, the more freely people will give back to you.”
“Kids can only connect to things that have been modeled for them. They need to see the possibilities, touch the dirt, eat the harvest they grew.”
“Get your hands dirty. You will know quickly if working with plants is for you. Then find a route to get educated.”
“Plants enable our life on the planet . . . Caring for plants (responsibly) is an important part of being good stewards of Earth so that in turn we can continue to live here.”
“I watched as my brother lost the ability to garden . . . Seeing his purpose and hope diminish as he became confined to an oxygen tank, unable to bend over, I decided to do something about it.”
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