We have a new garden too, so we had the same concerns last year. Fortunately, the young trees and plants seem to have pulled through.
We are all going to have to learn to manage ressources, especially, water differently. I t’embête my grand parents, who had lived through two world wars, using washing up water for the garden for example. It seems plants don’t mind a bit of soap.
I'm glad your young trees and plants pulled through Henrie. Absolutely you can use washing up water for watering plants and trees. I wash vegetables and fruit in a large bowl and then pour it in a bucket, it's incredible how much water we can recycle this way. We would have liked to recycle all grey water from washing machine, dishwasher, and shower with a plumbing system, but apparently this is not allowed in France. Maybe they will change the rules, it would save so much water. C xo
Thank you so much for this beautiful read Cristina, it has come at just the right time for me. I'm looking forward to the birth of my first grandchild in the summer and you have strengthened my idea to plant a tree for him. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing such a personal post, Cristina. I loved reading about what you’ve achieved with your garden. It's very inspiring.
Waking up to the smell of the wildfires must have been terrifying. It’s so sad to see the destruction caused by humans, and like you, I often have to step back from the news.
I no longer have a garden, but I did plant a tree outside my last home. It's great to walk past and see it thriving. 🌳
“Give up, or become even more fiercely protective of this beautiful planet we call home. And I chose the latter.” - I couldn’t agree more!
Thank you for sharing a bit of your world with us. As a resident of California I am no stranger to drought, wildfires and floods all of which created and formed the landscape over millennia. However everything is so much worse with climate change. Water conservation here is a way of life in such an extreme way it wasn’t when I was a child (although I sure wish lush lawns were less acceptable than native grasses for landscaping…I hate seeing all the water from my neighbor’s irrigation systems running off into the gutters rather than the soil.) And like you, I wish we were allowed gray water reclamation systems…we aren’t even supposed to have rain water barrels. But, each day I do what I can to conserve water and live a simpler life.
Don't get me started on lush lawns...Just a waste of water in our climate too. In summer our lawn becomes a patchwork of brown, dry grasses with the occasional green bit - usually weeds :)
And perfect lawns usually means weedkillers too, and lack of biodiversity...nope.
I don't understand why grey water reclamation systems are not allowed, I wouldn't use grey water for veggies but for trees, shrubs and flowers it's perfectly fine. Shame you're not even supposed to have rain barrels...well done for doing what you can anyway, wish you all the best with your efforts.
Hi Cristina, I so feel your pain and all the emotions. And yes, life is deeply imperfect and it's having the courage to move beyond the fear, grief for our struggling planet etc. and as the author said, just do it anyway.
Loved reading your thoughts and can well identify with them. I have been reading a lot lately about biodiversity and planting keystone native plants. We live in the woods surrounded by trees, so I don't need to plant them, but we work to keep out non-native invasives and encourage the native plants and wildflowers. We live in one of the most biodiverse areas of the country. Wildfires are not as common here as out west, but we do have them and just the other day I smelled smoke. Climate change is definitely a worry. Already the landscape has changed tremendously in the nineteen years we've had this place. An Asian insect decimated the hemlock trees of our forests. On our lot I have to treat them with an insecticide to keep them alive. And these are huge trees. So many have died and it can be really depressing to see and think about. We are also subject to high winds since we are at a high elevation on a mountain, so there's often destruction that comes with that. I, too, feel that I'm just doing a very tiny part on my own little acreage, but it is something. I dig up small tree saplings and plant them at my son's house. Though he lives about five and a half hours away from us, I choose native trees that are common throughout our state. He has a typical suburban lawn and I keep bringing wildflowers and other pollinator plants there. They aren't gardeners so I make it easy to maintain. Hopefully it will bring some biodiversity to their suburban yard. I'm encouraging my granddaughter with a fairy garden to think about plants. Hope it will have some effect.
It must be heartbreaking to see the hemlock trees die. We have Asian hornets killing honeybees...unfortunately it's hard to stop insects once they get established. I love all you're doing for the environment, planting saplings and encouraging your granddaughter with a fairy garden! I'm sure she'll have wonderful memories of you, and probably you're starting out her love for nature. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
More than an inspiration, your reflection is a life example that should guide many choices, not only personal but also social, ethical and political. Thank you for sharing so many terrible thoughts, but also so much resilience and love for creation.
thank you for your kind words. I love nature so much. We're so lucky to live on such a beautiful planet, and we are part of it, so it's my responsibility to do all I can to protect it.
I hope that future generations get to experience this beauty too.
We have a new garden too, so we had the same concerns last year. Fortunately, the young trees and plants seem to have pulled through.
We are all going to have to learn to manage ressources, especially, water differently. I t’embête my grand parents, who had lived through two world wars, using washing up water for the garden for example. It seems plants don’t mind a bit of soap.
Henrie xo
I'm glad your young trees and plants pulled through Henrie. Absolutely you can use washing up water for watering plants and trees. I wash vegetables and fruit in a large bowl and then pour it in a bucket, it's incredible how much water we can recycle this way. We would have liked to recycle all grey water from washing machine, dishwasher, and shower with a plumbing system, but apparently this is not allowed in France. Maybe they will change the rules, it would save so much water. C xo
Thank you so much for this beautiful read Cristina, it has come at just the right time for me. I'm looking forward to the birth of my first grandchild in the summer and you have strengthened my idea to plant a tree for him. Thank you!
I'm so happy that my words inspired you Jan, thank you for letting me know!
I think that planting a tree is the perfect way to celebrate your grandchild's birth, and it'll be a beautiful legacy.
Thank you for sharing such a personal post, Cristina. I loved reading about what you’ve achieved with your garden. It's very inspiring.
Waking up to the smell of the wildfires must have been terrifying. It’s so sad to see the destruction caused by humans, and like you, I often have to step back from the news.
I no longer have a garden, but I did plant a tree outside my last home. It's great to walk past and see it thriving. 🌳
“Give up, or become even more fiercely protective of this beautiful planet we call home. And I chose the latter.” - I couldn’t agree more!
I hope you're having a wonderful day. 🌷🌸
I knew my words would resonate with you Natasha, a fierce love for our beautiful planet is one of the things we have in common.
It must be such a lovely feeling to walk past the tree you planted and see it thriving!
This is my first garden, I'm catching up planting trees :) Most of them are tiny, I hope they'll all grow strong and healthy.
I hope you're having a wonderful day too.
Thank you. Many blessings
Barbara
You're welcome :) Many blessings to you too.
Thank you for sharing a bit of your world with us. As a resident of California I am no stranger to drought, wildfires and floods all of which created and formed the landscape over millennia. However everything is so much worse with climate change. Water conservation here is a way of life in such an extreme way it wasn’t when I was a child (although I sure wish lush lawns were less acceptable than native grasses for landscaping…I hate seeing all the water from my neighbor’s irrigation systems running off into the gutters rather than the soil.) And like you, I wish we were allowed gray water reclamation systems…we aren’t even supposed to have rain water barrels. But, each day I do what I can to conserve water and live a simpler life.
Don't get me started on lush lawns...Just a waste of water in our climate too. In summer our lawn becomes a patchwork of brown, dry grasses with the occasional green bit - usually weeds :)
And perfect lawns usually means weedkillers too, and lack of biodiversity...nope.
I don't understand why grey water reclamation systems are not allowed, I wouldn't use grey water for veggies but for trees, shrubs and flowers it's perfectly fine. Shame you're not even supposed to have rain barrels...well done for doing what you can anyway, wish you all the best with your efforts.
Hi Cristina, I so feel your pain and all the emotions. And yes, life is deeply imperfect and it's having the courage to move beyond the fear, grief for our struggling planet etc. and as the author said, just do it anyway.
Thank you Jane. Definitely do it anyway, otherwise we’d achieve very little in any situation.
Loved reading your thoughts and can well identify with them. I have been reading a lot lately about biodiversity and planting keystone native plants. We live in the woods surrounded by trees, so I don't need to plant them, but we work to keep out non-native invasives and encourage the native plants and wildflowers. We live in one of the most biodiverse areas of the country. Wildfires are not as common here as out west, but we do have them and just the other day I smelled smoke. Climate change is definitely a worry. Already the landscape has changed tremendously in the nineteen years we've had this place. An Asian insect decimated the hemlock trees of our forests. On our lot I have to treat them with an insecticide to keep them alive. And these are huge trees. So many have died and it can be really depressing to see and think about. We are also subject to high winds since we are at a high elevation on a mountain, so there's often destruction that comes with that. I, too, feel that I'm just doing a very tiny part on my own little acreage, but it is something. I dig up small tree saplings and plant them at my son's house. Though he lives about five and a half hours away from us, I choose native trees that are common throughout our state. He has a typical suburban lawn and I keep bringing wildflowers and other pollinator plants there. They aren't gardeners so I make it easy to maintain. Hopefully it will bring some biodiversity to their suburban yard. I'm encouraging my granddaughter with a fairy garden to think about plants. Hope it will have some effect.
It must be heartbreaking to see the hemlock trees die. We have Asian hornets killing honeybees...unfortunately it's hard to stop insects once they get established. I love all you're doing for the environment, planting saplings and encouraging your granddaughter with a fairy garden! I'm sure she'll have wonderful memories of you, and probably you're starting out her love for nature. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Dear Cristina
More than an inspiration, your reflection is a life example that should guide many choices, not only personal but also social, ethical and political. Thank you for sharing so many terrible thoughts, but also so much resilience and love for creation.
Dear Ida
thank you for your kind words. I love nature so much. We're so lucky to live on such a beautiful planet, and we are part of it, so it's my responsibility to do all I can to protect it.
I hope that future generations get to experience this beauty too.
https://substack.com/profile/845508-camilla-sanderson/note/c-14843787
Sooooo much gratitude for your writing, and for your presence and the work you are doing in this world!!! ✨🌟💖🙏🕊️https://substack.com/profile/845508-camilla-sanderson/note/c-14844193
Thank you for your kind words Camilla 🙏🏻🌱🌸