Making a Difference in Our Own Backyard
Issue #19
Our readers who are into gardening most likely know the name of Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware (UD). Even some of us who are not gardeners may know of him. He is the author of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard (2019) among other books. We had the pleasure of working with Doug awhile back when consulting for a spectacular garden not too far away from UD. (If you are ever going to the beautiful area where southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware come together, drop us a line and we will point you toward all there is to see there.) Dr. Tallamy, a “bug guy” by degree, is a keen observer of nature and has been concerned with the damage of invasive plant species on insects and the birds that feed on them as well as the overall health of the environment for many years. Certainly, when we look at the huge negative impact that invasives, chemicals, and other oft human-created problems have had on pollinators, caterpillars, and birds, one might say, “It is overwhelming. I mean, what can I possibly do that would make a difference?” The wonderful thing is that Doug has an answer. Simply do what you can just in your own yard, even in just small spaces. Pick a good spot and remove the invasive species, put in native plants, and draw the pollinators to your yard. Plant an oak tree if you can for all that they do to promote a healthy ecosystem. Doug is the co-founder of the Homegrown National Park – a “park” of suburban (and urban) yards that could become bigger than all the national parks in our country put together. He points the way to how any of us, in our own small way, can make a difference. For more about this effort and to get involved, visit
https://www.homegrownnationalpark.org/
Sometimes the very real problems of the greater world or even of our small workplace can seem so large that we feel powerless to make a difference. True leaders know how to convey the big picture combined with the specific message of “here is what you can do.” One of the things we (and so many others) love about leaders who offer both the big ideas and the steps to effect change is that they offer us a pathway to make a difference. In the case of Doug Tallamy, he would say that if you are someone who is fortunate to have a yard or even just a planter in an urban setting, you can make a difference in what seems like an impossible situation. When one gardener plants milkweed, for example, and then a neighbor does the same, and then another neighbor as well, suddenly we have the beginning of adjoining lands that are feeding the monarch caterpillars that feed the birds that help return balance to the ecosystem.
Likewise, when one person in the workplace stands up for what is right or offers a better path forward, it makes it easier for others to join in that and eventually form a chorus. The difficulty in the workplace is that people are often not willing to stand up. They know what they feel and maybe even what they should say, but they stay silent and there is nothing as dangerous or as deafening as silence. We have a voice and have an obligation to use it. Besides, taking a stand can help make one feel engaged and alive. When we are the one who lights that candle in the dark, we are beginning a movement that breaks the darkness and the silence. In that action, we are sending out a message of hope and an invitation to others.
If enough of us do our small part, well, we may just win the war. Look at what ordinary people have done over the years to shift the tide. As our dear friend, Dr. Robert Trent Vinson, speaks about “It is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Where we are today is less a function of the known “greats” and more a function of the very regular people who were willing to become engaged in their local communities and who, through that, helped grow a movement. We are those regular people and together, in our yards and in our homes and in our workplaces, we can make a difference. That matters.
Reflection: What one action can you take this week in your yard, your home, or your workplace to make even a small difference in this world? It could be a small act of kindness, developing plans to make changes in your yard, planting some milkweed, reaching out to an old friend, or just leaving a hand-written note for a family member. Just do one small thing that might shift the physical or psychological health of the world. Small things do matter.
Wishing you moments of joy each day. Sometimes the simple pleasures are the best.
Stay open. Stay curious. And plant for tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow.
Jim and Linda
P.S. We would love to hear from you about this issue, or topics for future issues. And if you’ve enjoyed this and think someone else might, please feel free to share.
* Ka-tet - A group of people bound together by ka (destiny) for a sense of purpose. Credit: Stephen King from his novel, The Gunslinger.
TEO Ka-tet is the property of James Burke and Linda Pierce operating as TEOconsulting, LLC
https://teoconsulting.org/
It takes many grains of sand to make a beautiful beach!
This makes me remember one of my personal theme songs. Everyone can make a difference!! A mosquito isn't big, but it can sure make you move!!
Enjoy: https://youtu.be/PbFgslsLL-c Reba and Carole King....how can you go wrong with that combo.