tilling soil 1/2
Recently, I have been leaning on nature as a teacher through the process of unlearning the prioritization of efficiency and productivity that has been instilled in me. This is a documentation of the lessons that I have been taught.
TRUSTING THEIR WISDOM
Even though we share 1/4 of our DNA with them, plants have inhabited this planet over 1000 million years longer than we have. Plant social systems have been developing throughout millennia, by seeking an understanding of the ethnographies of nature itself, we can learn a lot about ourselves. We must remember that trust comes with relinquishing the desire to understand right away, placing that faith with what nature has to offer you will go a long way.
ENGAGING IN CO-REGULATION
Plants are members of our community just as much as anyone else. With connection to our community members comes the ability to support each other in co-regulation. A couple of ways that you can co-regulate with nature include:
- holding hands with tree branches
- dancing with your shadow casted by the sun
- make art with flora you find on walks
- waking up and going to bed with the sun
- laying on a stone warmed by the sun
LEARNING FROM PLANTS?
Observe the behaviors that your local plants participate in. For instance, many flowers have signposts to guide insects to hidden nectar.
Regenerative planting focuses on keeping the land closest to its natural ecosystem.
The underground plant ecosystem is a network made up of fungi-like internet fibers to share nutrients and information. They depend on each other for survival and flourishment.
Identify and reflect on the core values being expressed through these behaviors
- nature demands local expertise
- nature rewards cooperation
- nature recycles everything
- nature banks on diversity
- nature fits form to function
- nature uses only the energy it needs