I hope you take "pleasure at being the cause" with your writing - everything I read of yours makes me feel less alone. You also make me really want to garden even though I'm terrible at it and my only outdoor space is a little balcony 🌱
Yeah container gardening is harder, but a lot of native flowering plants that people consider weeds are pretty forgiving in containers! Also herbs like oregano and borage, they give no fucks and bees love them
I teared up reading this - I have a hard time turning off the critic in my head, and when I can't un-see systemic problems, things get heavy. Finding ways to take "pleasure at being the cause" is a really lovely way to shift my thinking! I have been seeing a cardinal pair show up outside my window for the last couple of weeks, so this is a good reminder to leave my sunflowers to go to seed, in case they'd like a snack.
I'm trying to have the same approach, even though I only have some potted plants. Being there while they grow and change is really healing and heartwarming.
I think your mystery insect is a silver-spotted skipper (or relative). Watching insect buzz around a messy garden after working hard to help it bloom is such a reward <3
Thank you, I've been struggling at the fears of climate change and your actions make me wanna do more with gardening, even if I only live in an apartment right now!
I wishh! The one community garden I found is pretty far...curse you Florida! But I've been cleaning up trash in the small wooded area near the apartment complex, so I'm happy I can do that at least! I have some potted plants too, so maybe I can get some pollinators.
“Sometimes it takes directly observing an effect that you’ve had on a system to reinstill hope in your own actions.”
The last few years, I’ve let my garden coast on its composition of perennial herbs & flowers. It gave me a break from being “intentional”, so I could just sort of maintain things when I didn’t have much energy to put into it. But this year, I very intentionally planted a little patch of flowers in a new bed, and it has been SO. GRATIFYING. Omg so many bumblebees! And my sunflowers are TOWERING 😭🥹 I’m honestly getting a little sad now as it seems we’ve turned a corner and the cool fall air is returning. I’ve seen less bumbles around lately, and I already miss them. But trying to remember that this is all part of the cycle, and just as necessary to keep hope going now as it is in the spring when we’re sowing seeds (is there any act more full of hope than that?!?!) 🌱
I love that note from Joshua P. Hill that you wrote about. Becoming politically active and aware is invigorating at first, but after years (especially the past few years) nihilism becomes so easy to slip into. After calling my reps daily for Palestine, I learned that one of my senators is one of the only to have called for a ceasefire. I can't say he did it because of constituent calls, let alone because of mine—and there is of course massively more important work being done for Palestinian liberation—but it did make me feel that even in a system designed to silence me, even as a disabled person, I do have the power to have an impact. That's so important to see. I also think that feeling is fundamental as an artist (and art is always, always political). As my therapist would remind me, seeing the results of my creative or passionate action is one of the strongest coping skills.
“To have faith that what is small will establish, and what goes dormant could come back if given enough time. “ I need to remember this! Lovely essay, one of my favorites of yours. ❤️
I love going out to watch the bugs. After two years of milkweed, we have one monarch pupa! I think it's getting darker, though it might be my wishful thinking.
I started a compost pile and a vermicompost bin and was not having the quick satisfaction I was expecting (so silly to have expectations of nature).
Your post makes the points that we don't think in the long term, and that's my experience too, due to culture (I could go on and on) and being neurodivergent. But in fact we are part of nature's timeline. You gave me hope that even by doing very little active tending, I can be the cause of some good.
I was feeling pretty down about composting until I listened to the episode with Cass and it relieved so much shame about not being a "successful" composter 💜
I hope you take "pleasure at being the cause" with your writing - everything I read of yours makes me feel less alone. You also make me really want to garden even though I'm terrible at it and my only outdoor space is a little balcony 🌱
😭😭 BRB cryinnngg
Yeah container gardening is harder, but a lot of native flowering plants that people consider weeds are pretty forgiving in containers! Also herbs like oregano and borage, they give no fucks and bees love them
I teared up reading this - I have a hard time turning off the critic in my head, and when I can't un-see systemic problems, things get heavy. Finding ways to take "pleasure at being the cause" is a really lovely way to shift my thinking! I have been seeing a cardinal pair show up outside my window for the last couple of weeks, so this is a good reminder to leave my sunflowers to go to seed, in case they'd like a snack.
I was so moved by this. Thank you for reminding me of the hope! 💚
I'm trying to have the same approach, even though I only have some potted plants. Being there while they grow and change is really healing and heartwarming.
Wow I love this. Thanks for the shoutout and the whole piece is lovely and needed!
I think your mystery insect is a silver-spotted skipper (or relative). Watching insect buzz around a messy garden after working hard to help it bloom is such a reward <3
Yesss I just realized I could google image search it the other day, Hesperia leonardis!!
Nice! That is a pro internet maneuver
thank you. beautifully written and encouraging
Thank you, I've been struggling at the fears of climate change and your actions make me wanna do more with gardening, even if I only live in an apartment right now!
Yeah it’s so hard when you live in an apartment! Maybe there’s a community garden near you that needs volunteers?
I wishh! The one community garden I found is pretty far...curse you Florida! But I've been cleaning up trash in the small wooded area near the apartment complex, so I'm happy I can do that at least! I have some potted plants too, so maybe I can get some pollinators.
This is beautiful, thank you! 🥰
“Sometimes it takes directly observing an effect that you’ve had on a system to reinstill hope in your own actions.”
The last few years, I’ve let my garden coast on its composition of perennial herbs & flowers. It gave me a break from being “intentional”, so I could just sort of maintain things when I didn’t have much energy to put into it. But this year, I very intentionally planted a little patch of flowers in a new bed, and it has been SO. GRATIFYING. Omg so many bumblebees! And my sunflowers are TOWERING 😭🥹 I’m honestly getting a little sad now as it seems we’ve turned a corner and the cool fall air is returning. I’ve seen less bumbles around lately, and I already miss them. But trying to remember that this is all part of the cycle, and just as necessary to keep hope going now as it is in the spring when we’re sowing seeds (is there any act more full of hope than that?!?!) 🌱
It's beautiful 🤩
I love that note from Joshua P. Hill that you wrote about. Becoming politically active and aware is invigorating at first, but after years (especially the past few years) nihilism becomes so easy to slip into. After calling my reps daily for Palestine, I learned that one of my senators is one of the only to have called for a ceasefire. I can't say he did it because of constituent calls, let alone because of mine—and there is of course massively more important work being done for Palestinian liberation—but it did make me feel that even in a system designed to silence me, even as a disabled person, I do have the power to have an impact. That's so important to see. I also think that feeling is fundamental as an artist (and art is always, always political). As my therapist would remind me, seeing the results of my creative or passionate action is one of the strongest coping skills.
“To have faith that what is small will establish, and what goes dormant could come back if given enough time. “ I need to remember this! Lovely essay, one of my favorites of yours. ❤️
I love going out to watch the bugs. After two years of milkweed, we have one monarch pupa! I think it's getting darker, though it might be my wishful thinking.
I love this post, thank you 🐝
I started a compost pile and a vermicompost bin and was not having the quick satisfaction I was expecting (so silly to have expectations of nature).
Your post makes the points that we don't think in the long term, and that's my experience too, due to culture (I could go on and on) and being neurodivergent. But in fact we are part of nature's timeline. You gave me hope that even by doing very little active tending, I can be the cause of some good.
I was feeling pretty down about composting until I listened to the episode with Cass and it relieved so much shame about not being a "successful" composter 💜