April 22nd, another Earth Day, and all sorts of great ideas for celebrating are being shared online.
Here’s the thing: Every day IS Earth Day, or should be. For us, being in touch with our food, and our land isn’t just a priority anymore, it is a necessity.
We live on a dry, sun drenched rock, surrounded by salt water. It is already dry out there, and even though we grow food, we already can’t water our garden willy nilly.
Every day we are becoming more and more aware that things are changing around us. Our generation was raised with opportunity and availability, and it is OUR generation that needs to re-learn a few things.
Luckily, for our kids, they are already more aware of what needs to be done than we are. My kids have spent the week celebrating the earth at their school. some by doing a 10k Water Walk (they walk to the lake, and carry back enough water for their day to signify the distance and effort other cultures need to put in to obtaining water) This is being done by my son in Kindergarten and daughter in grade 3.
They are releasing salmon, spending time in their schools garden, experiencing veganism for a day, and devoting even more time than normal to exploring the world and its needs.
I believe our kids will be the ones to change the world for the better, I just hope us “grownups” don’t wreck it for them.
My kids would never grab a disposable cup, they carry their water bottles everywhere. They don’t litter, wouldn’t even consider it. They understand more about the cycle of food than I ever did at their age, and recognize and appreciate the value of “home grown” and “locally sourced”
Its time for moms and dads to get schooled.
Netflix Canada, our only source for online entertainment, other than google, has a HUGE array of documentaries that will teach us, shock us and nurture us into this new world.
Hubby and I often watch these, either with or without the kids, and allow our minds to soak in all the unpleasant issues around the world that our generation helped to create.
Becoming an environmentalist isn’t a “thing” anymore, it is soon going to be a requirement to sustain life. We need to get passed considering recycling as “awesome” and ditch the bottled water, packaging and consumerism.
So, this earth day, don’t worry about your kids… listen to them. Get THEM to teach you and Start listening… it’s important.