#Climate Change was trending on Twitter yesterday. As gardenerds, we don’t need Twitter to point out the changes in seasonal behavior. We can spot when things are off. Things are definitely off. Mudslides, more intense icy winters, more frequent flooding, bigger storms–these are all the signs that our planet is out of balance.
Signs now point to the notion that we’re beyond help, the window has closed, it’s too late and there’s nothing we can do. The talk now is about “adaptation” and my hope is that we don’t interpret that to mean “apathy.” I’m not giving up, and I hope you won’t either. Here are a few things we can do to create positive change:
Reduce Fossil Fuel Reliance – Climate change is occurring because of the rise in CO2 emissions. Whether you believe that problem is man-made or not, the fact remains that our CO2 levels are higher than the limit for the planet to continue functioning properly. 350.org actively seeks to reduce the sources of CO2 emissions, and you can help. Go a step further and hit ’em where it counts – in the wallet: GoFossilFree.org
Ban Glyphosate – Round-Up (no relation to our title above) and other glyphosate-based weed killers are disrupting our ecological balance, by not only causing resistant superweeds, but by killing soil microbiology. Studies have also shown that glyphosate contributes to or causes birth defects, cancer and new pathogens (so scary). It recently has been tied to the death of our Monarch butterfly population (weed killers are wiping out their habitat). Join in the fight to ban glyphosate.
Choose Organic – Studies are showing that organic farming practices actually sequester carbon in the soil. Buying organic, and growing organically are other ways to further that process. Here is an article that will help you make good choices in the garden and at the market.
Plant Trees – Trees eat carbon dioxide and make oxygen. All the deforestation going on (tearing down forests for grazing cattle for meat – oh, so let’s slow down/stop that meat consumption while we’re at it) not only destroys the “lungs of the planet” but it makes soil more vulnerable and even more carbon is released from the earth. Planting trees can help, but you can do even more: support organizations like TreePeople.org who are solving deforestation and drought problems with trees.
There is so much more we can do, too. I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries and films about injustice in our world. It all seems insurmountable, but I have to remember what someone said to me the other day: never forget that your voice matters. It influences people.
So I’m using mine here today to make a difference. Join me. Together we can do great things.
