A New Place, a New Garden

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Oak saplings at MWRD Dear Readers, Over the past few months, I have heard from a number of folks asking when I would start posting again. This has been heartening: an interested (small) reading public! Soon, I’d say and then do, not much. The truth is, since last I posted, almost two years ago, my life has changed a great deal in ways both dramatic and subtle. It’s taken awhile to adapt. In early 2023, my husband and I decided to leave our old, loved house with its 35-year-old native plant garden, and move into a hundred-year-old two-flat with our grown daughter and her dog. We felt happy to be upholding that fine old Chicago tradition of multi-generational two-flat living. However, like anyone else who has left long-term, settled life in one place, we discovered that the phrase “we moved,” doesn’t even begin to do justice to the upheaval involved. And then there’s the starting over/settling in process requiring new adjustments and forming new habits of life, for much longer than you m...
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Earth Day and Sustainability

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The Garden Bloggers Sustainable Living Project, 2010

Jan at Thanks for Today has invited garden bloggers to "share ways that garden bloggers are actively practicing a greener lifestyle and contributing to protecting our environment."

Well, in my opinion, every day is earth day. I've gone so far down the garden path that I've reached and gone through the gate to the woods and couldn't ever go back.

Having adapted (and continuing to adapt) as much of our personal lifestyles as possible, my family and I do all the biking, walking, organic gardening, buying CSA, home cooking, chilly winter/hot summer house, saving water, limited driving, public transit stuff we can. Which is quite a lot. Which continues to be something of a struggle, and not always easy (yes, I'm lazy).

In the Garden: Several years ago I decided to only plant natives, which is working out just great. Some of my natives I'm growing for Native Seed Gardeners. The idea is to collect the seeds and give them to restoration groups for reseeding purposes. I continue in this effort.

In the Oak Savanna Near My Home: I volunteer with the Thatcher Woods Savanna Restoration Project.

In the World: I've been learning as much as possible about the Chicago Wilderness ecosystem in which I live, and have started teaching environmental issues in the classroom and giving talks to gardening clubs. I'm now writing a book. I've also moved increasingly into eco-activism, because personal lifestyle choices, while vital, aren't enough to move our culture to one of sustainability. A green lifestyle shouldn't be special, or a part of the menu; green should simply be the way things are done, so every day truly would be earth day.

Comments

Jan said…
I was happy to receive your post, Adrian, and thank you for participating. I agree with your thoughts. It is unfortunately, not easy to get back to a sustainable lifestyle on a cultural level, without a lot of work. I applaud your eco-activism, lifestyle and book-writing efforts. I hope that in time, your efforts, and gradual education and enlightenment for the rest of us, will help get our world on the track originally intended for her. Thanks again;-)
March 19, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Adrian Ayres Fisher said…
Thanks for your kind words, Jan. I'll check back at your blog soon.
March 19, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Noel Morata said…
aloha adrian,

how fantastic to live every day like earth day and be a part of the natural environment by growing natives and what can be sustained locally, i enjoyed reading your post today.
March 28, 2010 at 2:18 PM
Adrian Ayres Fisher said…
Thanks for visiting, Noel. I think all gardeners live much closer to the earth, at least those that use natural methods.
March 29, 2010 at 10:29 AM
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