April 22, 2014 by Born To Organize

Good Earth, Good Day

Happy Earth Day!
Today, the Jane Goodall Institute encourages supporters to

take action to improve the world for people, animals, and the environment we all share.

Founded by renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, the Jane Goodall Institute is a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things. Our work builds on Dr. Goodall’s scientific work and her humanitarian vision. Specifically, we seek to:

Improve global understanding and treatment of great apes through research, public education and advocacy
Contribute to the preservation of great apes and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in local communities
Create a worldwide network of young people who have learned to care deeply for their human community, for all animals and for the environment, and who will take responsible action to care for them

Today, on this wondrous place we call earth, I’m working to improve my little corner of the world for people, animals, and the environment.

People

I bought these adorable tins at the garden center last weekend, then planted them today with some garden cheer. They’re a surprise for a friend. Her life is difficult on a daily basis, but she remains upbeat and positive. I admire her strength and courage. I wish her life could be easier. With love, these are for her.

Left to right: Lysimachia ‘Goldi, Osteospermum ‘Mum’, Behind, Marjoram, right, Zonal Geranium

Planting tins closeup (I love the vintage vibe)

Animals

I’m always loving up the kitties in our home, and welcoming the strays. Like many of you, I adore all animals, even the squirrels that dig up the yard and the snails that eat my basil. That’s the easy part. The hard part is working in the ‘trenches’ and dedicating your life to improving the lives of great apes. Goodall continues to do so as she turns 80 this year. I’m impressed.

Today I’ve donated to ‘jane’s wish 2014‘. I hope she achieves her goal.

Environment

This one’s easy when you’re a gardener. I’m planting sunflowers and pumpkins today (more details to follow). As they grow, they attract birds, beneficial insects and bees, all critical to the health of our world.

Wishing you a joyous earth day, in whatever way you celebrate.

April 22, 2013 by Born To Organize

Earth Day Rainbow

As I write this post, I hear a duck flying toward the park and smaller birds singing in the trees. I walked with a friend and her dog this morning through beautiful Willow Glen, a neighborhood known for it’s established trees, beautiful gardens and eclectic homes. Some days I pinch myself that I live in such a beautiful place. You live here too. It’s called Earth.

Origins of Earth Day

The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. – Source: Earth Day Network

It’s hard to ignore climate change, the recent oil spills and the growing list of extinct animals and plants. Our local news informed today that San Jose just passed the second-driest winter on record since the 1800s Gold Rush.

That said, knowledge brings power, and in an age of broad social media, the masses will no longer be silenced. I strive to honor this place we call home, by using less, staying informed, educating others and raising my boys to be stewards of the earth.

Rainbow?

No rain means no rainbows, so I’ve created a garden rainbow instead.

Strawberries, California Poppies, Yellow Day Lilly, Cat Mint, Crocus, Lavender

How will you celebrate Earth Day?

October 22, 2012 by Born To Organize

Is it Safe to Talk About the Weather?

Camellia in the rain

The presidential election in the United States is two weeks from tomorrow.

So…lets talk about the weather. It’s the safest subject I know of, and one everyone can agree on. If it’s raining, it’s raining; if it’s not, it’s not. Right?

If I were a political pundit, I might need to make the case that it rained “really hard this morning,” while my opponent might say “it was really just a trickle.” Was it a shower or a downpour? It all depends on who you ask.

Some may say “It was less than an inch,” while shaking their head in dismay. Others will exclaim, “Wow…we got close to an inch of rain!” while grinning like a Cheshire cat.

A reporter might follow-up with, “Is global warming responsible for this erratic weather?”

“Global warming is likely the culprit,” says one party.

“Global warming is a myth,” rebuts the other.

I walked out my front door today and discovered a cool, wet and long-overdue fall morning. On that at least, the greenest party would agree.

A raindrop clings to the tip of a leaf

Look closely. What do you see?

Azalea in the rain

Halloween Countdown

Heat Map Pumpkins

March 18, 2012 by Born To Organize

Occupy Lorax

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books, and for the most part remember them for their nonsense rhymes and abstract illustrations. I wanted to walk up those endless stairs, slide down the hills and cross the bridges of his fantastic literary world. In between the original book and The Lorax movie released this month, was the television special by the same name. I remember it as dark and sad and very scary when I first saw it at age 12. In many ways Seuss was ahead of his time. The environmental message was a powerful one, though far too frightening for me.

We joined friends on this cold, March day to see the updated film, loosely based on the book. We all enjoyed it for what it was, a kid-friendly and amusing tale with a message from the Lorax himself, who “speaks for the trees.” The New York Times stunningly bashes this film, with a review as spiritless and gray as the 1972 TV special. I read another review by a mom who suggested the Times lighten up.

What I enjoyed the most is the conversation we had after the movie, and the knowledge that my children are far more aware of deforestation, endangered animals and how important it is to be stewards of the earth.

I wish the incomparable Dr. Seuss could have lived to see the Occupy Movement spread around the globe, for he said it best: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – The Lorax

March 12, 2012 by Born To Organize

Maple Musings

Close Up

Rain is in the forecast again this week, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up. As we come to the end of this La Niña year, experts predict one of the lowest rainfall seasons recorded for San Jose. Other than a few cold days here and there, it’s been a surprisingly mild winter as well. All this adds up to confusion in the garden.

Our beautiful maple tree generally starts dropping leaves in the fall, and after a few good storms, the branches remain bare till spring. Around March, the maple’s internal clock knows to send out buds and shoots and little fruit known as winged samara. In a matter of days the tree dresses in rich, red leaves.

This year, only a few leaves dropped. They turned brown on schedule, but without the rain or wind, the leaves remained. A friend asked if the tree was dead and who could blame her: such odd behavior for a deciduous tree.

It’s been a rough season for allergy sufferers as well. Early blooms from over-stressed trees wreak havoc on sinuses. In my California backyard, one lone maple provides color and shade, but states like Vermont have cause for concern. Trees need cold nights followed by warm days to produce maple syrup. According to Tim Perkins, director of the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center:

“Sap flows best on warm, sunny days followed by nights that dip below freezing. The fluctuations are key: Cold nights contract air bubbles within the tree, producing suction that draws sap from the ground into the tree, where it mixes with sugar and freezes; warm days thaw the sap and expand the air bubbles, creating pressure that makes the sap flow into buckets or tubing, said Tim Perkins, director of the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center, who has studied climate change’s impact on the maple industry.

Perkins predicts that climate change over roughly the next hundred years will result in the loss of maple trees across much of New England, according to congressional testimony he offered in 2007.”

As I muse on our lone maple tree within our suburban setting, I’m intrigued at the parallels on a grander scale, and what it means for us all. I’m worried.