Almost 5 years ago I’ve started to become aware of the
terrible state of our currrent system, how abusive and how fragile it is. The
economic crisis, dwindling energy supplies, total disrespect for the
environment – there’s a long list of problems caused by our greed, by ruthless
growth and widespread ignorance.
When I realized how dire our situation is, I’ve started to
get active, almost in panic. I helped to create a website informing about
problems and solutions, with some friends I innitiated a transition town project to increase local resilience and I
was involved in setting up a local currency. However, today I’m no longer part
of any of these. Life demanded that I move on and that I put my focus and energy
towards other projects. And so I did.
But there is one thing I’ve started back in 2009 which I’m
still doing and which I believe is one of the best things you can do – against
the crisis and the environmental meltdown; for the planet, for your community and
for yourself. It’s called Gardening!
No matter where I’ve lived – in a flat, a cottage or
a little room in a shared house – there have always been possibilities to plant
seeds for a brighter future. If you don't have direct access to any land you can rent a small allotment nearby. They exist everywhere, I've seen them even in big places like Berlin and Barcelona. Urban gardening is slowly conquering the cities!
Growing your own food puts you back in control of what you
eat. No genetic modification, no chemicals and no onions that have to travel
thousands of miles to arrive in your kitchen. Instead, you get local and organic
produce that feeds both your body and soul. Here’s an old proverb which sums it
up nicely:
If you want to be
happy for a day, get drunk.
If you want to be
happy for a year, get married.
If you want to be
happy for a lifetime, take up gardening.
We don’t need more fast food and plastic bags and new phones
and all the other crap that litters the land and the sea and the human mind. We
need a GROWING REVOLUTION that transforms the world back into a healthy and beautiful place - cultivating plants and consciousness!
Most importantly, gardening provides a chance to reconnect with our home: the Earth.
