empowerment by Nature
Cultivating the Next Generation of Protectors
by Richard Sidy , President , Gardens for Humanity
Every generation has a mission : a specific role in the evolutionary tide rising to meet the essential needs of the future , both materially and spiritually . As I viewed the commitment of the indigenous nations at the Standing Rock Sioux camp and the many and diverse people who stood with them against the Dakota Access Pipeline threatening water , land and heritage , I felt that I was witnessing a defining moment for our current and future generations .
Those on the front lines of this environmental and cultural battle said , “ We are not protestors , we are protectors . We are here protecting this land because it is everything to us .” The term protector might very well become the name that defines the mission of all those who are living and acting with the awareness that we are children of Mother Earth and must do all in our power to protect her and live in a way that does not endanger her .
A generation is not defined by age , but rather by a common mission . It is a shared outgrowth of a consciousness developed in recognition and response to necessities of the times and an awareness of future possibilities . Our historical moment in the continuity of human experience gives us the tools for material and spiritual adaptation and creativity in order to create a better future .
The challenge of creating an acute awareness of the role of protector in a population of people who have spent their lives in urban or suburban environments and who are dependent upon the way of life that has depleted and put our planet at risk , is critical for our survival and fulfillment .
In my career as a teacher , I was inspired and guided by what I call the “ gardening ethic .” I viewed each student as a seed that needed the appropriate conditions in order to fulfill his or her potential . As a gardener , it was my role to provide those conditions . The subject matter was always secondary to the importance of the relationship that was developed in teaching and learning , serving simply as a nourishing element in the big picture of a students ’ growth and development .
Implicit in the gardening ethic is optimism . It is the core motivator and guide to planting , nurturing and protecting . Why would anyone plant a seed and work so hard to care for it unless they had some vision and expectation of what the seed would become ?
Gardening develops necessary traits for healthy physical , emotional and intellectual development : planning and working with goals , collaboration , patience , observation , nurturing , appreciation , facing adversity , problem solving , humility , and empowerment . It develops the consciousness of working with the forces of nature and a respect and appreciation for them . Gardening is a bridge back to a time when we were gatherers , living in and from the abundance of nature and always at her mercy .
One of the protectors in the action to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline stated , “ The pipeline is disrespectful of our spirituality .” The continuity of their culture , heritage and language is indelibly tied to their relationship to the land and is essential to their identity . Gardening , or in its larger scale , agriculture , was the stimulus for civilization and formed the basis of community , religion , law and celebrations . Simply stated , a powerful foundation of spirituality itself is the recognition of our bond with and dependence on the creative forces of nature .
In my retirement from teaching , I have become active in the movement of local food security and sustainability . The main organization with which I am involved is Gardens for Humanity . Our founder , Adele Seronde , believes that the Earth is our teacher . She says : “ We believe that the natural world — the marvelous interwoven communities of plants , animals and other creatures formed through the agencies of fire , water , air and earth — is truly our first teacher , our first classroom and curriculum . We believe that academic , social and moral lessons appropriate to every age may be drawn from observing ,
6 IMAGINE l FALL 2016