Letters from Linden
by JACK LINDEN

One of the great things that happened when we put humans into orbit and eventually on the moon was we saw the earth in space for the first time.  Artists’ depictions of this planet on which we humans live was just not realistic enough.  Then those first pictures from the moon came back and we saw what the earth is – a great big blue marble in a sea of black.

It is too bad that we humans don’t think about the blue marble when we live our daily lives.  We do not do very much to keep it as beautiful as it is, seen from space.  We may not have that scene in the very near future if we keep treating the planet the way we do now.  Our treatment of earth is worse today than a hundred years ago and not just because there are more of us.  Our entire way of life is one of consumption.

I criticize our consumption of our natural resources, but we must remember we are not the first to do so.  One of my vivid memories was from a nature walk in Vermont.  While on that walk with a naturalist as a guide, I noticed rock walls throughout the forest we were in.  When I asked the naturalist why all the walls, she responded, “fences.”  When I inquired further, I was told that there is a very small patch of virgin forest in the entire state of Vermont and the same holds true throughout most of New England.  The land was needed for grazing sheep to provide wool for the textile industry that flourished there.

Last month we celebrated Earth Day with booths from various clubs and merchants in the town where I live.  I sat in one of the booths for a while, listening to the ladies of the garden club sponsoring the booth explain why they were selling black walnut trees.  Even though the Spanish word nogales translates as nut or walnut, most people did not associate the black walnut trees with the town.  I heard several times that the native black walnut trees were cut down for lumber and now they needed to be replenished.  Even the original name of the town had walnut in it and a stream flowing through the town is called Walnut Creek.  While these names were around, too many of the folks did not associate the town with the tree.  Why? Because most of us living here do not remember when walnut trees were abundant.

I would suspect that we would find the same conversations going on in towns around the United States with names from natural growth or features.  What we need to understand is that there was much that went before us when it comes to natural growth and features, but unfortunately, our forefathers sometimes depleted them.  We, and our generation, have to take better care of our natural resources or our children or grandchildren won’t have it to enjoy or use productively and wisely.

It is time we paid attention to the natural resources we use.  We cannot always depend on science to find an alternative to a natural product or a species.  We can no longer afford to use at will anything that gives us pleasure or makes our lives easier.  Some of us still remember our parents saving the ends of things and repurposing.  Unfortunately, it seems most of us have lost that skill, desire, or see a need to do it.

It is really time to make everyday Earth Day.  Inspect your garbage cans and trash in the coming week.  How much are you putting in the earth that is making a landfill larger? Could recycling and repurposing eliminate some of your landfill contributions? What do you want to do to the Blue Marble?

jdlinden@satx.rr.com