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Reflections on Community

One of the things I enjoy doing on vacation is walking. I walk all over, looking for ideas and inspiration as I go. What for? For the community, for making my town a better place, and for the ideas and initiatives that help make the world a better place.

Now I know some of y'all might think that I'm idealistic, that wanting to trust others and lean into community and camaraderie is unrealistic, but why? Why are you so jaded to believe we must rely on ourselves only? That we don't owe anyone anything?

We owe others EVERYTHING. No one is self-made; no one got to where they are without being influenced by others. We as human beings need community, need love and acceptance. Yes, we get hurt, but we learn to manage the hurt and grow from learning to compromise.

Community is how we survive, community is how we thrive. This is how we save ourselves.

Community efforts I have seen:

Gardens

Pollinator gardens

Bee houses/bat boxes/bird houses

Feral cat community housing

Animal sanctuaries

Dog parks

Cooling stations/misting stations

Bicycle repair spots

Community pantries/free libraries

Community toolsheds

Public art/sustainable art

Trail storyboards/activities

Let's discuss these, break them down, and explore how you can create your own or assist.

Community gardens:

I hear a lot of people say, "oh what if we oversaturate with garden plots?"

In a society where food is plentiful but grocery store costs are rising, why shouldn't we come together and create more gardens and spaces to grow?

We can feed our family, our friends and our neighbours. We can challenge how we grow and create indoor gardens.

Build hydroponics in public spaces, petition your town council, or donate a large hydroponics tower to a public space. Then, work together to tend and grow food all year round. Encourage and help people grow plants and flowers in their homes and yards.

We can grow food in soil, in aquariums, in water, and we can grow and eat nutritious food all year.

If you can build, then help develop and maintain the infrastructure. If you know how to grow, then bring your knowledge to help grow food and nurture the plants.

If you want to learn, then go and learn.

But what if some people use it but don't contribute?

You need to abandon this mindset. There will always be people who cannot contribute for one reason or another, but people still need love and kindness.

Those who are Disabled, Elderly, Sick, etc, do not deserve to be abandoned and despised for having limitations.

We all owe each other.

Pollinator Gardens:

Pollinators are on the decline. This is a fact. And it is OUR fault as humans. It is an entirely human-caused problem with our pesticides, herbicides and indiscriminate poisons.

Poisons kill, that's their job. You put enough poison into the area, and it will kill everything.

Stop using poisons, and instead, plant seeds to let your yard become a refuge for nature. We can save them by changing habits, bit by bit.

Leave the leaves alone so the eggs may hatch into larvae. Yes, it is annoying when pests are in your garden, but before we used poisons, we used plants to deter pests like marigolds, garlic, onions, and many other herbs. You can hand-removal bugs and kill them, allowing the birds to eat safely.

Plant to restore. Learn the names of the plants in your area.

Housing for bees, birds, bats:

If you don't give nature a place to live, it will come into your home.

Give bats a roost, bees a place to hibernate, and keep them out by providing them with places to live.

Feral cat housing:

Now, feral cats are a problem for many reasons ecologically. Responsible pet ownership matters; shelters are full and can't handle more kittens.

Spay and neuter your pets; don't dump them.

We shouldn't be cruel to animals. You can build simple housing/shelters for feral cats, or you can make them fancy.

Animal sanctuaries

Have you heard of purple Martins? They evolved to live alongside humans in their apartments.

Consider dedicating part of your yard or encouraging your community to set aside space and leave wild lands untouched.

Dog parks:

Controversial, but I like well-maintained and well-managed dog parks.

This includes fencing, clearly posted and enforced rules, clean-up, and maintenance, among other things.

Public misting/ cooling station:

Other cool things:

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