Happy Earth Day from all of us at Taproot! Our contributors say it best, so today we celebrate with some of their words.
“Release comes with spring. It’s the slow exhale of winter’s deep breath. Today we open our windows to fresh air. Our frosty mornings and hard soil are warmed by the sun. Mud boots replace snowshoes. Laughter bounces through the woods, echoing the brook that gurgles with life. Everyday we watch the ice retreat from the pond. On sunny days, eager toes squish through the mud. We feel alive here.” ~Meredith Winn, Dig In, Issue 1::SOIL
“I believe we can reimagine our lifestyles to create a more sustainable future by looking back to the ways of the past and how our ancestors kept their homes...when I say ‘look to the past’ I’m stressing simplification, returning to our roots of connectedness and deliberateness, and particularly a return to making purchases based on quality, longevity, and necessity. If we work on living with intention, we can create a path forward to healing that plans for future generations. How can we view our homes and selves as part of an ecosystem? How can we see ourselves as parts of nature and not just consumers? Changing our view begins with taking action, and there are many places to start,” ~Alyson Morgan, Low-Waste Homemaking in the Anthropocene, Issue 37::SPARK
"Grow love. Know that every bite of food you eat informs your entire being. Know that all food begins in the soil, be it vegetable or animal, so we trace our roots to the land. As you tend to the crops, remember that you are tending to seeds of love that will someday transform into a meal." ~Kate Spring, To Grow Love: A Farmer’s Manifesto, Issue 22::GROW
“One of my favorite ways to bond with a new place is to wander around the yard or forest and look for plants that I think I could use for dye. The beauty of nature makes me feel calm, and studying my surroundings closely gives me a sense of context and connection.” ~Kristine Vejar, Bringing It Home: Dyeing with Foraged Plants, Issue 16::SHELTER
“Nature journaling is a tool to help you observe and record the natural world by both writing and sketching what you see. It encourages mindfulness and curiosity about the world around you….Nature journaling gives you a purpose for being outside. We all enjoy being outdoors, feeling the sun on our face and breathing in the fresh air. But sometimes it can be hard to really focus on what’s around us. Knowing with intention that I am going to document a plant or tree each time I’m out helps me to concentrate on that task and quiet the rest of my brain….I love how much this has sparked my curiosity in the natural world and helped me embrace and love our area more. I’ve realized just how much plant diversity there really is here on the plains, and it makes me appreciate this place and want to learn more about its history and how to preserve it.” ~Roxanne Beauvais, Exploring through Nature Journaling, Issue 33::EXPLORE
“Not a day goes by when I don’t appreciate the delicate relationship we have with the natural world. Since I was a child, my mother instilled in me that wonder of where all the amazing colors and varieties of flowers came from. She always used to say, 'Isn't Nature Amazing?'" Lynn Karlin, The Pedestal Series, Issue 30::FEAST
“This season, as the soil warms, head out to the garden with your children. Dig deep holes in the beds and plant the food you like to eat. Use containers on your fire escape or hanging tomato planters on your urban stoop. Whatever it takes, together, try your hand at growing some food.” ~Stacy Brenner, Healthy Soils, Strong Girls, Issue 1::SOIL
In a time when so many of us feel untethered,
There is holiness in learning to grow your own food
It acknowledges our connection to Earth and each other
The soil holds a memory of us each time we put our hands in the ground
It is my prayer,
That every time my hands touch the dirt,
My joy reverberates so strongly,
that my grandbaby 14 generations deep
Feels my joy
~Farai Harreld, 14 Generations, Issue 40::CURE
"Take lessons from sunflowers. Some days are full bloom, others are not. Eventually, you will have bloomed enough to trust that it will happen again, but those closed moments may catch your breath in your throat. Learn how to follow the sun even when you feel stuck. Learn to see the beauty in sleeping blooms that grow, gathering energy until the right moment comes to open their center to the world." ~Kate Spring, To Grow Love: A Farmer’s Manifesto, Issue 22::GROW
Photography credits: in collage (left to right): Hannah Welling for TIDES, Kate Spring for GROW, Alyson Morgan for FORAGE, Amanda Blake Soule for WEAR, Demetria Provatas for EXTEND, Rachel Wolf for FORAGE, Emma Cooper for SOIL, Alyson Morgan for SPARK.