We are not the supreme and all-knowing beings, living at the top of the pinnacle of evolution, but in fact we are members of the sacred hoop of life, along with the trees and rocks, the coyote and the eagles and fish and toads, that each fulfills its purpose. They each perform their given task in the sacred hoop, and we have one too.
– Abenaki Wolf Song
Watching the seemingly ceaseless parade of weather disasters can make you see the Earth as in a world of hurt. “Tornado alley” or “fire season” no longer apply; record-breaking heat, drought, floods, rising oceans, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires occur in wider ranges and in longer time frames. Even still, the Earth is pretty resilient. If we allow it, our home planet can balance and heal itself. Look at what happened when human activity shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic: The air cleared after factories closed and cars stayed parked at home. Might we be able to give the Earth a chance to heal, and this time without any damage to human life?
My Native ancestors believed that all things are part of a great circle, each one of us playing a part for the benefit of all. When we disrupt the circle, we get what we have today. In the months and years since pandemic shutdowns, I’ve pondered what’s truly important; for instance, the pursuit of short-term, material wealth or the future of our children and grandchildren. I’ve come to believe that for society to work well, people will need to be much more conscientious about what we do and how we live. But also that deciding to live smarter – living with the Earth, not against it – doesn’t mean forsaking a good life.
The Journey Starts Within
Over the years, I’ve learned we have no control over what other people do. We do, however, have control over what we do. It’s very easy to point the finger at the other person – we all do it at some point – but before we do, how about slowing down and taking a good, hard look at what we’re doing? Our actions, even the small ones, influence others and have lasting effects. I believe the path toward healing both the planet and ourselves starts with this simple step of self-reflection.
From that starting point, the list of individual actions we can take is long, personal, and shifting. Still, I’d like to give you some ideas. When I’m trying to decide which actions to prioritize for myself, I tend to begin with what my body and household needs first and foremost: clean water, healthy air, and nutritious food. These actions help me heal starting from the base level of my hierarchy of needs, but because they correspond to my daily necessities, they end up being small steps that add up to a bigger impact.
Water
Every living creature on our planet needs water, from a mighty redwood tree to the tiniest plankton. Water is life. Yet, humanity pollutes or wastes millions of gallons of it every day. For the Earth to heal and continually support vast biodiversity (including ourselves), we’ll all need to step up our water-conservation efforts. Here are some things to try and even save money in the process.
- Turn off water when not in use. Sounds simple, right? But I’m thinking beyond leaving the faucet on when you brush your teeth. When you’re done with the garden hose, turn water off at the spigot. If you leave for vacation, shut down your home’s water pipes wherever you can. Cutting water at the source can save an immense amount over the years.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes. If you’ve ever wondered why your water bill is so high, check for leaks. All water systems develop drips and leaks both big and small over time. A test performed by a professional plumber to find leaks often pays for itself.
- Collect rainwater. But go beyond and collect water from air conditioners and dehumidifiers. I’ve been able to fill my toilet tank and water my garden by consistently doing this through hot, damp summers.
- Replace grass with native plants. A lush, green lawn requires a great deal of water, to say nothing about the fertilizers, pesticides, and maintenance. Tally up how much money you’d save if you eliminated your lawn. Rewild your spaces – native trees, bushes, flowers, and grasses have evolved to withstand both periods of drought and floods. They also attract beneficial birds, insects, and other wildlife.
Air
Air is downright dangerous to breathe in some places. If you suffer from respiratory ailments, you know what I’m talking about. Trees and other plants are among the planet’s most efficient air filters. Despite this, we destroy forests and native grasslands to put up shopping malls and mining operations. To me, this sounds like we’re cutting off our own noses to spite our faces. The challenge feels immense, but you can take meaningful steps.
- Conserve power by turning off devices when not in use. Simply making the link between power and air quality is a good place to begin.
- Walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation whenever possible. When I visit some of my favorite large cities, I make a point to use public transportation. If you do need to drive, plan as many errands for that trip as possible. With the prevalence of ride-hailing apps, people get in the habit of never checking their public-transportation options. But
- I’ve found that, especially during rush hour, public and active transport can get me to my destination faster and cheaper than a paid ride – even if it’s only for part of the trip.
- Read up on and invest in renewable energy. Many states and towns are switching their power to renewables, whether to save money or in an effort to go green. More and more towns and regions offer community solar programs that make it easy to opt in to a cleaner mix.
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Food
Much of the produce, grains, and meat we eat come from huge corporate farms that use a great deal of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Excess fertilizer leaches into our water supplies and endangers our families. Pesticides are indiscriminate killers and kill as many, or more, beneficial insects as they do harmful ones. Of course, distant food then gets shipped many miles to your grocery store. There’s a better way.
- Grow your own food. Doing so will not only help the planet, but will also save you money in the long run. Even a small garden makes a big difference.
- Purchase your produce from local farms if you’re unable to have a garden, or to supplement what you can’t produce at home. These days, I’ve found farmstands in my travels from Hawaii to Alaska, Kentucky to Florida. Whether modest (and charming) roadside setups or massive community-run operations, you can get products that build local economies by keeping dollars entirely in the hands of growers. Research shows small farms take greater interest in the health of the land, use less water, and experience less soil erosion than large corporate farms do.
Helping our planet and ourselves doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all checklist by any means. But by giving your time, attention, and money to basic human needs, you’ll unravel a common theme: we all need to slow down, step back, and think about what we’re doing. Giving thought to individual choices opens a door to great personal empowerment.
Dana Benner has been writing about the outdoors, the environment, and sustainability for 35 years. His work appears in Grit, Mother Earth News, Countryside & Small Stock Journal, Backwoods Survival Guide, and other publications.
