We humans have been living with plants our entire existence. Let’s pause for a moment and recap a few lessons we ought to have learned.
First, life on the planet is simply not possible for us without plants.
We’ve learned a lot about plants and nature. We’ve had to in order to survive. Through it all, plants have provided the raw materials that serve as the source for our comfort.
In developing the planet, we’ve created some fantastic gardens, from the hanging gardens of Babylon to Central Park. Meanwhile, Nature has produced Amazon rain forests and Yellowstone Park.
Finally, the moment humans build anything, Nature begins to renovate or deconstruct it. Within a week after a new sidewalk is poured, a blade of grass sprouts in a crack somewhere, signally the beginning of the end for this bit of human creation.
The faster we throw stuff up, the faster Nature takes it down.
During most of our history, our idea has been to master Nature – to bend her to our service. For thousands of years we’ve developed new ideas to win the war against Nature. Even if we do somehow succeed in taming Nature, it looks like we’ll destroy the planet and ourselves in the process.
Is there a better way?
There’s much talk these days about substituting collaboration for competition as the basis for relationships between humans. I suggest we do the same for the foundation of our relationship with Nature.
In these lessons, we’ll explore ways to do just that.
My personal experience demonstrates that when I cooperate with Nature, my garden is more beautiful, my harvest is more bountiful, my work is lighter and more joyful, and I spend less time and money. Such a deal!
I hope you’ll join me in venturing together into this new relationship!
The Lessons
The idea of the Learning Lessons is to build our cooperative relationship with Nature through new knowledge and practice.
Each lesson is broken into short parts, providing information building on the last lesson, and giving you a framework for thinking about Nature and your relationship. Each lesson includes at least one practical exercise to move your relationship forward.
You’ll notice that you already know and practice some of the ideas provided. My belief is that your interest in these lessons indicates you’re growing more aware of the relationship with Nature that’s always been there between you. You see, Nature has been speaking to you all along. Perhaps you’ve heard this voice consciously – perhaps unconsciously. You’ve reached that point where you yearn for more.
So, the lessons are more than a cook book for baking up a great garden. By opening yourself to a deeper relationship with Nature, both you and Nature will be changed. That’s a sacred thing – a spiritual thing – between the two of you. The lessons honor that.
The lessons are practical in the sense that Nature, who guides my writing, and I are both eager that you should succeed quickly and regularly in ways you can observe. That’s what kept me motivated along this path and I reckon it will work with you too.
I think that’s about all we need to say in setting up your success. It is my hope that you create and allow a joyful relationship with every plant you encounter.
