Gardening Methods

Drought

Drought

It

has been predicted by meteorologists that this year will be a particularly rough year for

storms and hurricanes. We have already seen examples of extreme weather all over the

United States, as well as in other parts of the world. In the southwest there are record breaking floods. In the southeast and parts of the northeast there is recording breaking

drought.

Most of us just go on with our daily lives, not giving the extreme weather much more

than a passing thought. Most of us don’t realize the far reaching consequences of

drought and floods, to animal and plant life, therefore to human life. I personally know

farmers in Tennessee who have had to sell off their cattle due to the lack of pastureland

and water, from drought. There is nothing for the animals to eat and drink. This effects all

wildlife as well. Wild animals and reptiles , and even insects are venturing into territory

which they usually avoid. Now here’s the crux of the matter. If wildlife is expanding out

into territory where humans reside, this will present a problem. Animals will be pillaging

gardens for food. Reptiles will be in residential neighborhoods , looking for water.

And naturally humans and animals will collide. One or the other, may get injured or killed. The other considerations is that of course there will be shortages of fruits,

vegetables, and meat, therefore, becoming expensive. Consequences are convoluted and

numerous.

While some fundamentalist doomsayers would attribute these extreme weather patterns to the precursor to the second coming [ of Christ ], I don’t adhere to this belief. It is Mother Nature’s cycles , which in turn , causes natural selection to occur. Just as wildfires,

as horrible as they are, kill everything in their path, allows and encourages new growth.

That’s not to say we would just sit back and let disasters take over and, not act , but it would benefit us to be aware of natures ways. And on a larger scale, because of humans’

wastefulness, it won’t be long before there won’t be any viable water left for humans or

animals.

In the past few years my consciousness has been pricked, and I have become aware of how

wasteful humans really are. I have also made some effort to be more conservative with natural resources. Of course , I could do more. And I will strive to do more to be less

wasteful. I also try to feed and water the animals around my house, especially in these times of drought. [ as an aside here. Don’t let standing water sit too long. It will become

a breeding place for mosquitoes ]

A few things you can do to conserve water, is not to let your faucets run while not in use. For example, turn it off, while you are brushing your teeth, then turn it back

on to rinse. Don’t just leave your outdoor hoses or sprinklers running for an indefinite time. I realize that our lawns are not as green or pretty as we would like them to be, but

our need to conserve water is more important right now. We also could wash our cars less

often. And wash dishes less often. Wait until the dishwasher is full before you start it. And in my case, since I live alone , I use to wash each dish with the water running. Now , I

wait until there are three or four dishes, then fill the sink some, wash them , then

rinse them quickly. The point being, that there are many ways in which to conserve

water, and it would benefit us all to avail ourselves of them. On a more global and timeless

scale, if we humans don’t start conserving now, I see a future in which people pay dearly

for a few gallons of water for consumption and bathing. As for wildlife, I can’t even imagine a life without them.

I believe these weather patterns are not only natural cycles of nature, but are an extreme warning to us, which, if not heeded, will spell our doom. If not our generation, then definitely the next, will reap the effects of our careless disregard of nature’s bounty.

Our resources are not endless and bottomless, so we and or our progeny will surely suffer

for this selfish raping of the land , while not giving anything back to Mother Earth.

Dale Morrison

7/3/07

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