Caring for Creation ~ We Are the Caretakers! December 24 2024

We are the Caretakers of this Earth.  Right now, we are the ones who are making a difference for the next generations.  This is like the game of tag.  Those of us living on the Earth right now are the ones creating the kind of world that our children and grandchildren and their children will inherit!  This is our moment to make a difference!

As you may know, I grew up in southwest Oklahoma.  We farmed and raised cattle, horses, and a few chickens.  Keeping the four-legged carnivores out of the chicken coop was always a challenge!  But we did manage to have fresh eggs during the laying season.  I learned so much from being around cattle and horses, farmers and ranchers, and veterinarians!  

Much of what I learned could not be absorbed from a book.  That learning came from experience.  For instance, cattle don’t like to be rushed.  Horses don’t like to be yelled at.  Farmers and Ranchers don’t always talk a lot, but when they do, it is worth listening to.  You can’t hurry any seeds to sprout once they are in the ground.  Wheat seeds, oat seeds, and alfalfa seeds each have a specific schedule.  An entire crop of alfalfa seeds can blow away overnight if the soil is too dry and the wind too strong!  I also learned that Patience usually gets better results than impatience.  Treating Everyone, including Animals, with courtesy and respect is a very good way to move through the world.

I learned how important it was to pay attention to the weather, and always carry extra flashlight batteries in the truck as well as extra water, especially in the summer.  I also learned not to get too close to a “dead” rattlesnake on a farm road, until you are sure it is DEAD!  I still have not heard the last of that one!

So much of what I learned growing up comes under the heading of wisdom and practicality.  We were careful not to waste water on the farm.  That water came from a well that could run dry during a Drought!  My grandparents were able to “hang onto” their land during the Dust Bowl, but not everyone was so fortunate.  Many people lost everything they owned.  They were forced to move away and usually never came back!  Trying to farm on the Great American Prairie is not a very good idea.  Crops and fields can blow away.

We are the current Caretakers of this amazing Earth.  Unfortunately, there seem to be fewer and fewer family farms.  Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream kept Vermont family dairy farms going for many years, but they were finally bought out.  We can’t all farm, have orchards, or raise bees.  But, we can support the people who are growing food or raising bees or fruits and vegetables.  They are still showing up in Farmer’s Markets and along roadsides.  

And, we can support the organizations who are preserving and expanding forests.  Every generation is going to need clean air and clean water to survive.  That is a legacy we can do something about right now.

Every tree that is planted and protected, every Old Growth forest that survives intact is our direct contribution to the Future.  We are contributing to the health and well-being of the generations that follow us.  We are “believing” in the future of Life on Earth.  Many of us live in neighborhoods where there is no guarantee that Trees will be left undisturbed for many years.  But, there are places where Trees and natural habitat can be sustained and protected.

Right now we are the Guardians and the Protectors of Creation on this beautiful little planet.  We are making a difference!  And, we can have an even greater impact by “giving Trees as a Gift” for holidays, birthdays, graduations, even as a memorial. 

Remember, every Tree counts and every gift makes a difference!

For nearly 125 years the Sempervirens Fund has protected these precious old growth forests by purchasing priority forests for permanent protection.  They have implemented extensive restoration techniques.  They manage thousands of acres of forest for resilience against climate change and wildfire, establishing a growing network of healthy, resilient redwood forests.  They are assisting a new generation of old-growth redwoods to emerge.  These amazing trees provide a critical natural infrastructure that captures carbon, filters air and water, and supports diverse wildlife.

We know redwoods are more than just local landmarks; they are global climate protectors. They are also home to countless species. Owls nest in their towering canopies, amphibians find shelter in their shade, and mammals of all shapes and sizes rely on them for survival. By protecting these forests, we preserve the rich biodiversity that makes these ecosystems so unique.  We can secure a healthy, thriving environment for future generations.

You can make a definite impact right now by supporting the ongoing work of the Sempervirens Fund.  Your contribution funds the year-round work of sustaining these precious redwood forests.  Sempervirens Fund is California’s first land trust, founded in 1900 and dedicated exclusively to defending the redwood forests and all creatures great and small that live in the Santa Cruz mountains.  

These donations make very special birthday and holiday gifts for any family or friends who care about the Redwoods and our environment.  All contributions are tax-deductible as allowable by law under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3).  

Click here to make a secure donation!