#29 - Harmonize With The World

by KC Johnson

While the oligarchs of our capitalist world are doing their best to make us a multi planetary species, there still does not seem to be a planet with the same incredible blessings which are conducive to life as we know it within easy reach. Even Mars would require terraforming - perhaps of a nuclear variety. With clean flowing water, a careful balance of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen in our atmosphere, and the position of our planet in the Goldilocks zone, Earth is unique in the natural abundance of life it supports. Yet, all things can go out of balance.

In a way, humanity has already terraformed the planet to better serve the needs of a ballooning population. Much of the land has been harvested for materials including lithium, oil, agriculture, or even just towering and sprawling structures of either a commercial or residential nature. Some might call this a parasitic relationship, but with the attempts that people make to plant for pollinators, build bioswales, wildlife reserves, or many other ecosystems which are more supportive of a wide variety of species I’d say that the parasitism is out of ignorance, not natural tendency.

Some might consider these adjustments sacrifices, but I disagree. I believe them to be more symbiotic in nature, because of the mental and physical benefits that people get from being in nature. A walking meditation in the forest or some natural ecosystem has clear and recorded benefits including reducing cortisol and raising t-cell counts. Regardless, the plant life which reduces the carbon dioxide produced by our energy generation and provides oxygen is valuable in and of itself.

Having that limited mindset that things can only serve a single purpose may spring from a concept of efficiency, but if one can generate 30% more value by combining purposes at the same time as saving land, isn’t that more efficient? One can combine energy generation with agriculture, especially with shade tolerant plants. In some cases the plants even grow better in that situation. Solar panels, if spaced properly or set up vertically as bifacial panels can add a tremendous amount of value to the property used, as well as supporting plants like raspberries, witch hazel, or rhubarb to grow better.

We’ve already discussed the dangers with unnatural profit motivated monocrop agriculture. Even if one ignored the stress on the soil itself which harms the long term productivity of the area, it limits the support for other necessary interconnected aspects of the local and global ecosystem such as pollinators or prey which need undergrowth or trees to hide from predators or live in. Even “useless” wetlands are necessary for some species of migratory birds, and many other species.

If one struggles against something or someone, then they push back. There is no action without an equal and opposite reaction. So if one can harmonize with the other, whether it is the world or an individual, then there is less difficulty as you grow together. Why would one seek a more difficult path for growth? It is through mutual effort that we can Heal Our Selves, and Heal Our Worlds.

- SG