How To Be An Environmental Steward

Ever since Instagram took over the world (okay dramatic, but you get it) it feels like Earth Day has a larger presence on the timeline than in our real lives. Whenever April 22nd rolls around, I mentally prepare myself to sift through endless photos of everyone's recent vacations, and the latest glamorous outdoor adventure. Of course, these photos often add a classist tinge to what is supposedly a day to honor the abundant resources that surround us and claim our space as stewards of this planet we call home. 

Nature is around us always – not just when we’re on vacation.

For those of us who live in big cities, it can be easy to forget that we still exist in nature. The vines that grow around our chain link fences, the weeds that sprout up underneath our concrete, and even our city parks are abundant in their invisible ecosystems. Bees pollinate our plants, birds build homes in our trees, and underneath us, worms dig networks we’ll never know about. 

So, this Earth Day, ask your environment what it needs from you! Look into the communities that are cleaning up the parks in your neighborhood or planting native plants back in their intended soil. Who is implementing green city developments in your area? And then, look at what you can do in your backyard; are there invasive weeds you can remove? Are there plants that need a little extra trimming or a little extra sun access? Are there living beings who can’t access their home because of something you left outside last winter? Be curious! Offer love! 

pc: Brooklyn Grange

Who are our teachers?

We often hold more knowledge than we realize. Being gentle, cleaning up after ourselves, and walking our designated path are all intuitive and accessible methods of taking care of our planet. When we accept our responsibility to our land, we step into our role as stewards. As stewards of our land, we have a deep commitment to protect our home and the home of all living organisms around us. 

However, when it comes to large-scale environmental preservation systems, indigenous, BIPOC activists have immense wisdom that is impossible to replicate without their leadership. As you develop your understanding of yourself as a steward, turn your ear toward indigenous stewards and listen to what they ask us. Connect with the indigenous communities in your area. When you show up to listen, be conscious of your privilege, resources, and your expectations. Be ready to re-distribute your resources and your time with intention and intuition without expecting to be educated. 

pc: Oko Farms

What resources are there for us? 

Nearly every city, town, and community will have an Earth Day celebration this week, so look out for them. Join your community in collective education and care. Orient yourself to our most powerful third spaces: libraries and community organizations. Look out for compost centers, farm share entities, local farming communities, and farm plots. Engage with your local education spaces; museums, schools, and nature centers prioritize this holiday and do this work all year round. 

Truly, our senses are our best resource. Our observations, connections, and presence in nature are the best ways for us to learn about our environment's needs. We develop a stronger connection and desire to care for our land when we are engulfed in it, eat its fruits, listen to its music, breathe in its fragrance, and bask in its impeccable beauty. 

Ultimately, our love, admiration, and deep connection to our environments strengthen us and our communities’ convictions to build a better world and reverse our impact. The reality is that we don’t own anything, but we are especially not owed the aesthetic beauty of a land that is not ours. Diaspora and migration are natural aspects of our existence, but in our colonial, industrial present, are often forced and violent. This reality doesn’t mean we need to continue putting our footprints all over someone else's sacred space. And so this Earth Day, let’s ask what can we do here and now in our home to act in symbiosis with this planet that nourishes us.