Silent Spring

Silent Spring is the title of a book by Rachel Carson, which was published in 1962, and which documents the destructive effect of synthetic pesticides on the environment.

Unfortunately our daily walk now reminds me of this book.

Within a period of three years the ground nesting birds (called weide vogels in dutch) have been all but wiped away from this part of the landscape. The wonderfull experience of enjoying their homecoming, early in the spring, has this year been lost.

Rachel Carson was ahead of her time in highlighting the threat from these chemicals, and Wikipedia outlines the remarkable struggle she experienced as she faced up to personal battle against cancer, while her work was attacked by hostile chemical producers.

The reference to a silent spring refers to the experience of witnessing fields , which should at this time of the year be filled with the joyous sounds of birds, returning after often long and arduous journeys, in order to raise the next generation... falling silent

A Silent Spring for me, is an experience of the joy of spring being killed prematurely. Silence in fields which should be alive and thriving, is an erie, disturbing experience which unfortunately is occurring in the fields along which we walk right now.

The ground nesting birds, which bring so much joy, have until now pretty much failed to come back this year after bravely trying to hang on for the last 3 years.

In particular the lapwings (plovers, or in dutch,  kiewits) are noticeable by their absence. Over a week ago we saw a small group, but other than a few stragglers, nothing like sustainable numbers.

Really upsetting to witness, especially as from what I have seen to date, this is not just a problem for these particular fields. These birds for now at least seem to have pretty much disappeared from this area.

At what point does this become an extinction? When I see the pace of the decline within a period of 3 spring-times, ( in effect within 2 years) it is difficult to see a lot of hope for these birds.

The weather this spring is unusually good this year, and the farmers around here are busy working their fields earlier than usual, but the bare fact is that only 2 years ago we saw more than 20 pairs try( mostly unsuccessfully) to nest, and this year too date there ARE NONE.

In effect the landscape around where we live has been rendered unsustainable, inhospitable, and downright dangerous for them. Ever changing farming practices have caught these birds completely off guard. They have no answer.

Unfortunately it seems neither do we. The destruction continues. NO meaningful action is being taken, we are on the cusp of an extinction event for many ground nesting birds without some allowance being made in current farming methods.

Extinction events are not just happening in far flung exotic locations elsewhere in the world. They are happening now around your home too, for this same process, is happening in different forms pretty much everywhere.

That we should be allowing this process to go unchecked in the so called civilized countries of the west is disturbing and depressing. It is a sad indictment of our societies, and the organisations leading them.

I will be exploring some of the reasons why spring here is being prematurely killed off, over the following weeks.

Witnessing this has dented my moral a bit. Unfortunately I cannot currently provide a safe environment for these birds. I can see they do not stand a chance, but feel powerless. and that is really not a nice feeling.

What I can do is make sure that our bit of planet earth shines out like a beacon of hope. Spring HAS come here. This place is alive.

The difference to the surrounding fields is like chalk and cheese, alive and dead.

So to end on a positive note, I have included some photos of our bit of Eden. An oasis in a desert of efficient , monotonous monoculture, which I hope will inspire you to action.

Creation from Destruction

When you see the mess that is generated from "'improvements'' it is easy to feel a little disillusioned.

It helps if you have a strong vision, but its always a bit of a leap of faith, because theres always the possibility that some elements may not work.

At the moment, the leap of faith required is a big one, but luckily, as the following photo shows, it is possible to enjoy the whole process.

Meanwhile our daily walks are missing something. Usually at this time of the year we see lapwings trying to nest, and this year, apart from a small group spotted around 5 days ago, its all quiet. Too quiet.

The last years have been increasing hard for them, as they face an ever changing agricultural landscape.

Destruction is not always creative.

Our Personal Renovation Project

Big Boy and Sunny taking a break from digging

Just a short news post this week, as the personal renovation project is in full swing here., and it has been taking up all my time. Luckily as you can see I have a pair of helpers with the inevitable digging work.

I will be writing further over this valuable experience in a later post, but meanwhile lets just say the above two have been a great help.

The first phase of spring is beginning to fade away, in so far as the snowdrops and crocuses, are beginning to wilt, but what a spectacular display they have made this year. truly beautiful.

Meanwhile spring continues all around, as this week I have seen and heard the first skylark, and seen the first pair of plovers wheeling through the air over the nearby fields.

I am particularly concerned over the plovers as this year I have seen only one pair, and normally by now I have seen groups of them flying into the area. These groups later seem to form up into pairs which go onto try to nest.

Two years ago we had around 20 nesting pairs along our walk route, who were largely unsuccessful, as there nests were destroyed by one weekend of intense farming activity. Last year significantly less returned.

Last year was officially the year of the plover(Kiewit) in Holland, and it turned out to be another complete disaster for them nonetheless. That does not bode well for them. The sad truth is that despite the extra media attention, Iwitnessed a repeat of the yearly destruction.

Because the weather here has been pleasant spring weather, the farmers are already active in the fields here, which may be a blessing in disguise as any birds that are now returning may well find these fields are too busy to nest in and find somewhere safer.

I started this project because of what we have witnessed over the years with these brave little birds, and their struggle for survival. I will be keeping a close eye on how things develop this spring.

There is also some good news as I have seen the first pied wagtail back from his winter travels and I have been hearing more curlews in the area. Their call is something special, hauntingly beautifull. Long may we continue to hear it.

I very much hope spring for you is also full of life.

The World is Stirring.

4th of March

It may feel as though the world is burning down in flames as you are bombarded with news of events around the world, but the natural cycles of life go on, and if you care to look you will see them all around you.

This week I enclose a couple of photos that I hope will inspire you.

The photo above shows my favourite bee. He visits every year early to enjoy our crocuses, and because he is so huge its very entertaining watching him climbing on delicate flowers that can barely bear his weight.

O.K,  I know that bees unfortunately have short lives, and really its not the same individual,, but every year without fail these bees find the crocuses. If these flowers where not there, what would the bee do?

It illustrates a principle. If you wish to encourage, to create diversity, you have to provide a fertile environment for ....diversity.

For a number of years now I have been experimenting, by bringing different plant/flower sorts, and I have had the goal of trying to ensure there is something in bloom, ready for any passing insects, throughout the year.

That's pretty much been achieved, so that the period of abundance in our garden is extended as far as possible.... which leads me onto another example of natural abundance....

This is an example of the abundance of nature at work, as a few solitary bulbs planted years ago, continue to multiply, year after year....

The investment of pennies, rewards itself, me, and probably anyone else who cares to enjoy it.

There is a compounding effect at work here, and quite frankly , this is one of the most valuable investments I have ever made... as a few pennies spent, rewards in the most unexpected ways.

Which ultimately illustrates another principle at work. 

WHEN YOU HELP NATURE... YOU..... HELP YOURSELF! 

Transitions

Theres a transition taking place around me as I write this. Everywhere I look now I can see the evidence of the advancing Spring.

The first of march marks the beginning of spring.For several weeks now we have been in a weather pattern of warmer, wetter weather. When the sun breaks through you can feel the warmth.

Throughout the garden, new life is beginning to show. One snowdrop , one yellow crocus, one purple, has now been joined by countless others (see photo)..In fact the evidence for the coming of spring has been there for some time, if you care to look.

Last week, I heard the first morning Dawn chorus, and In the evening the first song from a blackbird. Every morning since then, the dawn chorus is gaining in intensity.

Our resident colony of sparrows has been busy building nests for a few weeks now, while our feeding station has continued to be very active.

While walking the dogs over the last few weeks, we have seen a lot of swans in the local fields and two impressive formations (of 20 and 30 respectively) flying eastwards in a V formation. These were wild swans, smaller than there more common counterparts.

This was the first time I had witnessed this impressive sight. I heard them first and had to stop, as I did not recognise the sound which built slowly to a crescendo as they passed overhead. At first it sounded like a group of young people playing boisterously in the distance.

Both groups followed the same flightpath, heading eastwards with purpose. What I think I was witnessing was the beginning phase of Their long flight to their summer habitat, which I read is Siberia.

Also in the last few days there has been evidence of ground nesting birds flying back to try to nest on the fields around here. For a few days I have been hearing the calls from lapwings, and today I saw a pair of oyster catchers, and heard the beautiful calls of a pair of curlews.

Migration is a natural wonder. Spring itself is a time a wonder, and I will be returning to the story of these birds as the spring unfolds.

It is still too early to write off winter completely. A return to colder weather is still possible and only a few weeks ago the canals here where still frozen.

On one of our walks a common swan came into land on the ice in front of us, which made for an ungainly landing. He could not find his feet on the ice, and sat there looking faintly embarrassed as we walked past.

A few weeks later and everything is changing.

A transition will also be happening here shortly as another phase of our personal renovation project is due to shortly take place. I will try to make a record of it as it takes place. Hopefully it will be a success!

Meanwhile enjoy this period of optimism, as the natural year begins to unfold before you.

NASA Big news of possible Space life!

Yet again the media is humming with expectation over the possibility of life in outer space. After all it makes for great headlines! :)

But really I ask you, is it really such epic surprising news. We are after all part of a universe that's possibly endless, with endless stars. so does it not follow that their could be possibly endless planets which just like earth could be life sustaining?

Is it not possible we live in a Universe that rather than being this black void or vacuum, is actually teeming with life?

After all we live in a world where we have still only discovered the tip of the iceberg,  so far as life on our own planet is concerned, despite our proximity and accesss to it,. Despite our resources, our science, our tools.

We still live in a world where we have little true understanding of, or compassion for our co inhabitants. Perhaps because we cannot understand them, we don't value them.

We have our limitations, which often come from our expectations about how things should be. We are often blind to other possibilities that might challenge our prevailing logic.

We are all born into a world where we assume (because we are taught So) that we are the dominant species. That logic is ingrained into some, if not most of our religions in some way. The idea of man inheriting the earth, to use it and dominate it as he will.

The idea that God expects us to do that. That he gave us this wonderful world , and all that lives on it, expressly that we could use it all. The idea that we are the dominant species of right. The idea that is at the basis of our legal systems and societies.

Our god given right to dominate and exploit the world around us, is at the foundation of our modern understanding of our existence and our role in it. ANYTHING that flies in the face of that wisdom, is especially challenging to our notions of us having a special place in the order of things.

IT is really a bit pompous that we should assume this special role for ourselves. Why should we? Are we not really just a sophisticated sort of ape?

In a World where we increasingly celebrate the notion of "Human Rights", is it not strange that we deny any notion of rights to our fellow co-inhabitants (the other species which share this planet, OF OURS).

This cultural arrogance is something that concerns me, and it has become prevalent in our modern society. Arguably we Europeans started this process in earnest when we started to export it around the world in our quest to colonise it.

We started to explore, conquer  dominate and colonise.wherever we saw fit to lay claim. The notion that nature was to be dominated, exploited, in some way defeated, arose in part from this process.

We did not just restrict that abuse to the natural world. We also saw the indigenous people we encountered as inferior,  an obstacle, or something to be exploited, moved or in some cases annihilated. They were regarded as savages, somehow less than us.

 You can see the process occurring in the colonisation of the Americas. For example In what is now the united states, where apparently the first settlors were helped by friendly Indians. That good naturedness was as history shows poorly repaid.

Or what about Australia where not so long ago the native aboriginals were still being hunted down and killed..

As the European nations colonised the New World, we displaced and disenfranchised the old. This same process to some extent is continuing. After all just look at the news over the Sioux tribes efforts to protect their land in North Dakota from oil pipelines.

What has this all got to do with the NASA announcement , you may well be asking? EVERYTHING!

For it seems that we are being prepared for the Dawn of a new age, in which our perception of our planet as an isolated jewel of life is about to be challenged, and along with it at some point possibly the concept that we are MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.

Already you can see the push to explore further, the desire to colonise further. The desire to reach out and make ä claim somewhere else. After all we are beginning to run out of possibilities here on Earth.

Judging by how we have collectively behaved to date, without wisdom, foresight, compassion or a sense of justice, I would put forward here the concept that we are not currently sufficiently EVOLVED enough to expand our influence further.

We have proved to be unsuitable guardians of our own World. We are therefore currently not fit to explore and expand our reach further, because to date, whatever we have come into contact with, we have set about destroying.

A harsh Judgement, that I can imagine will be extremely unpopular, and ultimately a sad indictment of our species. We failed, because we were not fit for power.

You could well ask why we invest so much in space exploration, and massive defence budgets, when our world right now faces so many challenges. Would it not be better to first rise to the challenges we have here at home?

This is one perspective. What do you think?

What is Your Net Worth?

A Valentines present. The first Crocus.

If you are really bothered about this question, then this piece is for you.

Television provides us with a useful window on our societies values and norms.

I have just watched a programme in which a matchmaker tries to find American Millionaires a partner, and I was struck by how every self profile began with a name and then a reference to their ''Net Worth"'.

Something in this Buzz terminology leapt out at me. It is in a way a sad indictment of the values of modern society.

Exactly what does that term mean, if you follow the logic in it? Does it mean that if you have a net worth of 1 million dollars, you are in some way not as worthy as the millionaire with 10 million dollars sitting in the bank?

And what about me then? with my considerably smaller net worth? Or a student teacher or nurse with limited resources available? Or a rural farmer on a small holding in India? or a new born child in some far flung war torn part of Africa.  What is our net worth?

What IS YOUR net worth? Do you measure it in dollars in the bank? or possibly, do you have a broader definition of it? How rich is your life? How valuable is it? What are you worth?

All good questions, and everyone will have their own definition. Is it really your own definition of worth? Or are you being influenced by the cultural norms of a society which seems increasingly to have lost the plot?

Worth, the richness, could also be measured in terms of happiness, joy, fulfilment, contribution.

Success is a multi faceted thing, and if you care to look , you will see that many of the people we celebrate as being ""successful"', are in reality extremely unsuccessful human beings. For what good is success without fulfilment?

Sure you can buy the baubles and stick an extra plaster on your pain, but in the end there is no substitute for a life well lived.

To often we are absorbed with trivial, meaningless things like celebrity role models. Our world is becoming more virtual. There is a lot more air under it than substance.

Finding a good way through the morass of trivial diversions, propaganda and preoccupations with success and ''Worth" is pretty difficult. Measure yourself against some of the illusions of today, and you will become lost.

So what do you do if you feel you have become lost in this maze?

More wisdom and simplicity is probably never a bad thing, but where can you find it? 

Sometimes a pause on a journey to look back at where you came from, and take your bearings is a good thing.

Cutting out the background noise and disturbance is not easy. Being guided by your inner compass to make some kind of contribution along the way, is probably not a bad starting point for the journey to fulfilment.

So..... How do YOU define your net worth?

Our plastic world.

First signs of Spring 2nd Feb.

We have just had a few days break from winter with a few spring like days, and the first signs of the coming spring are there if you look.

However,  I came across some news on the same day as this picture was taken which provides food for thought.

How would you feel if your favourite restaurant served you a bowl of plastic soup in place of the fish special?

Most likely disgusted. You would send it back and probably stop frequenting that restaurant.

For a large part of the natural world, which is often forgotten by us, that is not possible.

Our seas are literally swimming in plastic. Its every where and no part of our beautiful planet is immune to it any more.

The news on the 2nd of February contained a story about a distressed whale found of the coast of Norway, which had to be put down. On examination of its stomach contents a vast quantity of plastic was found including 30 plastic sacks/bags.

Most of the plastic apparently came from Denmark and England. The stomach contents where responsible for the animals poor condition.

The story was well publicised and you will easily find it with an internet search, One report in the mail online also quoted some statistics about plastic in our oceans. Currently an estimate of 5 trillion pieces, and by 2050 , more plastic than fish in our oceans.

In Europe alone 100 billion carrier bags are used every year of which 8 billion end up as litter.

Sadly the same internet search is likely to come up with details of other similar incidents throughout the world."whales are starving their 'stomachs full of plastic waste '' by Philip Hoare is illuminating (www.theguardian.com/comment is free/2016/march/30/plastic.

Another source of information is found at ( www.oceanwildthings.com )

This again is an example of an epic exponential problem, but it is one in which some pending initiatives provide a glimmer of hope (for example www.theoceancleanup.com).

It is certainly an area in which a lot more resources need to be invested, and one that is ripe for one or more wealthy benefactors to leave our planet a lasting meaning full legacy.

Our Oceans have become a dumping ground for all sorts of waste products from our civilisation. Out of sight and out of mind has been our motto for too long.

When I see photos of the array of plastic turning up in whale stomachs, I am left wondering how some of these bags could possibly find their way into the ocean, unless somehow there hss been a deliberate dumping.

From sewage to radioactive waste , chemical waste and alarmingly old chemical warfare munitions, an awful lot of dumping has been going on for many years. Unsurprisingly this is affecting the oceans food chains, and inevitably us.

We have treated our seas poorly, and proved ourselves to be unworthy guardians to date.

In case you do not think the problem will not effect you, you should be aware that plastic particles, are turning up in the most unlikely places throughout our living biosphere. On plants, and flowers, in the honey you eat, and in the water you drink , circulating in our air.

Some totally irresponsible cosmetics companies have even deliberately been filling products with tiny plastic particles or beads, which inevitably pass into our water systems and our oceans. How that could have ever have seemed a good idea is hard to understand.

So what can you do right now? Just by being aware how damaging a substance plastic can be,  is a start . Look around you at its unnecessary use, try to use it responsibly. Recycle it where possible.

Boycott products that are harmful (such as the cosmetic washing products that contain unnecessary plastic ). After all why should you support a company that has no regard for the living quality of your home?

If your walking by the beach, or anywhere else for that matter , why not collect up all the plastic you see and dispose of it safely. It doesent cost a lot, and every little bit ofhelps.

Going back to the reference to plastic soup, be aware that the food you eat and the water you drink may well already contain plastic traces. In effect you could be eating it now.

What goes around, comes around in a world of interconnectivity.

Feed the birds!

Dawn, Winter Solstice. 2017

A wonderful thing just happened and I want to share it.

 After walking the dogs I checked the bird food in the tree before our house. The sunflower seeds and fat balls were up, and as I walked towards the tree a coal tit flew into the tree directly before me and started to dance and chatter away to me. It was impossible to miss it.

That little bird had obviously made the connection that I feed the birds, the food was almost up, and he was clearly communicating to me that there was a need for more food.

It made me question a few assumptions about intelligence, as apart from  frightening that bird away, my ability to communicate with it is pretty limited really!

A communication moment between a person and another animal sort, is a special thing when it happens. When it happens with a wild animal it is extra special. Simple things like that can give real pleasure.

Which is why today I am talking about the simple action of giving nature a helping hand by feeding the birds. Its not rocket science and this simple act can itself bring many benefits.

For many years now our small ornamental cherry tree in the front garden has become a valuable feeding station for the birds in the colder months. I use a mixture of fat balls, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and other seed mixes which are all commonly available.

It is an inexpensive hobby and it can be supplemented with bread crumbs and suitable scraps from the kitchen, pieces of fruit, such as apples, or even a half a coconut. A small bird bath will also help attract them if placed in a safe place.

We also have a special peanut butter holder fixed to our wall in which a jar securely fits. That's a big success with the birds. Where possible I use bird friendly peanut butter, which is commonly available.

I do not put too much food out, replacing one item with another as necessary, and the reason I picked this particular tree is that it is clearly visible from the living room, and, the garden there is open and the ability for cats to hide in wait is limited.

Finding a safe place to feed the birds is most important. If your struggling to think of one you can even buy ready made feeding stations that you can fix to your windows, which may be ideal for anyone with a small or no garden.

This simple action will bring the natural world to you, and can be adapted to your local conditions wherever you are in the world. In the middle of the winter it gives a warm feeling to look outside at a garden full of life, and to know that you are giving a helping hand.

Simple, but very rewarding, especially if you have children, for I recently saw how children can find great pleasure in looking outside on a cold day, and seeing the birds in action.

As they are the future of our planet, this act of fostering appreciation and understanding for the natural world can be immensely valuable.

It is also a great way to find out about some of the species in your area, and that can lead you to other ways of giving a helping hand.

I will close on the theme of communication. For I also saw in the inter-reaction between these children and our dogs, that there is a lot to be gained from our contact with our pets. In a way, they are also a contact point between us and the natural world.

Developing an empathy, with all sorts of living things, whatever form they take, can only be of value to us.

Most people who have a pet of their own will recognise this, and I am sure will also be able to relate to what I say about the communication process between animals and humans.

We can learn a great deal from our pets, but having one, brings with it a great responsibility, which should always be honoured. In that process, we can also learn.

Welcome To The World Renovation Project

 

If you have been following my blog posts, then you will notice some changes to the site which I hope are clear enough. For this is the day that I unleash The World Renovation Project  on the World.

It just so happens that today is the 28th of January 2017, which coincidentally happens to be Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster. Also coincidentally, as I write these words it is still early morning and dark, and for the last hour or so the neighbours cockerels have been exceptionally vocal.

I really hope that that is an auspicious start for WORP. This very much is a leap of faith. The concept flies in the face of many conventional wisdoms, but its basis is a wisdom that knows its time to do something.

Success or failure, it will bring with it the knowledge and peace of mind that comes from trying to make a difference. Whether it succeeds or fails is ultimately not up to me, its up to people like you . And what exactly is success or failure on an enterprise such as this?

Who knows who in the world shall read this? It is a bit like sending out a message in a bottle. If ONE person is motivated into action by this, who knows what impact they could go onto have.

Who knows what sort of transformative ideas they could in turn unleash. What sort of difference they could this make to the world?

What if it was TWO people?... What if it was TWO THOUSAND people?

ONE person is enough to make a difference, but in a world of interconnectivity, I would not like to try to guess who will get the message in a bottle I am sending out to the World.

SO... what is this strange thing called the World Renovation Project?

Basically its a concept me and the dogs came up with on one of our walks.

We could see that in the craziness of a modern world that is constantly and rapidly changing, the natural World can no longer cope. We could also see that a lot of people (me included), were also struggling.

We concluded that Nature needs a helping hand, and that personal direct action was best.

Later on as we worked through it, we concluded that in a modern World that increasingly resembles a star trek reality, our old stone age mindsets and ways of acting/behaving were not working.

Whether we know it or not, a lot of us are also struggling to make sense of things. Just like the natural world, many of us are also struggling to survive in a rapidly changing modern world. We were not hard wired for it.

To be clear, the objective is to boost Biodiversity and the natural World. Any secondary personal benefits, perceived or actual are a bye product and cannot be guaranteed. However I genuinely believe they are there for anyone who cares to find them.

Because I believe that time is of the essence in getting into action, we thought why not try this idea out now. It is a work in progress, it is still evolving. Like an uncut diamond, it may not look like much now, but I believe in time, it could become something beautiful.

In this work I am planting a seed. I hope the idea, the concept will grow organically and take on a life of its own.

Like all seeds it will benefit from some TLC , some water, light, nutrients. In this case whether it grows or withers will depend on whether people such as you find it a good idea, adopt it and support it.

Like all seeds, after planting it, you have to be....patient.

NO ONE else is coming to the rescue on this one. Like it or not, WE are the cavalry. Ordinary people, you and me, us, we are the cavalry.

Potentially... If we can become assets to the world. Contributors.

Currently I don't see another option. For we have a rapidly escalating world population who aspire to lifestyles that make them liabilities. How can you change that? Do you have an idea that might help?

Connecting what is good for nature with what is good for people can only help. I hope that the idea, the principle or philosophy, whatever you want to call it will take hold, prosper and grow.

A growing seed is a wonder. From acorns mighty oak trees grow. The Roosters are still crowing, so who knows?

•  nature