Earth’s Children.

“When they ask to see your gods
your book of prayers
show them lines
drawn delicately with veins
on the underside of a bird's wing
tell them you believe
in giant sycamores mottled
and stark against a winter sky
and in nights so frozen
stars crack open spilling streams
of molten ice to earth
and tell them how you drank
the holy wine of honeysuckle
on a warm spring day
and of the softness
of your mother
who never taught you
death was life's reward
but who believed in the earth
and the sun
and a million, million light years
of being.” by J.L. Stanley

A growing concern.

There is a growing concern in today’s society. The voice of this concern is growing, louder and more vehement. People are starting to listen, aware that this voice, once the voice of dissent is, with each passing day, becoming more and more viable, and relevant to them.

Of course there are still those who refuse to listen – either through lack of concern or awareness. But to most, the concern for the welfare of our planet is one they acknowledge.

The majority of us now recycle to some extent. Many people now compost their kitchen waste. We may use environmentally friendly products around our homes. Some of us may cycle to work. Some of us may be part of a car-share scheme. All of these very noble things are incredibly important to the future and well being our earth.

There is a segment of society however that this message of caring for the earth is terribly important to. Without their education and interest, the valiant efforts to date may fall by the way side, which would be, on all levels, a tragedy. We must educate our children, and our grandchildren.

Respect the earth

The question that really needs to be addressed, is not “what can we do?” but rather “how do we feel?” Composting, recycling, environmentally friendly products are all necessary and wonderful things, but they do not address the root cause of the problem. The earth is a commodity that we have taken for granted for far too long. We have become egotistical and selfish, reckless and ruthless. Whether we like it or not, even though we may have changed our habits, the pervading message is still that of us owning the earth, to use as we wish. Despite good intentions, we still over consume the earth’s resources, giving very little back.

This is why, the question “how do we feel?” is such an important one to ask, and moreover, to answer. If our hearts are not in it, don’t our efforts become somewhat piecemeal? My children are one’s who remind me, take me to task, and set me to rights. Why? Because they know how they feel. In my lazy moments, I will confess to (if it is pouring with rain, and blowing a gale) being tempted to scrunch up a piece of rogue paper and toss in into the bin. But it is my children, or rather their reaction if they were to see me doing so, who would stop me.

To assess how you feel can be a journey, and it is certainly a path you can make a conscious decision to tread. How then, can we share this journey with our children, and raise them to be conscious, respectful and gracious?

Earth Manners.

If we receive a gift, do we take it, and walk away? Or do we beam a radiant smile and say “thank you”? Hopefully the latter is true, but do we ever stop to think about the bounteous gifts we receive from the earth. And if we do, do we ever stop to say thank you?

If not, maybe it is time to learn your earth manners.

Respect for our earth at best would be a base understanding and respect for what we are given. It is the same for your parents, elders, and teachers. It is the same for all living things. Addressing this issue at grassroots is the key, I feel to successfully teaching our children what a wonderful life-giving gift the earth is. The fundamental mistake that is made is the general consensus that the earth is “just” a planet, a thing to build our homes and offices upon, to build roads upon, to reap our harvests from. There does not seem to be, in our society a basic respect for what we are given, let alone an acknowledgment of thanks.

The fundamental respect for the earth, her creatures and all that we are given is one, which in my opinion should be taught from birth.

Creating appreciation

In terms of our environment, the earth, sun and moon are intrinsically linked. On a very basic level, the sun warms our planet, and along with the earth’s movement, creates our seasons. The Moon controls the tides and water on our planet. Without the existence of the sun and the moon, the earth would not function in the same way. Our seasons, our land and the very air we breathe would all be affected, yet they are all entities we may all take for granted to some degree. Yet our very existence is dependant upon the relationship between the earth, sun and moon - their cyclical dance allows our very being. However in today’s frenetic society very few of us take, or indeed seem to have the time to contemplate this. The onus nowadays for many is a basic existence of juggling work and family, making ends meet and getting from A to B. How tragic that time for pleasure and relaxation for many depends upon a once yearly holiday that inevitably costs a fortune.

How so then, can we make time to have a period of contemplation? Do we even want one? Why bother? What purpose does it serve?

The answer to all of the above is simple. Ask yourselves, how many times have you thought to yourself, “If only there were more hours in the day”, or “I wish I could just press pause, and have a moment to myself”? Now, ponder upon this: if your life seems frantic, how then do our children feel; carried along in our wake, life a blur of school, activity, homework? They probably feel exactly the same, and yet know no different. To coin an American phrase, a time out is needed.

There is sadly no magic formula to create an extra hour in the day, (and to be honest would you really want one?) but it is possible to pare things back a little, and create some time to get back to basics, breathe some fresh air and get out in the sunshine together, even for a few moments to appreciate a few things that we take for granted.

Although we may visit the supermarkets, and purchase pre-washed, pre-prepared, pre-packaged food, it is grown in the earth, nourished by sunshine and fed with rain. The water we drink falls to the earth as rain. The clothes on our backs may well be bought in a shop, but could have been grown as cotton or many other natural crops and fibres. Our own cycles of sleep are governed by the hours of daylight and night-time, and our health depends upon the light of the sun. Even the plastics in our homes are derived from oil-based materials. Everything we have comes from the earth, sun and moon. We are part of the cosmos, everything is linked.

It never ceases to amaze me that when my children have friends over for dinner, that many of my children’s friends are not aware of these very basics. It is not however, the fault of the child that they are not aware for instance that a carrot is not “made” by a supermarket, or that broccoli is a vegetable, or that bacon comes from a pig, and milk from a cow. Have we really become so far removed from the natural world? It is experiences like these that illustrate how important it is to teach our children to tread lightly on the earth. Children are naturally inclined towards curiosity and observation, the only skills necessary to unravel the secrets and treasures of the earth. Our children are blessed with something many of us have forgotten – clear and true sight, and it is our duty to preserve this for as long as possible.

Earth lessons

We live in a society where children are now very protected. In many ways this is a very good thing, yet in others it is not. Many children are unaware of where their food comes from, yet it is essential for our children to understand that our behaviour and lifestyles affect all living things, our planet and it’s plants, animals and microbes.

On a micro level, giving thanks and having respect for the earth can start in your own home and garden. There are no hard and fast rules, only the desire to be at one with nature, and to observe how nature works. Children are fascinated with all things natural, from wiggly worms, to romps through the woods. If your children are anything like mine, they will love getting mucky, planting seeds and watching things grow.

Now is a great time of the year to begin your earth journey. There is no optimum time, as the cycle of nature is never-ending, and as such there is always knowledge to be gained. It is from nature that children can gently observe and learn such lessons as birth, growth, decline, death and rebirth; By watching plants grow and bud in Spring, flower and fruit in Summer, show their glorious colours and shed their leaves in Autumn, and then die back or stand naked in Winter only to begin the cycle again next Spring. This lesson is a pleasurable one, and one in which they can be active and partake.

Moreover, lessons such as reaping what you sow, and rewards for hard work can also be learnt in your very own garden. It is this basic awareness from which blossoms admiration and respect for our earth. During the summer months, the earth is a riot of colour and smells. There are luscious strawberries to eat, butterflies to chase, fruit and vegetables to pick and enjoy – all of which can be done in your own back garden. Even if space is limited, growing strawberries or herbs in pots is a great option. The message here is the bounty the earth provides for us. In the summertime the sun is at it’s peak, and pours down heat, (if we are lucky!) which ripens and swells all our fruit and vegetables. We are now seeing the bounty of the earth, which is something we can share in if we have planted our very own bounty to harvest. Strawberries are a fabulous way to begin, as they are very easy to grow, even on a windowsill.

Take advantage of the summer months to get out in the garden more, or to visit local natural places of interest. If you are lucky enough to have a garden, plant some child-friendly vegetables and fruits, work the soil, get good and dirty! Show your children what love, care and attention can gain - children get terribly excited by watching something that they have planted grow, and to be able to eat it at the end is such a bonus! They will also appreciate better where their food comes and the effort it takes to produce it from rather than it being something easily picked up from the supermarket. If you are unable to grow food yourself, visit the local farmers market, where you can buy vegetables and fruit that are not wrapped in plastic, and even better are more often than not still muddy and fresh from the ground!

If you don’t have a garden of your own, visit the local park or woodlands, take your time and observe the plants and wildlife. What flowers are in bloom? What trees grow there? Take some sketchpads and draw pictures of the plants that interest you. Collect fallen leaves and flowers to press at home as souvenirs of your day out. In this way you can build up a wonderful book of the seasons, which your child can watch evolve as the collection grows throughout the earths natural cycle. It is in this way that you can record the effects of Mother Earth and her energy. It may be slow and gentle but it is continuous and sustaining.

Other cycles that are very interesting to observe are those of the sun and the moon. The sun reaches the highest point of its apex at the Summer Solstice. The Summer Solstice would be a fabulous time to ‘officially’ begin your journey on the path of honouring the earth. This annual event takes places on the 21st June and marks the longest day of the year. Up until this point the days have been getting longer and longer, and from the solstice onwards, you can watch the sun’s decline into winter towards the shortest day, that of the winter solstice. In between these two dates are the spring and autumn equinox, days upon which the day and night are perfectly equal. Show your children the directions in which the sun rises and sets. Observe the way the plants and flowers follow the sunlight through out the day. Show your children how, during the summer holidays, the sun shines upon us for much longer so that they may make the most of their free time all the better! Take photographs of beautiful sunsets to record in your book, along with the time and date to mark the sun’s progress throughout the yearly cycle. Pick your favourite photograph to make a wonderful painting or collage.

Every 29-30 days there is a new moon, although it cannot seen, as it rises and sets at the same time as the sun, and is very near it. After a few days, a thin crescent moon can be seen, that sets just after sunset. Each successive night, as its phase gets greater (called waxing), the moon sets a bit later, and eventually, approximately 14-15 days after the new moon, there is a full moon. The Sun and the Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, and when one sets the other rises. The moon then takes another 14-15 days to wane back to a crescent, which rises shortly ahead of the Sun, before the whole process repeats again with a new moon.

Just like the Sun, the Moon also has seasonal movements. During the summer, when the Sun rises high into the sky, the new moon does the same. The points where it rises and sets are further apart, and it reaches a higher point in the sky than it does during winter, when the points at which it rises and sets are closer together. The full moon is always opposite the Sun, and so the reverse is true. In summer the time between the moon rising and setting is closer together. The sun never goes very far below the horizon, and the full moon will never rise very far above it. During the winter the sun follows a longer arc through the sky, which create the shorter days and longer nights. These are matched by longer and higher full moons.

A moon phase calendar is a great way to track the phases of the moon, and its ever-changing shape intrigues children. There is something fabulously magical about the moon, and following its movements is a great way for children to become comfortable with the darkness. Another wonderful way to achieve this is by teaching your children the constellations. The night sky constantly changes with the earth’s movements, allowing different constellations to be seen at different times of the month/year. There is something very special about stargazing with your children! Why not make now the time to begin a magical journey with those most precious to you? There will never be a better time.

Earth activities

A wonderful activity to do with your children is to make your own paper. This is an especially good activity for the summer months, as your paper will dry faster! Making your own paper allows your children to appreciate how things are made, whilst reusing paper and having lots of messy fun!

You will need:

Food processor or an old blender
Electric iron
Old wire hanger
Old pair of tights
Newspaper or other paper, torn into 2-inch squares
White/pva glue
Water
Food colouring (optional)
Onion skins, flowers, threads, leaves (optional)
A big bowl or tub filled with approx. 4 inches of water (which will fit the frame).

· You will need a frame for each piece of paper you make. To make a frame, stretch the hanger, and bend it into a rectangle/square shape. Take one leg of the tights and stretch it carefully over the hanger, making sure it is wrinkle-free and tight. Secure by knotting.

· Put a handful of the torn up paper and some water into the food processor or blender (you can alternatively mash the paper, but this does take longer). Blend the mixture on high until it becomes mushy. Keep adding paper and water until you have a smooth grey mixture. Once your mixture is smooth, continue to blend for another few minutes until all the paper has disappeared. To add a little interest and colour, you can also add a handful of brown or red onion skins, flowers, leaves or coloured cotton threads for completely personalised paper!

· Put 2 tablespoons of white glue into your bowl of water and add all of the paper pulp, mixing well with your hands.

· Place the frame at the bottom of the bowl, then lift it very slowly, and let the water drain out for about a minute. You can keep making paper until the pulp is all strained out of the sink. Stir the mixture every time you make a new piece.

· Put the frames out in the sun, or in a hot dry place such as an airing cupboard. Wait until they are completely dry. You can then gently peel off the paper.

· Using the iron, set on the hottest setting, and steam the paper. It is now ready for use!

When you have made your paper, your children can make their own scrapbook/journal. This is a wonderful way to record their earth journey. To do this, simply collate the pieces of paper, and secure them with a ribbon along one edge by punching two holes, and threading through a piece of ribbon or string. Your children now have their very own handmade and personalised book. In this they can now collect their treasures; leaves, flowers, photographs and paintings.