To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

These days, the world might look pretty grim

Our life experiences provide the lens through which we interpret our world.

Growing up on a working farm in rural western Pennsylvania gave me the lens through which I see family farms replaced with agri-business which threatens us and the planet on which we depend.

Through my employment at an agency supported by tax dollars, I saw that most people, regardless of ethnicity, background or sexual preference, desired the freedom to pursue happiness, to contribute to society, to make a decent wage, to have something to believe in and to raise a family, if they chose—exactly what I wanted.

Through woman-eye lens, I have seen women’s freedoms over their own lives eroded. Currently, their medical care in many places is being decided by legislators, not themselves and their doctors.

Through my lens as parent and stepparent, I have seen the cost of higher education grow to the point that student loans now total 1.75 trillion dollars. This is an incredible burden on many hoping to begin careers and families.

Most important, through my lens of life, I recognize an increasing likelihood that our grandchildren and their children will not be able to live, let alone thrive, on this planet mankind seems intent on destroying. I see extreme weather conditions that destroy communities, kill people and upend lives. I see destruction of native habitats causing the loss of insect life, which forms the basis of our food web. I see the continued ravaging of our environment with herbicides on lawns and crops. I see moneyed interests do everything they can to hold on to keeping us dependent on fossil fuels because that reliance keeps the money rolling in. The rampant deforestation of the planet marches on. I see people manipulated and divided, making it easier for those who want to be part of the regime of a dictator.

I could go on, and will, in my posts. However, I want to take a minute and look at the world through my gardening lens.

But let’s not give up our hopes and dreams

Despite the problems humankind faces, there have been incredible accomplishments. Cities have been built, the moon has been a landing place, diseases have been eradicated. The United States of America has survived previous assaults on its democracy. Strides have been made in the fights for equality and justice. It’s not perfect, but it’s all we’ve got.

As a species, we have shown we have what it takes to come together, to solve our problems, and to make what once looked impossible a reality.

I propose that we consider the forces that try to divide us and resist. I offer up the idea that we consider the future of our grandchildren and the future of the planet as one. If we plant the seeds of unity, creativity and belief in our capabilities we will be taking the first steps to leave behind us a healthy and habitable planet for those who have no choice but to inherit this earth.