All my relations. That means every person, just as it means every rock, mineral, blade of grass, and creature. We live because everything else does. If we were to choose collectively to live that teaching, the energy of our change of consciousness would heal each of us -and heal the planet.
Richard Wagamese. Meditations.
We want to acknowledge the presence of the nature lovers who joined us for our first plant walk around the Hastings Community Centre. For about an hour and under the rain, we met some of the plants inhabiting the green spaces surrounding the community centre. We encountered roses hips, dandelions, lavender, licorice fern, yarrow and many others. We also talked about the symbiotic relations we have with nature. In our walk we shared some of these relations which have been forgotten, others, were new for many of us; adding some inspiration to explore gardens and outdoor spaces by ourselves.
The plants became an excuse to expand our relations with nature, to expand on Wagamese’s idea “we live because everything else does”. We talked about reciprocity, about the traditional ways these plants have been used; either native or others which were introduced some time ago.
We also talked about some of the weeds, like chickweed and dock. And despite the number of times we have been told to take the weeds away from our gardens, during our walk we focused on their values in soil conservation, for food, medicine, and their role in the birds diet, pollinators and other wildlife.
Under a shelter we tried some of the medicines and food we can create from the plants -salves, jams, infused honey, vinaigrette and teas.
The conversation went on, even under the rain, questions arrived, how can we identify these plants, when should we harvest them, what are their medicinal properties and many more.
We invite all of you to learn more about living beings and plants in our gardens, to engage with them in different ways, through the senses, the smell, the touch and even the hearing. This way we all create new relations within nature.
Laura C & Lori A
Nature Walk at Hastings Community Centre
Vancouver, February 23rd, 2020