Earth Camp Commitment

After my Earth Camp experience this year I have committed to plant a vegetable garden in my back yard. This will include spending less time wasting electricity indoors or watching TV, making and using a compost bin, working the soil in my yard and being outdoors, planting and growing the vegetables, and harvesting and eating the food I produce.

Two years ago while I was participating in the middle school earth camp program as a counselor, we visited the garden at the community food bank. I was impressed with the garden’s ability to feed many people, create healthy lifestyles, remain environmentally friendly, provide homes for native wildlife, bring members of the community together and be simply beautiful.  I haven’t successfully acted on my desire to plant a garden because it’s time consuming and labor intensive. However, this year I was inspired by a story from Colin Beavin’s book “No Impact Man” to take up the project again. He told of how his television was consuming his time, electricity, free will, relationship with his family and his ability to make environmentally friendly decisions. This was the final inspiration I needed to commit to get up off my couch and start working in my garden.

In order to successfully create my garden I will start by enlisting the help of my family and friends. With their support I will be determined to work and get results. My mom can help me select native seeds to plant because she has experience with local organizations.  My dad can help me create an efficient drip watering system.  My friends can help by motivating me to be outside and working.  My sister can help by providing nutrient rich soil from the compost bin she is starting at our house.

My garden will change my lifestyle and my environmental impact. I will be conserving electricity by not watching TV and being outdoors, saving water by producing my own food, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by limiting the amount of food I eat that has been shipped from far away, reducing the amount of waste I produce by composting, making healthier decisions with diet and time, and strengthening my relationships with family and friends.  

I took this photo at the Community Food Bank garden two summers ago. Sunflowers are my favorite flower because they are sturdy, provide food for birds, stand tall, don’t let anything sway them and reflect the bright cheeriness of the yellow sun. I find that I see them as a symbol of an environmentally friendly garden because they grow both at the food bank garden and in the gardens my family has planted in the past. I hope to use this picture to remind me that I can develop a healthy lifestyle, reduce my eco-footprint and strengthen relationships with those close to me through my garden.

Questions & Answers

What did you think camp would be like and did it turn out that way or differently?

Each year I come to camp I have been suprised by the people who participate, this was especially true this year. I could have never expected or anticipated the amazing people I have met and the wonderful friendships I have made. In my mind each year at earth camp is defined by the intelligent, interesting, environmentally aware people that I meet.

What was your favorite activity and why?

My favorite activity during Earth Camp was our hike through the Fiery Furnace at Arches National Park. Hiking as a group through the maze of pillars in the excruciating heat strengthened my relationships with my fellow campers. Exploring the breathtaking redrock formations strengthened my love and appreciation for the beauty and power of nature.