I'm passionate about helping people recognize their ecological awakening and supporting them on their EarthCare journey. I also love to talk about intersecting topics like ethical entrepreneurship, ecological design, grief, connection, being highly sensitive and cheese :) Sign up to get my weekly newsletter and learn about this and more!
Do less, not more?
Are the leaves piling up in your Place yet, Reader? Mid-October is often when the pressure kicks in to get rid of the leaves. Neighbors are raking, bagging, and hauling their leaves to the curb and the sound of leaf blowers is filling the air. Even those of us who know better feel the urge to tidy up and look responsible. If you’re feeling the tension between what your yard should look like versus what Nature actually needs, that is your ecological sensitivity showing you that there is another way. So, how do we listen to Nature and keep the neighbors happy? First, we listen to Nature: When we rake everything bare and send it to the landfill or municipal composting, we’re removing essential habitat for overwintering wildlife. We disrupt the entire survival strategy of species that evolved with fallen leaves as their protection during the coldest months of the year…
This is what happens in my Place, but for yours, it might look different! Which native wildlife and insects use leaves for protection in your Place? Look it up and reply to this email. I’d love to know! Fallen leaves not only protect wildlife, but are also free fertilizer. As they break down, they nourish your soil and your lawn. Nature designed this system to work without our interference, to build forests. Fall offers many moments where slowing down and observing what your Place is trying to do shows us more than following typical fall clean up advice. Get curious about what Nature would do if no one cared about the leaves on your lawn. Researching how leaves are beneficial in your Place and observing what is happening in your landscape offers a new perspective. From there, you can choose better options for mindful action. Every handful of leaves you leave in place is habitat for species. Each wild corner you protect is you choosing reciprocal relationship over control. Every neighbor eyeing your yard is an opportunity to invite curiosity. Who knows, they might even consider trying it for themselves! If you’re stuck on when to plant a tree, transplant perennials, prevent pest problems, or generally do anything with your landscape and gardens, I have a tool to help. More advice is available in our 21-page Mindful CleanUp Guide in our Shop or the EarthCare Library. But don’t just follow my advice, always remember to listen to Nature. She knows what she is doing. If we can trust her enough to let go, even when it looks messy, feels uncomfortable, or the neighbors are watching… We invite others into this beautiful way of being, too. Leave the leaves, Kendra PS Speaking of shelter for the winter, my next Earth Songs Circle will be held in a CAVE to honor our deep ancestors, who used caves to protect themselves from the elements in winter for millenia. Want to join us? You can get your 11/7 Cave Song Circle ticket here. And get a tour of the cave here! PPS. We are still reading the book Human Being by Graham Lee, slowly through the fall. We meet on Weds Oct 21 at 7p ET (zoom) to discuss the chapter on ART and then on Oct 28th to discuss CRAFT. There are 5 book discussion call replays available to watch while you wait for our next LIVE call. :) These are 2 of the 12 vital skills we’re losing to technology… but only if we don’t understand their value and practice them! Join us for free with this link! PPPS Send me pictures of your leaves! The colors of this season are striking in their own way, and I’d love to see what they look like in your Place. Written by humans, never AI. "In nature nothing exists alone." - Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
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EarthCare Matters by Kendra Hoffman
I'm passionate about helping people recognize their ecological awakening and supporting them on their EarthCare journey. I also love to talk about intersecting topics like ethical entrepreneurship, ecological design, grief, connection, being highly sensitive and cheese :) Sign up to get my weekly newsletter and learn about this and more!
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here. Yesterday (Oct 5) was World Habitat Day. The theme set by UN-Habitat this year is “Adequate Housing for All.” While this theme focuses on human habitat (the impacts of rapid urbanization, poverty, homelessness, and slum conditions), we recognize the interconnected web of all things. Disconnection from Nature and irresponsible development are causing harmful living conditions for humans and wildlife alike. EarthCare (mindful ecological action...
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here. Last week, I turned down a big newsletter sponsorship proposal. It was with a company who offers “1000 Proven ChatGPT Prompts That Help You Work 10x Faster.” It was an obvious no. Zero alignment there. I write because I love it. I don’t want it to go faster unless I’m in the flow. I write to process my experience in life. I write to express myself and figure out my feelings. I also write to help humans reclaim being human and to facilitate...
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here. Most of us were taught that “good land care” in autumn means tidying everything up before winter arrives. Rake up all the leaves. Cut back all the flower stalks. Make it look neat and clean. But that approach has been causing harm for decades, Reader. Many “unruly” plants (think goldenrod, haha) are essential for pollinators to fuel up before they hibernate for winter. Too often, we get rid of these essential sources of nourishment because...