Learn about your local ecosystem.
“Climate change is going to do unforeseen damage to our food supplies and the eco system in general. The less privileged you are, the more you will be effected.” I used to say this to folks who complain that the climate alarmists are fear mongers. For a long time, we only heard of climate change in context to sea level rise. That meant that if you didn’t live on a coast, you would be fine. If the storms and rains affect our food supply, we should move towards vertical farming and use technology. We should desalinize our oceans and use the water for domestic use. ….. I used to think this way. It was a simplistic solution to a very complex problem. Its a solution that one could tweet in 280 characters void of any critical thinking and nuance. I was confusing naiveté with optimism. Environmental literacy was lacking in my education. In the recent years, reading about how much has changed in the last 100 years on the land I currently live was a big eye opener to me. It is no longer socialism but a vested personal interest once you realize that it’s effecting you right now. I highly encourage everyone to read about the natural history of the land you live on. Bay Area’s history reads like a thriller. My neighborhood used to be a fishing village ? Salmon used to cross the street ? What ? There was a lake here that disappeared after the earthquake ? How could this be ? My friend’s neighborhood used to be a forest but it now houses large suburban mansions ? Off, typical ! That hippie neighborhood used to be a cowboy village ? More I read, the more I understood the need for native plants and conservation. Bay Area’s natural history is filled with stories of resilience and activism. It’s inspiring.