We've always relied on collecting natural materials for our human survival and evolution. This harvest once included firewood gathering, harvesting clay for pottery or fibre for weaving.
Indigenous peoples managed small, sustainable, routine activities as part of daily life, largely because of their intimate connection to “their” land. Everyone has ancestors somewhere who did, or who may still be doing this. Many of us still collect fungi from nearby pine forests. However - random collecting can be damaging. There is tension between the adult “take nothing but memories” discourse and our natural longing (most visible in children) to tuck a treasure into a pocket to show a loved one or remind us of a beloved place.
WHAT IF ETHICAL HARVESTING WAS THE ONLY ACTIVITY OF THE LAND ? Ethical collecting is a largely unknown, unacceptable, “felt” protocol. There is space to learn from plants and indigenous custom and weave this awareness into our habits, and psyche (even just a little).
Naturehood, Nurturehood has learnt from several indigenous teachers, that the “don’t touch or take ANYTHING” western, scientific, conservation ideology (which includes shame and distancing at its core) in some ways contributes to misunderstanding nature.
How might you impact or enhance this land ? That's what we'll be talking about. Join us on Zoom.
