To Arc or not to Arc? That is the question.

Walking around my neighborhood over the last few weeks has become an eye opening experience. I am noticing more nature, more neighbors, and issues both small and large that could be addressed.

One thing noticed is garbage. My neighborhood isn't messy. There isn't much trash lining the streets. What I did see were the number of overfilled garbage cans each week and many houses had a recycling can and 2 regular garbage cans. I'm not one to speak. I have 2 garbage cans as well!

This led me to ask a few questions. What happens when our garbage fills a landfill? How long until we have no where to put our trash. What happens then? Is there anyone working a solution?

In my research I learned about Plasma Arc Recycling. Advocates for using Plasma Arc state it is a clean way to melt our municipal trash and recycle many of the bi-products to useable materials. Those against the Plasma Arc mention it uses combustion and a smokestack to disperse gases into the air. The pollutants are much the same as now, however with Plasma Arc the quantity of pollutants are greatly reduced.

As I read about Plasma Arc Recycling I am for it. It could create a significant decrease in the amount of land needed to dump our municipal waste and greatly extend the time a landfill can be used. I am still exploring the negative side. However, the negatives are much better than what we currently experience.

The Need for Nature

In some of my previous walks I noticed how few people were outside enjoying nature. I wondered at how many plopped themselves down on the couch and viewed nature on a screen rather than experiencing it for themselves.

I love being outdoors to listen, feel, hear, see, and touch the beauty and peace that surrounds me. I recalled a passage in an article titled A Life of the Senses by Richard Louv. This article says, "When I come here I can exhale. Here you can hear things; in the city, you can't hear anything because you can hear everything. In the city everything is obvious. Here you get closer and you see more."

Louv is right. He speaks about us losing our senses and the importance of getting back in touch with nature. Through this technological age we are losing vital experiences...nature. As I sat on my white rock I found peace from life's craziness. I could hear the sounds of the light breeze as it flowed past my ears and feel the small rocks underfoot as they pressed into the sole of my thin shoe. I noticed beauty in each of the different types lava and sandstone that lay in my path. My stress melted away and I felt centered and peaceful as I took the time to breathe, soak in nature, and let myself connect with nature as I have done in the past.

As Louv put it, how much of the "richness of life do we trade for our daily immersion in indirect, technological experience?" It is so important to get away from that indirect experience and immerse ourselves in the beauty that surrounds us. I believe if more people immersed themselves in nature we would find greater peace, happiness, and appreciation in ourselves and our surroundings.

The walk that was a little too quiet.

When previously meandering through my neighborhood I wondered where the residents were hiding. However, while on my latest adventures I did find a few wonderful surprises...

Wandering around on a Sunday afternoon, my children and I were trying to find a park in which to play. We attempted 3 parks. At each park dozens of families filled every toy on the playground. Finally...parks full of life and adventure! It was beautiful to see and much different than our experience a couple of weeks previous.

Comically, we wanted less people around that day. :) So, we chose to take a bit more secluded walk.

On our walk we opened eyes and ears to the sights and sounds around us. I had finished reading an article by David Owen titled, "Oasis in a Dry Land". The article got me specifically paying attention to water and birds surrounding our path.

Feebly running through the park was the hint of what was intended to be a stream. The hope was clearly to bring life to the center of the park. Empty birds nests and crumbling habitats from furry creatures surrounded the banks of the stream and bases of trees. However, there were no creatures to be found. We wondered if it was like the lack of people at the park a few weeks ago? Were the birds and other creatures simply waiting for another time to emerge and play or was something deeper going on? This walk became much more private than we anticipated.

Noticing my neighborhood

     On a blissful Sunday afternoon I chose to talk a walk through my new neighborhood to a nearby park. I wanted to hit a few baseballs, play catch, and enjoy the warm sun on my pale cheeks.

     I noticed a lot about my new neighborhood on this half mile walk.  I don't typically notice this much, but today I took a deep breath and inhaled my surroundings. As I took in every smell, sound, sight, and feeling around me, one thing that stood out was the lack of children playing outdoors.

     Maybe the lack of children was because it was a lazy Sunday afternoon. But I took a second walk on a Wednesday evening, not long after dinner, and the neighborhoods felt just as deserted.

     Sunday, as I arrived at the park, I wondered more at where the visitors were. The park is beautiful. There is a walking path surrounding the perimeter and the path is speckled with shaded benches for relaxation. A wooden pergola provides shade near a sand volleyball court and many trees surround a full sized basketball court. Toward the center of the park lies a small playground, which sits adjacent to a pavilion filled with tables, and a sandbox where you could build a gigantic castle. Yet, only my kids and I were there to enjoy this little oasis.

     Where is everyone? How can we draw them outdoors to enjoy this beautiful park and the natural wonders that surround our city?

     What suggestions do you have?