A view of Manhattan from Bushwick, Brooklyn, by Rebecca Thom.
I'm currently reading an amazing book that my best friend, an environmental educator, bestowed on me years ago -'Deep Ecology; Living as if Nature Mattered.' It provides great breadth to notions of ecology through exploration of 'the philosophical, psychological, and social roots of today's environmental movement.'
I like this self-scoring test on basic environmental perceptions of place. Though, it may be more complicated for the average urban inhabitant, it is nevertheless a very good idea for all of us to ask ourselves...
Where you at?
1. Trace the water you drink from precipitation to tap.
2. How many days until the moon is full (plus or minus a couple of days)?
3. Describe the soil around your home.
4. What were the primary subsistence techniques of the culture(s) that lived in your area before you?
5. Name five edible plants in your bioregion and their season(s) of availability.
6. From what direction do winter storms generally come in your region?
7. Where does your garbage go?
8. How long is the growing season where you live?
9. On what day of the year are the shadows shortest wear you live?
10. Name five trees in your area. Any of them Native? If you can't name them, describe them.
11. Name five resident and any migratory birds in your area.
12. What is the land use history by humans in your bioregion in the past century?
13. What primary geological event/process influenced the land form where you live?
14. What species have become extinct in your area?
15. What are major plant associations in your region?
16. From where you are reading this, point north.
17. What spring wildflower is consistently among the first to bloom where you live?
18. What kind of rocks and minerals are found in your bioregion?
19. Where the stars out last night?
20. Name some beings (nonhuman) which share your place.
21. Do you celebrate the turning of the summer and winter solstice? If so, how do you celebrate?
22. how many people live next door to you? What are there names?
23. How much gasoline do you use a week, on the average?
24. What energy costs you the most money? What kind of energy is it?
25. What developed and potential energy resources are in your area?
26. What plans are there for massive development of energy or mineral resources in your bioregion?
27. What is the largest wilderness area in your bioregion?
(The test originally appeared in CoEvolution, no. 23, winter 1981 - and was adapted for 'Deep Ecology, 1985)
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