It takes a village to tend a watershed. The health of our watershed is a direct reflection of the health of our community. And vice versa.
Did you know that we only have 60 years of healthy topsoil left? Regenerative organic farming practices support both our lands and waters by allowing topsoil to regenerate instead of running off into our waters.
With compounding crises such as climate change, pandemic, and humanitarian emergencies in the world—we are again reminded of just how important the fabric of our local communities and ecosystems are. Localized supply chains and having the ability to rely on the health of our watershed is key to navigating the world we are in. Food sovereignty is finally beginning to capture the wider attention of scholars and policymakers alike. But what about water sovereignty?
Water links us all together. Water tells the truth about how we walk upon the Earth both globally and in our most local of ecosystems.
If we continue to apply unchecked quantities of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to our yards and farmland, our water will reflect that harm back to us.
Read More About What’s In Your Water
The entire ecosystem will show us when we are disrupting the intelligent balance that nature has cultivated.
It is up to us to listen.
How we relate to waters we live amongst is imperative. Indigenous people from time immemorial have kept that sacred relationship alive. Do you know the name of your local tributary? Do you know what flows into it? Have you followed it until it meets a creek and then a river? What species of fish, plants, and wildlife share your ecosystem with you? What challenges are they facing?
How can we act with care & extend kindness to our waters?
We are part of our ecosystem, and our actions have a tangible impact on the health of our watershed. When we care for our lands and waters, they care for us right back.
That’s why, here, in our local watershed, the Delaware River Watershed, we’re taking the pledge to Grow Clean Water.
So what does it mean to Grow Clean Water?
As consumers, we can vote with our dollars. By seeking out produce that is organic or regenerative organic, we can rest assured that the growing practices used help Mother Earth do what she does best, without disturbances from application of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers.
All local farmers are key to helping us to use fewer chemicals and to localize our food systems.
Get to know your local farms, have a conversation with your local farmers, and ask your local, state, and national policymakers to enact legislation that makes it easier for farmers transition to practices that support the health of our waters and ecosystems.
It’s high time we extended our definition of community to include the creatures who share our lands and waters with us as well as to the waters themselves.
Together, we are creating a world where watersheds around the globe are treated with care and respect.
Will you join us in taking the pledge to Grow Clean Water?