“The more we become re-connected to land-to nature- the greater our sense of belonging to place thus restoring meaning to our cultural landscapes. Traditional knowledge rises above generalities through local specificities, and comprises a world-view that sees humans as integral to nature rather separate from it” (Design and Nature, 180).
At the beginning of this project, I sought to learn. To learn about how different individuals see their unique connections to nature and earth. A huge part of the climate crisis we face now is about care and the way we choose to practice that. In our daily life and in our practices as designers. But what does this care look like? How many forms and shapes it could have. This all started when we were talking in the class about our personal connections with nature. How we have personal and intimate stories embedded in those connections we have formed throughout the years to this land. So, here we are now, right in the middle of an ecological crisis, that threatens everything we love and cherish, and we feel powerless and we feel anxious. In this vast network of complex relationality, where do we stand?
Gifts:
I Grew up In a city filled with buildings and cars and few little snaps of natural elements. Growing up I saw nature as sacred. A space meant to be looked after. I thought of nature as a gift that is given to me in rare moments of encounter. That is how my connection to nature started. Every little piece of plant, flower, leaf, rain, a ray of light, and every breath of fresh air became precious to me. Something I saw as a gift. something I was supposed to cherish. Something that filled me with joy whenever I had it. All of these moments were like actual gifts to me. There was a story behind them and a deep emotional attachment to them. I still remember so many of them. Some of the best memories of my life are entangled with nature. That’s how my connection to the land was formed, and that is why I want to care for/with this earth. To care for those gifts, like you would for any other gifts received from your loved ones.
In the age of ecological crisis, I constantly contemplate and go back to those stories and gifts. I think that we are still lucky to be receiving these gifts. The earth has been resilient enough to survive through all we have done to it. We have thrown away, set fire, torn, and been ungrateful to its gifts. And that is how I see this crisis. An act of unappreciation.
When I think of where I want to start to carve a path towards sustainability, I think about appreciation. An appreciation for everything we have been / are being gifted.
Notes on care and connection
The notes below are a collection of thoughts from a few of the cohort who were generous enough to share them with me. I asked them about connection and care; to the land we live on and to the earth we inhabit. I also asked them about environmental care and how they see that connection relating to the way they practice care. All of their answers amazed me. To see how people think and reflect on matters like this is truly amazing. Here I will share snippets of their notes.
