We spent a year cleaning. As we cleaned, we marveled that people could
live in such surroundings and not clean up, but instead add to the mess.
Scanned photo of our worksite.
I don't have many photos; should have taken some before/after shots.
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We filled a huge construction dumpster with things that couldn’t be
burned: bathtubs, construction materials,
metal barrels, light fixtures, insulation, tires, appliances, household
garbage. We burned that much stuff again:
sofas, wood scraps, carpeting, cardboard, boxes of papers and
water-stained books. We somehow convinced a neighbor to haul away a shabby
camper that was populated by hot plates (hmm). We dismantled another and
stuffed its components into the dumpster. We recycled a great number of beer
bottles and cans. We carefully disposed of hypodermic needles when we ran across
them. We still find bits of broken glass.
You get the picture.
After taking up residence in our new house, we gazed around quite
smugly. “Look what a good deed we have done,” we told ourselves. We had
returned this lovely piece of land to a more natural state. It was no longer a
trashy eyesore.
Ahhh.
Of course, we do not trash our property. We are very cognizant of throwing refuse
in receptacles. We love our
land and want it to be naturally beautiful, not decorated by man’s detritus.
Besides, it would be impossible to maintain our smugness if we turned around
and re-trashed this property – right?
Imagine my dismay when my gaze started falling on trash strewn about our
property – not trash from prior residents but from the current ones. Us! As I
walked about, I noticed bits of weed eater string, twisties, Kleenexes,
fragments of
plastic,
bottle tops,
pen lids, 4” plastic pots (ahem), etc.
fragments of
plastic,
bottle tops,
pen lids, 4” plastic pots (ahem), etc.
This is sneaky trash. You know the kind. Trash spread unintentionally. Where does this stuff come from? Picture Pigpen walking around shedding dirt. I think that is how we humans shed trash.
We have a dog that chews stuff, and a child who plays outside with
stuff, cars that transport stuff, pockets that overflow with stuff, and wind that
carries stuff away. Occasionally a norther topples the trash bin and spills its stuff.
(I ask you, what is a dog supposed to do in these circumstances?)
So now, we have embarked on the second round of clean-up. My daughter
and I try to pick up little bits of trash whenever we are out wandering.
Hopefully the volume of stuff we pick up will diminish over time.
The smugness is already gone. That’s good. It’s an unattractive trait.
Favorite spot in
the garden today:
I know, I know, you’ve seen this already. But it is, hands down, the
prettiest spot in my garden so you get to see it AGAIN. This spot gets good
run-off from the roof, and the ½ inch we got over three days last weekend
shows. Luckily, this is right by my front step: Texas lantana (Lantana
urticoides), Lindheimer muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri), and spineless prickly pear (Opuntia ellisiana).
Great blog, again! Wonderful range of values in the Opuntia.
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see something so cheerful as you enter and leave the house. Yes, I have to admit to things being forgotten in the garden: tools, those little black pots, dog toys, more tools, and occasionally gloves (though usually if they're left out they then become dog toys!).
ReplyDeleteThe prickly pear ensemble has foliage variation completely perfected, very pleasing, glad it's by the door.
ReplyDeleteIn my own experience smugness is usually an irresistible temptation to the gods & results in some kind of rude awakening or divine retribution-- good job diffusing it!
@Lona - Thanks! No one would know you are an artist . . .
ReplyDelete@HG - I must say, your leavings sound more honorable than mine.
@linniew - You are exactly right about smugness. It was a rude awakening when I realized how much trash we were shedding . . .
I guess trash happens in spite of our best efforts. I have to work very hard to keep the dogs from dragging things out into the yard. I love your wildflowers, and you did do a very good thing.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm glad I was to little to remember us moving in. Sounds like a horror.
ReplyDelete