Living in Wisconsin allows us to experience all seasons, including the quiet snowy winter. Snowflakes cover the grass and turn into hills for our children to sled down and enjoy life. Warm cups of tea become our go-to; we feel warm and cozy with thick socks. Winter is Mother Patchas’ way to rest and recover, bringing us spring with an abundance of flowers and warm breezes that kiss our cheeks. As the snow melts and the perennials start to sprout, there are other things being exposed as well.
The cups once filled with warm coffee that kept us company on trails are now popping up like wildflowers now that the snow is gone. Styrofoam to-go containers are floating like birds along our rivers. Plastic spoons and forks that once stuffed our cheeks with tasty food are now stuffing our environment. Oops, someone must have dropped their mitten and walked around with one cold hand, because now that mitten’s fabric has been used to help build a nest. Wrappers from our favorite candy are now wrapped around flowers. None of this is a beautiful site in our neighborhood, especially when we expected to see the bees buzzing and the birds chirping.
Although it may seem like there is a simple solution to solve this, it’s more complex. There are invisible barriers that you may not see, which are visible to the next family or friend. Every human should have access to clean drinking water, but this looks different for some, making them rely on plastic water bottles. Systems are put in place that may benefit one community but disadvantage another by destroying their ecosystem. Different zip codes don’t have access to grocery stores, leading to food deserts; where everything is individually wrapped to last longer. When funding is not available in public schools, youth miss the opportunity to learn they are the future and how valuable Mother Patcha is, so they mistreat her.
We can point a finger, raise our voices, and make phone calls demanding that someone do something about all the waste in our community. If we come together with a clear mind and understand we are all in this together, we can solve more this way. Let us know that our neighbors and friends intend to do their best. Let us treat each other with kind words like we were passing by on winter walks. When the sun comes out, and our smiles brighten, let’s enjoy the opportunity and be willing to help keep our environment clean.
Outwoken Tea is a catalyst in social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Opening during a pandemic has allowed us to be resilient and innovative during uncertainty. Our goal is to create awareness of the social impact by educating and encouraging others with resources to make a difference.
Join Outwoken Tea for their next Tea Tuesday at Wehr Nature Center on March 28.