I totaly relate, as I was a post war baby. I lived on farms and in rural areas as a small child, and we made do without any pesticides. Unfortunately, I have spent the last 56 years of my life in a very congested, urban area. I did grow produce in my yards , when I had yards, but in my small mobile home lot my fruit trees have shaded out the veggi areas, so I have to depend on movable containers, and things just don't do as well. I do recycle my aluminum and plastic, batteries, electronics, etc,as much as possible, but I have to admit to using pesticides. If I didn't , I wouldn't have any flowers or fruit. I don't even have room to make any decent compost, though I've tried. So add me to the "small steps". I growl when I have to by produce from Chili, and I read labels on any packaged food because I find what we eat these days terrifing..
I know the world has changed since we were growing up, but I don't think it's all for the better. Convenient? Yes. Healthy? NO!

Hi Carol,

Maybe those of us who have watched the world change so quickly are the ones who most need to make the difference. And we each do that as we can, even if it's just a small step forward.

Small steps add up, and the more there are of us, the bigger the impact.

Thanks for reading the article, and thanks so much for taking the time to comment. And thanks, too for all you do to make things better in your own corner of our earth.

I had to post under the 'Excellent article as usual'.

I grew up in the 50s and 60s with affluent parents. So, I never really experienced the 'make do' part of life. Then I married young, we both had good jobs, and again no reason to make do. So, I never really learned how to live within the bounds of sustainable living, as you so astutely put it.

But now in my 50s and into my 60s I have discovered what is important, and it's not the newest car, or the most up to date cell phone. It's gardening with my granddaughter, and cooking with my grandson, which includes growing and harvesting veggies and herbs. Even though he makes me taste ghost peppers. It's weeding along with my sweet husband who falls asleep in the sun while laying there weeding.

I have found a lot of joy in planting berries among my flowers, so while I'm weeding I can pick wild strawberries, or blueberries.

Excellent article as always, Sharon!

Peaceful tones flow through your words, Polly.

Obviously what you didn't learn while growing up, you now know anyway.
That's what's important, I think.

Thank you.

Absolutely peaceful, hippie that I am.

I guess better now than later, always.