Long ago, when we were still hunters & gatherers, this land we now call home looked very different. Today, we look far over field over field of agricultural development. The hills beyond are wooded with cultivated trees.

But once, may a thousand or more years ago, this land was thickly wooded. Oak, ash. elm, birch, and ancient trees whose names we no longer know. There was wildlife galore: wolves, bears, wildcats, eagles, songbirds and endless small animals to feed the larger, creeks and rivers with ferns and grasses to feed the smaller beings and millions of even smaller creatures buzzing, burrowing into the soil. Human life lived in small clans and villages, living with, from and in the forest.

Then, humankind settled in one place and began to clear the forests to make way for their fields, their homes and their gardens. The sturdy, resilient trees made their homes and warmed them in the winter. This all took much time and effort. The soil was slowly and gradually laid bare and found to be fertile. Millenia of living and dying trees enriched the ground far deeper than man’s plows could furrow.

The fields feed us. And far below them, the seeds and memory of ancient life remains. And this we honoured in our Global Earth Exchange. We thanked the Earth’s soil for holding memory, for her endless possibilities and creativity. Our gift was song. With the drum, we sang to the Earth Mother’s heart, thanking her for holding, feeding and sheltering us. We honoured her wisdom, resilience and indestructible creativity. We know what was her, we see what is here. When all this is gone (including us) we trust the Earth to bring forth what is good and right for this place directly bordering my garden.