[A timely repeat from April 25, 2019] Years ago, I worked at a Boy Scout camp in Wild Rose, Wisconsin. We first served as “trainees” for a month. Trainees would rotate through the various camp areas.  Doing grunt work.   Spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen peeling potatoes, doing dishes and cleaning up.

After meals in the Mess Hall, Scouts and trainees would bus the tables. We would throw paper garbage into one garbage can. And we would put food waste into another.  The food barrel was called the “slop bucket.”  We were always careful about putting food scraps (no bones, no paper) in the slop bucket because we would give the slop bucket each day to a local farmer who would use it to feed his “sounder” of pigs. Uneaten food was used. . . . .

I have posted occasionally on environmental issues.  And I have touted my trademark – JUST TURN IT OFF — a motto that applies to cars, lights, water and energy. 

When I read about how the earth is being inundated with waste and air pollution; oceans overflowing with garbage; rivers and lakes turning toxic and how many folks remain heedless of our environment, I get a wee bit steamed.   But then I simmer down — and start thinking about what we can do.  “Just turning off” your water, lights, car, energy – is one thing.  But there is also merit in reusing bags, bottles, containers.  And not polluting.  And then there is recycling. 

And there is composting. Taking food waste and carefully mixing it with soil.  In the garden.  Or backyard.  You don’t need a slop bucket.  

Each one of us needs to get on board with this idea of helping our limping planet along.  Pronto. We live here.  There are generations of souls who yet have no voice – who will have to live here too.  And they will have no choice but to take what we give them. What kind of world do you want to give them?