Aggie Culture and Kyle Ahwatt had never been rivals before.  In fact, they’d been buddies as far back as the Great Depression when Kyle brought electrification to rural farmers across the country.  Together they helped pull the country out of that depression and into prosperity.

        But the landscape is different today; new opportunities abound.  For example, our country is developing a growing appetite for a rapidly expanding, clean, low-cost source of electrical generation – photo-voltaic (PV) solar energy.  So today many farmers find themselves with the opportunity to use land for food OR for producing electricity.  And there’s the rub.  Aggie Culture and Kyle Ahwatt are now beginning to view each other with suspicion because they both have their eye on that pretty little Corra Opland. 

        Aggie assumed she would always be his.  But now this upstart, Kyle, has been talking with farmers.  He’s come courtin’ for Corra, and that’s up-ending long-standing rural cultural traditions.  You see, both Kyle and Aggie have the mistaken idea that it’s got to be all or nothing when it comes to Corra Opland.

        “Those silly boys!” Corra chides.  “Haven’t they heard about the latest thing?  It’s called agrivoltaics, and it means just what it sounds like.  Both agriculture and clean energy generation can happen on the same piece of little ol’ me!”
  
        Corra invited Aggie and Kyle for a nice cuppa tea so she could explain the whole thing.  “With agrivoltaics,” Corra began, “solar panels are situated on cropland so that farming that same land can jest keep right on a goin’.  The panels might need to be spaced just so, angled differently, or even raised up so livestock can graze underneath.  But a farmer can diversify her revenue stream with all sorts of potential benefits:

• Provide shade for pastured livestock
• Market high-value, shade-resistant crops
• Deep-rooted pollinator plantings build soil nutrients, reduce run-off and host beneficial insects
• Possibilities for irrigation reduction and an extended growing season
  
• Attract sustainability-minded customers
• Reduce energy costs
  

       
        “So you see boys,” she continued, “it don’t have to be all of one or t’other.  It’s a new way of thinking.  We need both food AND clean energy so stop this fussin’.  Let’s partner up and use the fancy technology we have today to build a clean, prosperous and healthy future.  Because this here farmstead is the only one we’ll ever have.  It’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

January 1, 2020
           Everett E. Mann was pumped and ready to Party On!  The stock market was breaking records, the economy humming, and Everett was flying to a cruise ship package tour with exotic ports-of-call throughout the Mediterranean.  Where exactly?  He didn’t care.  There’d be a 24/7 buffet and endless entertainment options – Sweet!  Everett closed his eyes and drifted off to dreamland.

            Four months later Everett opened his eyes.  “Welcome to this Kairos moment,” a mellow voice intoned.  “Kairos!?” Everett thought to himself, “Where’s that travel brochure?  I thought it said something about Cairo.”  Everett looked around.  The other travelers were gone.  An unsettling apprehension crept over him.  The voice spoke again.

            “Everett, you and all humankind have been privileged to live during this unique Kairos moment in history.  As you may know, ‘kairos’ comes from the ancient Greek meaning the ‘right time,’ ‘opportune moment,’ or ‘God’s time.’  I’ve arranged this special Kairos moment just for you!”
 
            “And who exactly ARE you?” Everett asked nervously. 

           “I go by a lot of different names,” the voice continued.  “Some call me Yahweh, Allah, or Krishna.  You probably think of me as the Holy Spirit.  It was clear to me that humanity needed a ‘re-set’ of sorts, a fresh new way to be in harmony with each other and the natural world.  OK, I admit sending Covid -19 as a kick-starter is a rather severe nudge, but you clearly needed something to break you out of complacency and some unhealthy habits.  For example, you’ve been consuming natural resources as if you had 2 more planets’ worth in reserve.  You’ve pumped the atmosphere and oceans full of excessive amounts of CO2 and burdened the land with millions of tons of plastics and chemicals.

           “So, I give you this Kairos moment to set things straight.  No matter what, there’s no going back to the ‘normal’ of living in the 2019 world.  Hard as this is, it’s a great opportunity.  You’re already changing some habits, and Mother Nature is responding with cleaner air and water.  Here’s the chance to participate in one of the greatest accomplishments in human history – re-building a healthy world that will last for generations to come.  Make the most of it because I’m not about to create a new planet for you.  This is the only home you’ll ever know.  It’s where you’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        The crowd buzzed with excitement as Commissioner Polly Nation approached the podium.  “Welcome one and all to the 2020 Professional Pollination Practitioners Convention,” she intoned.  “And thank you for the critical services you provide every day.  Truly, our human companions would suffer greatly without your help.  As much as 1/3 of the human food supply would vanish if it were not for your work.

        “Imagine a summer picnic without the foods we pollinate - lemonade without lemons, PB&J sandwiches without the peanut butter or the jelly, no watermelon, no salsa or guacamole for chips, fruit salad made with only bananas and pineapple, no tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers and on and on!”  The crowd hummed with well-deserved pride.

        “But these are treacherous times.  As I’m sure you know, our populations are being decimated; dangers abound!  So with an update on safety concerns please welcome our next speakers, Heloise Honey and Buzz Bumble.”

        Heloise took the podium and displayed a slide of a beautifully manicured suburban lawn.  “Exhibit ‘A’”, she began, “so-named to stand for ‘Argh!’  The grass is lush, green and weed-free only because it’s loaded with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  Much of that fertilizer runs off ending up in lakes and streams choking our aquatic friends.  But those  pesticides…they’re after you and me!
       
        “Many homeowners excessively over-use lawn and gardens pesticides, some having manufacturer-recommended application rates up to 120 times higher than rates approved for agricultural crops!  The neonicotinoids (neonics) are particularly dangerous.  Beware of them!  Also, in this yard there’s a complete absence of organic debris, and only non-native flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees.  Where’s the food, shelter and water for us?”  Heloise concluded.

        “And now for Exhibit ‘B’,” Buzz began. “‘B’ for Bee-utiful for Butterflies, Birds and Bees.  This slide shows a lawn of mostly native flowers and shrubs including early, mid, and late summer bloomers.  The reduced mowed area leaves room for a small compost pile and veggie garden. What a feast!  With minimal use of pesticides this homeowner is sending an invitation to us, the butterflies and the birds.  Even the microbes in the ground are happy, healthy, and busily adding to the fertility of the soil.

        “Wise humans know that fostering a healthy environment for us means a better world for everyone because, after all, this is only home we’ll all ever share, right here where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        “Hey MT!” Les called to his neighbor who was carrying a small bag of groceries up the porch steps.  MT managed a half-hearted wave in return.  Les B. Thrifty knew his neighbors, MT and Penny Les Pockets, both had had their hours cut and were really pinched by this covid thing.  Honestly, Les didn’t know how they were surviving.  It broke his heart.

        That evening Les and his wife, Ima Thrifty-Gal, counted their blessings and wondered if there was a way to help their neighbors.  “With lower income, they’ve got to cut their expenses,” Les reasoned.  So they began making a list of money-saving ideas.

        The next morning Ima called Penny and invited them to a “socially-distant” picnic in their adjacent backyards.  That evening Les fired up the grill, and with their backyard picnic tables 6 ft. apart they all enjoyed a delightful spring evening together.

        Eventually the Thriftys steered the conversation to money-saving practices.  Ima told about the energy-savings pack they’d ordered from Focus on Energy, a program that helps 10s of thousands of Wisconsin families and businesses save money on energy costs each year.  “It’s great,” Ima gushed.  “They offer 6 different FREE energy-saving packs full of items like LED light bulbs, water pipe insulation, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators to save water, and advanced power strips that prevent electronics from drawing power when appliances are off or not being used.” 

        She told them how get their own pack at FocusOnEnergy.com in the “Residential” section.  “Focus on Energy is a terrific organization,” Les added.  “Every $1invested in its programs returns over $5 in energy savings!”

        Then Ima gave Penny a tip about water heater temperatures being set too high.  “If you usually have to mix in cold water to keep from scalding yourself, it’s easy to lower the thermostat setting to save money and energy,” she advised.  Meanwhile, the guys were making plans for a “solar clothes dryer” (a clothesline) for the Pocket’s backyard.  “Clothes dryers are often one of the biggest energy drains in homes,” Les explained.

        “Now I get it!” MT beamed.  “When everyone reduces electrical use, less needs to be generated.  That’s good for us AND the planet.  The least expensive and most environmentally-friendly energy is the kind that’s never generated in the first place!  While saving money, we’re also protecting the only home we’ll ever know, where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        Meanwhile back in heaven, the Spring Gala was just getting underway.  Countless celestial multitudes filled the skies in search of their name cards.  Florence Nightengale was delighted to find herself assigned a seat between Senator Gaylord Nelson and Pope John XXIII, two men she admired greatly.

        Not surprisingly, talk soon turned to the Covid crisis taking place back on Earth.  As a nurse, Florence of course wished she could help relieve the suffering.  She recalled the Crimean War when ten times as many soldiers died from disease as from battle wounds.  The time was ripe for a renewal in health care practices.  By dramatically improving sanitary conditions, Florence helped usher in a new era of health care.  In one location these improvements drove the mortality rate down from 43% to 2%!

        “And speaking of renewal, it’s the Easter season on Earth,” Pope John beamed. “JC knew a thing or two about renewal!  During my time as Pope, I sensed our church was ripe for renewal.  We convened the Second Vatican Council to revitalized and modernized the Church.”
       
        Senator Nelson added, “Just 50 years ago on April 22 a group of us realized it was time to renew our commitment to environmental health, so we organized the world’s first Earth Day.  Today it’s recognized as the planet's largest civic event,” he proudly reported.  “That event led to landmark legislation including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.”

        Returning from the buffet line, Pope John shared a thought. “This Covid crisis is forcing monumental changes in how humans conduct their daily lives.  Changes such as working from home, tele-conferencing and reducing purchases of unneeded ‘stuff’ are very environmentally beneficial.  Senator, you’ve told us many times that ‘business as usual’ pitting short-term financial riches with environmental stability inevitably leads to societal failure.  What’s that quote of yours? ‘(Healthy) biological systems are THE sustaining wealth of the world.’

        “This crisis will surely pass, but the innovation and streamlined practices it has engendered may offer a framework for a healthier, more stable human relationship with Mother Earth,” John concluded.

        Looking down through the clouds, Florence nodded in agreement.  “These clever humans will surely recognize that the time is ripe for environmentally savvy renewal.  Heaven knows, until they join us here, they’ve got to protect this pale blue planet because it’s the only home they’ll ever know.  It’s where they’re all forever…Earthbound.

        Mother Nature invited her old friend, Benjamin Franklin, to a virtual “tea” somewhere in the heavens far from the reaches of any earthly virus.

        “So good of you to drop by,” Mother greeted Ben while pouring him a cup of divine ‘spirits’.  “What’s your view of this Covid-19 commotion taking place all around my Earth?”

        “My dear lady,” Ben began, “I have to say that I’m gratified to see my fellow earthlings finally pulling together to battle a common global threat.  But at the risk of being what they call a ‘Monday morning quarterback’, I have to say that countries such as my own U.S of A. were lax in following one of my favorite adages - ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’  A few timely precautions taken back in January could have greatly lowered the health and economic damage.  Now they were compelled to create a 2 trillion-dollar economic stimulus package.  TWO TRILLION!  That’s a thousand billion…TWICE!”

        “Humans are an interesting bunch,” Mother sighed. “Shaken hard enough, they pull together to take on global problems.  I just wish they’d take notice of the signals I’ve been sending them concerning another global crisis, human-caused climate disruption.  If they did, they’d be sewing a few ‘stitches’ now to prevent even more disastrous financial and environmental problems later.

        “I’ve been raising dozens of red flags,” she continued. “For example, globally the five warmest years on record have been these past five, and the 20 warmest all occurred within the past 22 years.  The heat wave season across 50 major cities is now 45 days longer than it was in the 1960s.  Global floods and extreme rainfall events occur four times as frequently as in the 1980s.  In 2019 global extreme weather events fueled by climate change have cost an estimated $140 billion!  And it will only get worse until humans take the hint and start stitching.  It’ll save them a literal world full of grief later,” Mother concluded.

        “I’ve heard that clever folks are promoting a Congressional bill - H.R. 763*, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act,” Ben replied.  “It would address the climate issue and grow the economy as well.  Instead of lamenting, ‘Too bad we didn’t act sooner,’ 10 years from now, this would be a savvy stitch to sew right now.  After all, this sewing circle is our only home.  It’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        *https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/232

        The sheriff called in his two most trusted deputies.  “Boys,” he said, “we’ve got ourselves a situation.”  Deputy Forrest Tree pulled up a chair as Deputy Aggie Culture sidled up against a filing cabinet.   Sheriff C. Questor* continued, ”You boys know I like to run a balanced program, but ever since the dawn of the Industrial Age we’ve been porking-up on CO2 in the atmosphere.  Now we’ve got over 40% more than has been the norm for tens of thousands of years.  Our system’s out of whack and causing problems.

        “You know we’ve been working hard to reduce the INPUT of more carbon into the atmosphere with ingenious ways to produce energy without burning carbon-releasing fossil fuels.  That’s great, but it’s not enough to get us back in balance.  Yup, you got it.  It’s round-up time.  We’ve got to round-up that excess carbon and pull it back OUT of the atmosphere.  And you’re just the team to do it!”

        The sheriff first huddled with Deputy Forrest Tree.  They made a list of priorities including: expanding reforestation of cleared areas, proper management of existing forests, expanding urban reforestation and proper fire management.

        Then he turned to Deputy Aggie Culture.  First, he reminded Aggie that some “industrial-ag” practices such as excessive use of chemical fertilizers are actually depleting carbon in the soil and sending into the atmosphere.  Fortunately, there are ways to turn that around.  Aggie’s list of priorities includes: reducing and reversing grassland conversion to tillage, use of cover crops, and better nutrient and manure management.
 
        But the champion practice for putting carbon into the soil is the use of BIOCHAR.  Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic waste material in a special process.  It then becomes a stable form of carbon that can’t easily escape into the atmosphere.  Also, the heat energy created during the process can be captured and used as a form of clean energy.  Adding biochar to the soil increases water retention, improves soil structure, decreases acidity, improves porosity, regulates nitrogen leaching, and improves microbial activity.  It’s a soil supplement powerhouse!

        Sheriff C. Questor walked his deputies to the door.  “It a big job, but we’ve got the tools to do it.  We’re counting on you because this ranch is our only home.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

        *Carbon Sequestration = Removing Carbon (in the form of CO2) from the atmosphere

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
                                                                                                                        Ecclesiastes 3
        “Put one less egg in the fry pan for me.” Grandpa announced as he set the basketful of fresh eggs on the pantry shelf.  “I found a cracked one in the hen house and ate it while finishing chores.”

        Grandpa and Grandma Warren had a much different mindset and relationship to the land than most of us do today.  Resources were highly valued, not to be wasted or tossed aside casually, even a cracked raw egg.  As much as possible, their farm operated under a “circular economy” where resources continually cycled through natural processes.  Cow manure fertilized the soil to grow the crops that fed the cows who produced milk and created more manure.

        Much of today’s economy operates in a more linear fashion.  We extract resources, create products, use them up and toss the residue in the landfill, down the river or into the atmosphere.  It’s a system that’s brought us great comfort and convenience while also creating problems like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating trash heap that’s twice the size of Texas.  According to the current edition of “National Geographic” two-thirds of everything we take from the Earth is wasted.  This system is destined to fail.

        It’s time for a new mindset, one in which resources continually circle back to be used again and again.  It’s time to shift to a model where trash is all but non-existent.  Pie in the sky you say?  Perhaps not; waste is a design flaw.  In the natural world there is no such thing as waste.

        Entrepreneurs and businesses are tuning in to the growing economic opportunities for repairing, reusing, refurbishing, recycling and repurposing materials and for composting and microbial digestion of biological matter.  And the use of renewable energy resources is expanding dramatically.  National Geographic states, “A world without waste sounds impossible.  But the vision of a circular economy – where we use resources sparingly and recycle materials endlessly – is inspiring businesses and environmentalist alike.”

        Ecclesiastes reminds us, ”There is a time for everything.”  Grandpa Warren would agree; NOW is the time for a shift in mindset.  Each of us in our own way can practice a more circular use of resources.  It’s the path to a brighter future here on our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.

        Everr E. Mann finally found the nerve to ask Valerie for a date.  And she said Yes!  He spent the whole week planning out the perfect evening.  Everr prided himself on being a careful spender and considered it one of his finest qualities.  He figured he’d play to his strengths to impress her.

        The weather was perfect, so with gas at less than $2.50 / gal., they went driving around aimlessly and chatted, all for just a few bucks.  For dinner, Ev knew just the place.  The neighborhood burger chain was advertising a “Super Value Meal” – a double beef patty covered in bacon and cheese, extra fries and a super-sized soda all for just a few dollars each.  They were stuffed!
 
        To walk off all that food Ev took Val to the Dime-a-Dozen Dollar store.  Strolling up and down the aisles they laughed and joked about the cutesy, plastic knick-knacky stuff.  Everything was so cheap they ended up buying two bagsful of I-might-use-this-someday stuff.  After dropping Val off, Ev congratulated himself on spending his money wisely.

        Meanwhile, perched cross-legged on her bed, Valerie began to write, “Dear Diary, My first date with Everr!  He’s cute and sweet but…Sigh… like so many of us he’s bought into being CHEAP.  Will I ever meet a guy who’s not Creating Health, Emissions, and Attitude Problems, in other words – CHEAP?
 
        “For example, dinner was tasty enough, but HEALTHY?  Not so much.  Not for us or for the environment.  And all that aimless driving seems inexpensive, but it’s not when you count the ‘social cost of carbon.’  If you add up the dollar value of the economic harms and other socialized costs of carbon dioxide EMISSIONS, gas is expensive!  That’s why in Europe gas costs $5 - $7/gal. to help cover those ‘hidden’ costs.

        “And with an endless stream of every imaginable mass-manufactured material product practically begging to be bought (Thank you advertising – Not!) all of us could think twice about our ATTITUDE concerning accumulating and then discarding mounds of stuff just because it takes so few dollars to do so.

        “So Dear Diary, Everr’s such a sweet guy that I’m going to talk to him about the difference between being frugal and being CHEAP.  Then who knows?  Maybe Everr and I, Val Uwe, will find a long-lasting future together on our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

       The two friends read the survey results; most Americans, about 60%, understand that the warming climate is mostly human-caused.  And 2/3 are at least somewhat concerned, some much more so.  They also learned that the typical American family of 4 adds to the problem by pouring the equivalent of 45 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.  “I want to do my part, but 45 tons!  How we ever going to put a dent in that?” Nell Naysayer moped. 

        “It’s pretty overwhelming,” Dottie Do-Right agreed. “But catch this; my cousin Dudley’s family replaced a couple dozen incandescent light bulbs with LEDs.  That reduced their CO2 use by almost a ton.  Their new Energy Star frig saves another 500 lbs.”

        Dottie asked Nell to help her carry out the recyclables. “You know by taking the time to recycle plastic, glass, magazines, newspapers, and aluminum and steel cans a household can save another ton every year.” 

        Walking back from the curb they saw Mr. Peabody carrying in his groceries and offered to help.  They pulled him into their “carbon footprint” conversation.  “Food choices have a big impact too,” Peabody said.  “In our house we plan a couple meatless meals each week reducing our CO2 impact by about a ton.  The kind of meat you eat matters too.  Unless you’re eating local grass-fed cattle, beef’s impact is almost 4 times that of pork and 5 times that of poultry,” Mr. Peabody added.  

        Sherman came in from the back yard.  “Did you show them our smart thermostat?” he chimed in.  “We program it to reduce either our heating or cooling when we’re not at home and in the evenings saving us money and about 1,500 lbs. of emissions a year.  And from our utility provider we chose 10% green power, saving an additional ton each year,” Sherman beamed.

        As they stepped off the porch their buddy Boris peddled up.  Chatting with him, they learned that Americans typically drive about 250 mi. a week.  With a little planning to reduce that distance by 40 miles a week, families would save another ton of emissions annually.  Just driving the speed limit and reducing idling can save up to 15% more.

        “Golly!” Nell practically cheered, “without much effort each family really can lower its carbon emissions and help protect our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

*With acknowledgements to Rocky, Bullwinkle and their Friends!