Mar

Bending Into Spring

Image Credit: Avatar, the Last Airbender, Paramount Pictures

Written by Whitney Batkley, Community Stewardship Facilitator with AmeriCorps’ Climate Impact Corps program

“Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony…”¹ Fans of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender know this beginning well. The celebrated series lasted for three seasons, running from 2005 to 2008 and has remained incredibly popular ever since its airing. A franchise was born from its success, and the beginning of the year saw the newest reprise. If you haven’t seen the show, you’re in luck! It’s available to stream on Netflix at the time of this publication. I won’t spoil anything for the newcomers, but, in the show, some people are able to manipulate elements through movements, called bending. A person has a special connection with their given element and must exist in harmony with it to be able to wield it. Just like people and benders in the cartoon, these elements exist all around us and are vital to our everyday life, and we have the power to live in harmony with them. Though our Minnesota winter was incredibly mild and brief, spring still hasn’t officially sprung and it’s a good time to binge watch Aang and the gang and check off those end of winter to-do items!

Below are some lessons we can take away from the elements and how we can use the show as inspiration and guidance when going through our end-of-winter chores.

‎‎Water‎

In Minnesota we take our water seriously. With over 50% of Minnesota classified as in moderate drought conditions and 4.8 million Minnesotans living in a form of drought (U.S. Drought Monitor), this is a great time to think about water and how precious it is and ways we can protect it at home.

Clean gutters and storm drains
If you have the ability, adopt a storm drain near you! These drains often lead right to our rivers and lakes, so keep them debris and trash free!
Sweep up any remaining deicer salt and traction grit
Read more about protecting our water from deicer salt in January’s blog.
Set up rain barrels and catch systems
Rain barrels and catch systems are cheap and convenient ways to collect water off hardscapes and store them for later use. To make a rain barrel without breaking the bank, check out this guide by This Old House. Or check out the sale the city of St. Paul and Recycling Association of Minnesota host every year to purchase one.
Pick up trash and dog waste
The dreaded dog poo build up every winter may not have had the year it usually has, but it’s still a major contributor to water pollution in our state. Read more about it here and get to scoopin’!

Earth

Spring may feel like it’s already arrived, but don’t get too hasty! Before you get your hands in the good earth, consider our pollinators and focus on planning for the season.

Leave your leaves and hold off on mowing
When doing yard clean up, leaving winter nesting piles alone until the weather is consistently warm can be crucial for hibernating insects and native seeds. This winter was dry and warm! Bugs are waking up, but these early risers have little to eat right now as the flowers and buds are still dormant. Letting the first flowers remain (yes even dandelions!) can mean a life-saving meal for our pollinators in the next month. If you must mow, wait as long as you are able and if trying to control invasive species, mow them before they go to seed.
Prune trees and woody shrubs
We might have missed the window on this one with our unseasonably warm weather, but if you want to know more about pruning and its implications (including how improper pruning can lead to the spread of disease and invasive pathogens and insects) check out what the University of Minnesota has to say about the matter. As always, “anytime” is a good time to eradicate buckthorn.
Build garden beds
The Farmer’s Almanac has a wonderful guide on raised garden beds and how to build one if you are interested. If you are limited by space, check out Urban Roots community garden to sign up for a plot!
Sow seeds for pollinators
Did you know there are several seeds that don’t need Minnesota’s harsh winter to be able to germinate! Species such as Wild Bergamot, Smooth Blue Aster, Evening Primrose, and Mountain Mint are beloved by our pollinators and don’t require cold stratification. Pick up some seeds from your local nursery and get to sowing! Check out the Pollinator Toolbox from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources for more!

Fire

Wildfire season begins in spring in Minnesota and this year it’s even started at the tail end of our winter. Help protect our home by being careful and considerate with this element!

Spring and fire risk
Year four of drought in Minnesota means increased fire risk for most of the state. Yikes! Nearly all of Minnesota requires a permit to conduct a burn or hold a fire. Check out burning restrictions on the Minnesota DNR website and with your local permit office before starting any fires.
Don’t move firewood
Now that you’ve established if you can have a fire, make sure your firewood is safe and compliant. It is illegal (and the fine is hefty!) to move hardwood outside of quarantine zones in Minnesota, so protect yourself by checking before you buy or transport any wood. You have the power to slow and stop the spread of invasive pathogens and insects from destroying Minnesota’s at-risk canopy.

Air

With our abundance of green spaces, love of the outdoors, and ample tree canopy – Minnesota should be enjoying some of the best air quality in the country. Unfortunately we have had increasing issues with particulate matter, ozone, and increasing ambient air temperatures. We all have the power to make our air cleaner and our home cooler in the coming years.

Air quality
With the wildfire season approaching and Minnesota entering year four of a drought, we are looking at increased days of poor air quality this coming spring and summer. Protect yourself by checking the air quality of the day and planning accordingly.
Seriously, plant a tree
Did you know trees not only conserve our water and help improve our water quality, but they also improve our air quality! The Metropolitan Council, in partnership with Tree Trust and The Nature Conservancy, has developed a free tool called Growing Shade to show the impacts of canopy on our beloved metropolitan area. If you wish to see what a specific tree is doing for you and your neighbors check out this free tool developed by the USDA Forest Service called i-Tree. By creating shade and capturing carbon, trees make our air cleaner and our neighborhoods cooler, which means all of us are able to stay safe and healthy. Urban Roots hosts a tree-giveaway to residents of Eastside, so sign up if you’re a neighbor! And, often, you can check out tree sales local to you hosted throughout the spring by various municipalities and non-profits.

Finally, Avatar also has some amazing characters that could provide us with some lessons as well! Check out what these characters might recommend you consider when preparing for spring.

Uncle Iroh

“A moment of quiet is good for your mental well-being.”

Iroh was a staunch advocate for things like rest, eating well, and spending time with loved ones and family, well, the ones that aren’t toxic at least! He would remind us that we just shifted our clocks for daylight savings, and with that there are known health impacts and risks increase, including to our heart health. Take time to slow down, prioritize rest, stay hydrated, and get some good grub in your system. That’s an order from General Iroh!

The Cabbage Merchant

“Oh no, my cabbages!!”

The cabbage merchant would remind us that March and April are great times to begin planting cabbages and other members of the brassica genus, such as broccoli. Happy planting and may your cabbages stay safe!

Aang

“Harsh words can’t solve problems — action will.”

We are stronger in community. But it’s not enough to say we want a better, healthier and happier world, we have to bend it into being through our actions! Aang prioritized his friendships and, throughout the show, advocated building connections between people to restore harmony and bring about a better world. There are so many opportunities big and small to help a neighbor, steward our spaces, and build community. Check with local groups, clubs, or religious institutions for ways to get involved; or just knock on your neighbors door and see if you can help them with any of their spring chores while you are doing your own! We are stronger together and we all have our own unique skills and perspectives to contribute and Aang would remind us of this!

Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, now is a wonderful time to slow down, take stock of what’s important and to be done, and plan accordingly. Our world and home, just like Aang’s, is in peril, but we all have a role to play and through considerate action and building community, I believe we can save the world…