letter from publisher

Planting a Seed

Our April “Earth Day” issue is one of my favorites every year, as sustainable living has always been part of my life. I remember my grandmother recycling everything she possibly could, and not because it was easy. Rather, I don’t think she could bring herself to throw anything away if it could be salvaged or reused somehow. As a result, she didn’t generate much trash at all. Mom would laugh when Grandma gave us gifts of homemade quilts (which she did quite often in her retirement), because she made them from the family’s old clothing. I remember my mom and aunts reminiscing about the outfits they identified in each new quilt, recalling how old they were when they wore them and for what occasion.

My daughter recently triggered these memories when she asked me for a mango at the grocery store—not just because she loves mangoes, but also because she had just seen a YouTube video on how to grow a mango plant from the seed. After eating the fruit, she followed the video instructions and has been watering the seed faithfully, and now we wait. This reminded me of how my mom was perpetually trying to root an avocado seed my entire childhood. She never once succeeded, but the baton was passed, and for years I also tried to root an avocado seed . . . never succeeding. I haven’t attempted it for years now, but the other day, I decided to again try to root a couple avocado seeds. Daughter and mom both wait.

I enjoyed this memory chain of events, and it’s a good reminder that even the smallest efforts toward connecting with nature and sustainable living make a difference. Wishing you a joyous April. If you’re looking for things to do, you’ll find a number of family-friendly Earth Day events starting on page 18.