Indigenous & Authenticity
Plants can teach us a lot as humans.
I grew up both in the Kenyan highlands and the valleys of the Rift Valley. I observed tree species from Australia reign havoc to the natural ecology of the highlands. Reducing rivers to streams, and converting one of the most fertile soils to a semi arid food insecure region.
As an adult, I have come to an opinion that our prominent food insecurity is our own creation. I see it as an indigenous versus exotic plant population issue, amongst many others. We completely replaced what we ate, with exotic foods like Maize, cassava and potatoes. We replaced our trees with Eucalyptus, pine and others. And did we our cattle breeds.
A very interesting story from a former college mate makes this story complete. She tried growing Avocados from Meru in Malindi, and the results were extreme failure. Similarly, my Dad tried to grow Pineapples from Thika in Nyeri, when we were young, none matured.
The ecological cost of planting non-natives is higher in the end. Native plants and animals have evolved in their environment for thousands of years and devised ways to co-exist. For this reason, the indigenous are easier to maintain, best for the area climate and flourish with little or no pesticides, no fertilizers or other chemical intervention.
Doing mostly exotic leaves us struggling to get enough from the plants, animals, rivers and the entire natural environment.
This is very related to the human nature. The indigenous plant is like the authentic self. Its easier to maintain, requires less chemical intervention and self propagates with ease. Living authentically means being in your natural self; true to your own personality, values, and spirit. Its obviously not easy as you will have a lot of external pressure to act otherwise.
When we are authentic, we are in tune with our strengths, natural abilities and talents. Our spirit is at peace and we can experience joy, peace and bliss. We can give our best to the world, be the artists of our life, pain in bold colors of your vibe, experiences, and truth.
My coach has in many ways the greatest misdeed is lying to oneself. I will add that the second worst misdeed is trying to be any other person than you are. By not being authentic, we not only deny the world the best of us and give a raw deal to our self. But to the worst we tell the universe/God that it was wrong having us here, at this moment and in the life we've been designed for.
Being authentic does not mean not living with others peacefully or agreeably, but more about painting your own canvas. Being the driver of your own life, living within your values and expressing the best of your being. This could make more of the difference between you as a human being versus a human doing....being!
This article represents me, drawing lines to dots even where they don't exist. Lines between the indigenous, planted where they best ground, given ecological partners that are best for them, then humans deciding to change/improve everything. including themselves. Abandoning whom they are, their being, for exotic versions of themselves as influenced by the pressures of the environment. Or planting what they imagine is better species than what they find in an ecology.
But how do we manage to stay authentic with all the pressure around? With all the ticktock and Instagram influences?