Seeds

Lake Oswego’s land area is 10.68 square miles - less than .0000002 of the land area of Earth. A speck at best. A mote. A minor plot. But LO is our plot. It’s our domain. It’s our tiny corner of Eden. And we want future generations to enjoy its fecund health forever.

But, preserving a rich habitat becomes harder every day as, worldwide, Life suffers assaults and Nature retreats. Many of us in Lake Oswego have become absolutely certain that only human intercession can save our tiny bit of Creation from descent into a concrete dead zone. We seize the moment.

When species are threatened with extinction anywhere, we send money, of course. We also plant wildflowers to bring pollinators back to Lake Oswego.

When habitats are targeted by development, we write letters, talk to our representatives and march with signs. Then we go home and sow organic, insecticide-free seeds that will grow into habitats for birds and butterflies.

When neighbors spray their lawns with herbicides, we let dandelions flourish in ours.

When vulnerable creatures fall to poachers in Africa or the Cascades, we ask local plant retailers to remember that insects and other invertebrates are especially vulnerable to neonics. We want honey bee numbers to return to pre-insecticide levels.

And when the City reviews plans for parking lots, driveways, sport courts and swimming pools, we remind Councilors with a bouquet of wildflowers that only life can bring back Life.