A couple of weeks ago, I drafted an article about the connection, or lack thereof, which we have to our immediate environment. Its suggestion was for us to get more involved in the procurement of our food, grow a garden when we have the space, forage when we have the opportunity, and become more in sync, overall, with nature and the seasons. As I was about to edit it, I realized that the topic has already been fully covered in the past few months, especially given the new project of Michelle Obama, the organic garden at the White House. It seemed redundant to even bother. As is usually the case for me during exercise, another subject presented itself while I was on an afternoon run a few days ago.

With a few warm early Spring afternoons, the snow finally started melting away, especially on the edges of fields and roads. Unfortunately, the first of Spring in Maine is not always as attractive as one might imagine – it’s actually a bit dark and damp, but part of the seasonal transition, so it does have its own beauty. An unfortunate fact is the subject of what may be hiding under that beautiful snow when it does leave us and it is quite revealing in many ways. While I’ve always noticed a lot of litter, there seemed to be more than ever this year, and I decided to take a few images from a stretch of road less than 1/2 mile long. Perhaps not surprisingly, the debris comes from some of our (least) favorite sources. Let me offer a hint – I didn’t find any Kombucha bottles next to the highway. There seems to be a direct correlation to how we treat our bodies and how we treat our planet. This is unfortunate, as fast food continues to grow in some markets, and its negative impact, which begins at the production stage, has certainly secured its status by going full circle.