I’ve been working with the I.T. Department at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley to complete the editing of Neil Diboll’s keynote presentation for this year’s Toward Harmony with Nature Conference, The American Garden – A Life or Death Situation. Coincidentally over the weekend I watched an old western that had the same Cree proverb at the end of the show that Neil used in his keynote. I thought I’d share it with you:

“Only when the last tree has withered,
And the last fish caught,
And the last river been poisoned,
Will we realize we cannot eat money.”
— Cree Proverb

What a profound statement. I am so sorry we didn’t listen back then, and sorry still that our government is not listening now. Neil’s last slides are good advice for us all:

We must be leaders in the conversion of the American Garden from a self-serving contrivance to a Living Habitat.

Our landscapes should be a Joint Venture with Nature – Meeting her halfway in a mutually beneficial co-existence in our cities, suburbs, and rural lands.

Let us become Disciples of the Gospel according to Tallamy! Spread the Good Word!

And remain optimistic in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.