Redefining Independence

Reflections on Local Resiliency and Global Sustainability

Independence Day begs us to ask some of the most critical questions of the century in regards to local and global sustainability. Such questions demand that the rising leaders in sustainability choose a path that honors the freedoms the Constitution deems important. One of these freedoms speaks to protecting and promoting our environmental, social, and economic well-being for generations to come. This is not an easy task to swallow, especially considering the state of the world right now.

Independence Day offers us the opportunity to gather in community and celebrate the ways we are reorienting towards a more sustainable global village. It offers us the opportunity to evolve the conversation from independence to interdependence.

Peopled gathering in a Growing Spaces Community greenhouse

Interdependence Within a Global Economy

What does it mean to be globally independent from each other? It seems more applicable to turn our attention towards a worldview in which we become more and more sustainably interdependent on each other. Right now, that is not our current situation. In “The New Grand Strategy” , Mark Mykleby, Patrick Doherty, and Joel Makower, speak to ‘global unsustainability’ as the greatest challenge of our era:

In describing this challenge, we see four global dynamics — what we call “strategic antagonists” — that make the current U.S. and international order unsustainable:

1. The rapid inclusion of 3 billion people into the global economy.

2. The ecological depletion we’re facing, including the disruptions of climate change.

3. The resilience of deficit that’s making our supply chains and infrastructure brittle and prone to disruption.

4. The fact that most major economies are propped up by monetary policy and the heroic efforts of central banks instead of by consumer demand.

Continue reading about How Sustainability Saves America.With this perspective in mind, how can we progress the current conversation from global unsustainability to sustainable interdependence? The answers to this question are less daunting when we look within our hearts, our communities, and our local systems. 

From Independence to Interdependence Within Local Systems

There is no doubt that we are moving forward as a global economy. Collaboration is necessary in order to solve the worlds leading environmental, social, and economic problems. See also Report of the Colorado Local Resiliency Project.

At Growing Spaces we feel it’s important to support this vision locally, as a green business. For us, the conversation is more specific to fostering environmental, social, and economic well-being within our Growing Spaces community, to include planting our values within every garden we help bring to life.

We believe that food sustainability directly impacts how much we value our planet and those inhabiting it. See also Managing For Local Resilience.

Values Seeded in the Garden

Independence can separate as well as bring us together. The ways in which we honor life are like seeds planted and nourished in a garden. At Growing Spaces, we believe that planting seeds of resilience honors:

watering plants in a greenhouse

1. Mentoring Environmental Sustainability

2. A Willingness to Grow

3. Seeing Challenges as Opportunities

4. Living in Discovery

5. Honest Communication

6. Celebration

7. Living in Balance

Growing Spaces Mission for SustainabilityRead about Growing Spaces Mission for Sustainability.

With these values in mind, we hope you’re celebrating this day with a hope and optimism that perseveres within your heart, your home, and your community. We’re all in this together, bound by the independence required to come together and solve some of the most critical environmental questions of our time.

Desiree Rose

Written by: Desiree Rose. Desiree is a biodynamic gardener, content developer, artist, and embodiment coach. With a degree in Resiliency Leadership and Environmental Education, she’s had the opportunity to study intensively under many thought-leaders in the fields of Environmental Agroforestry, Women’s Embodiment, Ayurveda, Astrology, Life-Coaching, Curriculum Design, and Biodynamic Beekeeping. When she’s not tending the gardens at Growing Spaces, she can be found rock climbing, highlining, and soaking in the hot springs in southwest Colorado. 

Join the Inner Circle

An exclusive place for year-round gardeners. Join us to receive our monthly newsletter, “The Happy Grower”. In our newsletter we provide community stories, event updates, expert gardening tips, and exclusive offers.

  • Provide your zip code for notification of open houses in your area.

  • This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

author avatar
Desiree Pastin
Desiree is a biodynamic gardener, content developer, artist, and embodiment coach. With a degree in Resiliency Leadership and Environmental Education, she’s had the opportunity to study intensively under many thought-leaders in the fields of Agroforestry, Women’s Embodiment, Astrology, Life-Coaching, and Biodynamic Beekeeping. When she’s not tending the gardens at Growing Spaces, she can be found rock climbing, highlining, and soaking in the hot springs in southwest Colorado. Desiree is a biodynamic gardener, content developer, artist, and embodiment coach.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *