Why We Don't Create Gardens on Toxic Dumps * Mindfulness Garden Games

It would be odd if we had to explain why it’s not a good idea to plant a garden on top of a toxic dump. It is a commonsense sort of thing. Toxic chemicals in the soil may prevent anything from growing. The plants that do germinate will be stressed and susceptible to disease and insect attacks. They will never be as healthy as a garden created in good soil. If we do manage to produce something, we certainly don’t want to eat those plants. They will have absorbed the toxins into their being and transfer those chemicals to us.

So if we create a community on top of toxic elements, without ever addressing the toxicity, how might that go? It’s just an analogy, but I think it holds. Toxic elements seep into laws and culture, creating havoc, stress, and an unhealthy community.

History

This country was founded on toxic practices – stealing the land from original inhabitants, genocide, and slavery. And those toxins didn’t go away, they just reshaped themselves and continue to seep into the fibers of our communities.

We can remediate garden soil and communities. But the first step is knowing the toxins are there and taking active steps to address the contamination. Pretending everything is fine and telling myths about why the toxins don’t matter is deluded thinking.

Mindfulness

Where does mindfulness come in? Mindfulness practice is not about inaction, but instead about developing insight and discernment to guide our actions. We are currently engaged in a public dialogue and examination of the ways racism has embedded itself into our culture. And many of us want to move forward with a process of remediation. There is much work to do. Mindfulness practice helps us see clearly where and how to focus our energy to be most effective. It also prepares us for roadblocks and challenges. If after contemplation you are feeling stuck about what to do next, see the list below.