The scent of manure is one that stays with me no matter where I go; from the beaches to the mountains, I carry this piece of home with me. Located in Wisconsin, United States lies a community rich in history and agriculture with a focus on longevity of its land and people; this small town is Richland Center- the place I was born and raised. Sustainable practices have run their roots deep in my rural community, and these are the lessons I have come to learn from it:
1) What goes around comes around.
Life is about the connections you make with those around you, and if you extend a helping hand to those in need, it is likely someone will do the same for you. I was raised to give to the food pantry and volunteer because, in my father’s words, “time spent helping others is time well spent.” The UN Sustainable Development Goals puts the health of the people at the forefront of their mission, and traveling is the easiest way to see the most genuine version of the United Kingdom. I intend to use my time abroad connecting with locals and volunteering in the community I call my temporary home.
2) The cows won’t milk themselves.
This is a common expression we use to say: you have to put the work in to achieve your goals. When it comes to sustainability, you have to make a conscious effort to make the right decisions for the environment and the community’s well being. Recycling, using public transit, and shopping second-hand are all ways I try to be eco-friendly on a daily basis. These practices are ones I will carry with me as I travel abroad .
3) The crops cannot flourish in poor soil.
We do not exist without our planet. If we treat the Earth with respect, it will provide for us through clear waters, healthy crops, and clean air to breathe. The UN defines sustainability as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainability). Taking care of our planet is the foundation for our longevity; each action we make individually goes towards the greater good of all.
Manure, the smell engrained into my senses, shows more about my community than words are capable of. It shows the animal being raised from a young calf, the farmers working dawn to dusk to tend to their fields, the food processors ensuring the crops are safe to use, the mother in the grocery store buying produce for her family, and the city’s economy based around agriculture that gives rural children, like me, a unique perspective on the word ‘sustainability.’ My roots will always be tied to the fields of Richland Center, Wisconsin, and I am thankful for these lessons I have come to know and the ability to utilize them wherever I go.
