What is your idea of going, or growing green? Now, I’m not talking about growing green vegetables, though that can certainly be a component of growing more green. Before I talk about what I think, I just wonder, what does growing green mean to you?

Sometimes I hear a mom say, “How can I teach my child about being green?” My first thought is usually, “What does that mean? Do you think we can educate our children so that they can solve all the problems of the present and future for us?” Because that really makes me scared.

Think about it for a minute… How many problems caused by previous generations have you been willing and able to solve? They say that knowledge is power. When I was just about 10 years old I was told, by a teacher in elementary school, that some day our oil supply would run out and that my generation would have to deal with this. What a burden to place on a child! Isn’t there enough to worry about when you are young, facing the uncertainty of growing up, with no clue about how you are going to become an adult and make your way in the world? I have never forgotten being told that by my teacher, which is why I am anxious to start solving the problems myself rather than expecting my kids to solve them.

Should an adult pass a problem or a solution to a child? Which is more effective? Which would you rather be given? And what’s with the Growing Green triangle thingy?

It seems to me that there are three aspects, or branches, of growing green.

Understanding Growing Green

Understanding I have put in blue because it is the blue sky element. It’s what happens inside our heads when we are lying on the grass staring up at the sky. For almost 40 years I have had the knowledge that some day we will be facing an energy crisis. The internet is wonderful for picking up knowledge. But knowledge is not understanding and, anyway, neither knowledge nor understanding without the other two elements of the growing green triangle is useful. Nonetheless, I intend to fill a fair bit of space here on Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy with knowledge. Hopefully over time the knowledge I would like to share will convert to understanding.

When we understand something, that’s when it gets interesting. My kids are very curious. They’ve always asked lots of questions. I’m the same way myself. The easiest way to pass knowledge to a child is to understand it yourself – thus the “for moms to pass to curious kids” in my subtitle here. What works better when your little princess at 3 years old asks about how bread is made – a simple, quick explanation, or “I’ll look it up for you later online honey”? Understanding is about learning and then reaching the next level to pass it on.

Caring About Growing Green

Caring I have put in green because it’s what happens when we interact with nature, trees and such and feel connected to the natural world. If you don’t care about nature and the Earth, really, why would you care about growing green? And if you live in a concrete jungle disconnected from your food and the wildlife that shares our planet you’re not likely to care until your food runs out.

Caring is not just about enjoying nature. I think it’s about observation. It’s about the connections we have with each other, with our kids, and with the Earth. I can’t imagine growing green without caring.

Living Growing Green

Living I have put in brown because it’s what we do when we get down to the nitty gritty of growing green. We have to roll up our sleeves, get in there among the dirt, and learn the practical life skills of sustainability. Living is also what happens when we experience first-hand the Earth and the products of our labors. We feel good in a job well done in a way that we can’t just by understanding or caring.

Just wonderin’…

Where do you spend most of your time on the growing green triangle? Do you focus on one aspect, or jump from point to point? Are you working on growing green or are you bouncing around not knowing which point to land on? If you are not focusing you are effectively saying to your child, “Here, the world is in a mess, why don’t you read this and do something about it, because I neither know how to, or care to change the way I’m doing things. It’s your problem, find a way to deal with it.”

Well, that’s where I’m coming from with Growing Green and with the Natural Science, Sustainability, and Practical Life Skills title. Are you my companion on this journey? Will you come back to read, learn, and share?

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Related posts:

1. Growing Green Teens
2. Growing Green News
3. Growing Green News 3/10/09