Mutual Flourishing


Live happily, you're worth it.


"All flourishing is mutual."
— from The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2024.

Did you know that beneath our feet a mutual flourishing is happening between soil microorganisms and plant roots? A plant’s roots and the surrounding few millimeters of soil — the rhizosphere — are teeming with industrious life you can’t see. Millions of microorganisms, mostly bacteria and fungi, mingle there, attracted to this zone by the goodies offered by roots.

The microbes don’t come empty-handed; they bear gifts of water and minerals to give the plant so it can thrive. Working together, the microorganisms and roots perform other biological magic; they fix the soil nitrogen and make the rhizosphere a hospitable place for the plant and its microbial friends but inhospitable to plant pathogens.

This reciprocity between roots and microbes extends to big creatures like us! If we are benevolent stewards of the soil, we will flourish by enjoying delicious vegetables, beautiful flowers, and trees that billow out the air we breathe.


🖍️ Draw An Imaginary Microbe For Me?

I need drawings of microbes for the upcoming "Journey to the Rhizosphere" exhibit! Hundreds of them! Your microbe drawing will be plugged into an illustration titled “Billions.”

Deadline: Friday, February 7th

Specifications:

  • Monochromatic (pen and ink, pencil, paint, digital)
  • Fit in a 4” x 4” space
  • Get as nerdy as you’d like or not. In other words, draw an actual microbe or make one up.
  • Put your name on the drawing and email or text me a photo, scan, or jpg:
    978-394-0651 cell/text or
    susanadeleedwards@gmail.com.
  • Questions? Please ask :-)
  • Need inspiration? Try an image search for "soil microorganisms."

📅 Save the Date for the Exhibit Reception!

Mark your calendars for 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 26th at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, NH! That will be the event to celebrate my/our collaborative exhibit, “Journey to the Rhizosphere.”


🏫 Learn

On Saturday, February 1st I’ll be attending the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Massachusetts (NOFA/Mass) upcoming winter conference at UMass Amherst. The conference theme is “Rooted in Abundance,” and the morning plenary session will be “Soil Health as a Foundation of Resilient Food Systems.” The conference is open to anyone who cares about regenerative agriculture and organic practices. Learn more at ​https://www.nofamass.org/home/nofa-events/winter-conference/​.


Stay in touch with me on my Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook social channels!
#ConservationEducation #RhizosphereExploration

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might like it. Thanks for reading!

All the best,
Sue Edwards
Let's draw from nature.
www.susanadeleedwards.com
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Susan Adele Edwards

I am an artist and documentarian working in pencil, pastel, and film to convey my love of people and the planet. Please subscribe to my irregular email.

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