What's your name?

Last week I got to help facilitate the Women In Agriculture Conference in McCall, ID. This conference was held via video conference across five states. In McCall female farmers who specialized in herbs, yaks, cattle, fruit and potatoes gathered and shared thoughts about being a female farmer in the area and the value of the perspective of women, collaboration and leadership. One women mentioned her dream of people being able to call potato varieties by their name. There are so many different potato varieties, each with their own purpose and each with different nutrients available to us. I thought this idea was awesome!

As an environmental educator, I know the importance of being able name what surrounds us. Knowing the names of the animals and plants, what we need to live, helps us take care of what surrounds us. Language creates the world around us. It helps us open our eyes and notice what is around us. UI Extension has a program called "Know the Land. Save the Land". Invasive plant species are printed onto bandanas and scarves so that people will learn to recognize these plants. Counselors help give children and adults words so that they are better able to take care of their mental and emotional health. Without the language people cannot understand what they are feeling. I like to think of knowing the names of plants and animals as if you are walking down a street and pass by people who you have met before and instead of these people being strangers you know their names. You will make sure to say hello. You recognize they are there and notice something about them, you maybe even know their purpose. Eskimos live so closely with snow that they have fifty of more names for snow! I wonder if a lot of things we have names for in the United States involve consumerism and money rather than what surrounds us in mountains, forests, lakes, rivers or in garden beds.