There once was a moth…
July 15, 2010
by Dave Hampton
Image source: Illinois State Museum
This story begins with a moth on a CTA bus and ends with why you’ll want to volunteer to help make Chicago a more beautiful place.
There once was a moth…
Today - one of the hottest days in recent memory - I was riding southbound on a highly air-conditioned bus.
A largish but unspectacular-looking moth had made its way inside, and was having a hard time getting back out. After searching in vain toward the rear, it moved toward the front, fluttering against the oversized, hermetically sealed windows.
As it neared a particular window, a woman turning to the side to look out noticed it suddenly, recoiling in horror.
The look of extreme displeasure on her face was very apparent and, to me, upsetting.
As the bus drove through the urban landscape of Kentucky Fried Pizza Huts, muffler shops, currency exchanges, and parking lots along Western Avenue, it struck me that the only significant thing in sight not placed there by human hands was that single forlorn moth.
To the woman, however, this small emissary from the animal kingdom seemed something to be feared rather than treasured.
Granted, I couldn’t identify whether this was the rare blood-sucking moth of Burundi (yes, I made that up), nor did I have any idea whether this lady had suffered some childhood trauma because of a moth, or came from a place without knowledge of moths.
But safe to say- this was simply… a moth.
Not a wasp.
Not a bee.
Not a fly.
Just… a moth.
And, the woman’s fear of it was an example of a disconnect with nature that we see so often.
Evolution poster: it’s in German and Latin, but… you get the picture, right?
The nature of nature
Seeing that rogue moth reminded me of two reasons why I helped found Urban Habitat Chicago, why I’m proud to be President of the Board, and why I take the time to volunteer.
I think a lot of my UHC colleagues might feel the same way.
Those reasons are:
1) Nature is not optional.
It’s our birthright.
It defines who and what we are.
2) Nature doesn’t simply ‘happen’ in a city.
What do I mean by nature?
I like to think of nature as both a system that includes us all, and as the outward result of the workings of that system, which hold us in awe because they are something we can’t fully predict or control.
In cities, these workings of nature can include plants that grow of their own accord from un-maintained gutters, asphalt parking lots slowly reclaimed by vegetation, rabbits hopping along a busy parkway, and the occasional stray moth wandering onto a CTA bus.
Nature’s workings can also include things that we ourselves have set in motion.
Chicago’s green infrastructure: Garfield Park (top left) and Douglas Park (lower right) are joined to Independence Square by Independence Blvd. and Douglas Blvd., respectively
The City in a Garden, or, the City is a Garden?
What did I mean above by saying nature doesn’t simply ‘happen’ in a city?
I mean that as residents, we must take an active role in planning for, maintaining, and enjoying nature.
Chicagoans have worked hard to include nature.
After all, we are ‘Urbs in Horto’ - the City in a Garden.
As a city, we’ve planted miles of medians, put in hundreds of thousands of urban trees, designed parks that are the envy of cities with four times our population, and even installed community gardens and some green roofs.
However, did you plant that tree?
Did your child learn where the food on his or her plate came from?
When you, dear reader, not only experience but take a personal, active part in creating a more meaningful link with nature, you understand better how much we are truly a part of it, becoming an effective advocate in making our city work more in tune with nature.
You also make an example that others can not only follow, but enjoy for generations to come.
There is simply no good reason why our cities should not reflect that they, in turn, are an example of the workings of nature.
In fact… do we have a choice?
In 2004, we formed Urban Habitat Chicago in part because people often seemed to forget that we are, as a species, part of nature, and that our habitat is, increasingly, our cities.
By 2030, it has been estimated that over 60 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, compared to just 3 percent in 1900.
So… get used to it:
Cities are home.
Help make them alive.
The Joy Garden at Northside Prep High School
Join us
We’re not asking you to tear down your home, plant a garden, grow all your own food, become competent survivalists, and try to pretend you don’t enjoy the occasional dose of television or Wii.
We’re not even asking you to buy organic or go to the farmer’s market, although that’s great, too.
We’re simply asking you to join us in making Chicago a greener place by making a donation, becoming a member, and more importantly… volunteering on one of our hands-on projects by joining our mailing list.
Weekly newsletters will notify you of chances to work on one of our projects like the Joy Garden, where you will personally push aside some soil, drop a seed in, water it, and come back a little while later to see a watermelon growing plump under the cool shade of leaves the size of your favorite uncle’s hands.
You will be one small step closer creating cities that are alive.
Keep it up…
Eventually, you might even be able to name that moth.
