World of Wounds

“One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.” Aldo Leopold

Our impact on nature is inversely equal to its impact on us. The more lightly we move across the land, the more open we are to its healing powers. It is not only important that we get outside; we must do so with a conscious mind and in a mindful manner that allows us to have the most enriching experiences that are beneficial to ourselves and to all other living things, on which we depend. When we are in pursuit of things that come from an intrinsic place in our hearts, our experiences in nature will have a much more positive impact on us and on the others we share our adventures with. On that note, here is some information on Mullein, a plant commonly found in the Wasatch.

Pictured: Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Also known locally as "Lamb's Ear" (and many other names where it can be found), this plant is very beautiful to look at and has many beneficial uses for humans, not the least of which is as an alternative to toilet paper. Despite it's usefulness, this plant is problematic for our local ecosystems because it is not native and is even considered an invasive species. Although it is usually not aggressively invasive, it does ultimately take water and nutrients that would otherwise go to the native plants that are more beneficial to other native organisms and to the ecosystem in general. In spite of this, I try to see the beauty in the plant and to remember that it deserves respect. It represents a long lineage of plants that have, like us, managed to survive for thousands of years through tenacity and adaptability. Additional uses: respiratory aid, athlete's feet treatment, various skin conditions, powerful disinfectant/bacteria killer, drills for starting fire using a bow, tuberculosis, and according to somebody I once tested it on, relieving the pain from Stinging Nettle.