"If there’s a world here in a hundred years, it’s going to be saved by tens of millions of little things. The powers-that-be can break up any big thing they want. They can corrupt it or co-opt it from the inside, or they can attack it from the outside. But what are they going to do about 10 million little things? They break up two of them, and three more like them spring up!"
- Pete Seeger, in YES! Magazine

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Mosquito Abatement

The project:
Dump yucky water and refill containers for horses. Move a goldfish from a clean trough to one with lots of wigglers (mosquito larvae).

Time:
15 minutes

Why bother?
As I placed a halter on the rack after yesterday's ride, the rack tore free of the wall. We were on the way into town for an appointment, so we had to take off, but I left word that I'd fix it in the morning.

This morning I headed out into the morning mist only to find that someone else had already fixed it, and cleaned up that corner of the tack shed.

Rather than turn around and head for home, I looked for some other way to contribute during the time I'd already set aside for my project. I greeted the yawning horses, then checked their waters. Some had run far enough down to be dumped (whisker droppings and all), and refilled. One of the largest troughs, however, had too much water for a complete rotation. It also had LOTS of mosquito larvae, so I transferred the goldfish from another trough into this one to do in in the bugs and make for one happy little orange fish.

Worth it?
Yes. Anything I can do to help. All my time out here feels so relaxing, and there's so much work to be done help is welcome and appreciated.

Photo courtesy Álvaro Rodríguez under Creative Commons license.

2 comments:

  1. Just read article in Pioneer...Charitiable Acts 365. My boys and I look for these opportunities but not on such a regular basis. Gonna "steal" and use your 365 idea and list link on my blogs. AND...you're my neighbor, went to high school with your husband. You might have seen the white van with pink hearts on either side...I'll be sure to wave at 'cha next time! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Neighbor Julie!
    Thanks for dropping the note. I haven't seen the story yet. I'll have to stop by the post office and pick up a copy so I can see what folks are talking about. :)

    As for "stealing" the idea - THE MORE THE MERRIER! Spread the word! Maybe we can make our community even BETTER! :)

    ReplyDelete

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