Aristotle famously distinguished humans from animals and plants based on our ability to rationalize. In this chapter, McCully equates us to nature and animals. She explains that things like fire and climate change are responsible for evolving ecosystems, as are birds and animals who dispose seeds and make nature their homes. So too, “humans may be viewed as just another species that has migrated across the earth” (109). We should not let the fact that we aren’t the only organism or force to alter the land be an excuse to carelessly adjust nature. By living, we are inevitably changing the land and using its resources. However, we should use our precious minds to decipher what actions are and aren’t necessary. Like almost everything in life, there are two sides-two extremes. Just as we have the ability to destroy nature, we have an opportunity to revive the earth.
Another point I found interesting is that women of the seventeenth century were the herbalists, “capable of making for herself everything needful to support life” (101). This is because medicine was natural and part of the household chores. Once medicine became a more popular career, the duty was removed from the home and handed over to men.
I became excited as McCully described Samuel Mitchill, Major J. Le Conte, and John Torrey’s collection of plants. During BioBlitz a botanist showed my group the process of cataloging plants for the Botanical Gardens. I appreciated having this knowledge while reading about its history. McCully also points out that the seventeenth century Europeans viewed the world scientifically, which placed a great emphasis on the mind. With this mindset, as I mentioned earlier, there was great opportunity to methodically take care of nature. Unfortunately, it was a missed opportunity….
