Weeds have seduced us, pandered to our needs and have fed us from the very beginning.
Weeds have encircled our castles, inspired our poets and philosophers and have provided seclusion for lovers. Yet, something is happening today, in our twenty-first century. Forests are burning, deserts are spreading and our weeds are dying.
How long have weeds been around? A very, very long time. No doubt one of our ancestors likely screamed out “filthy weed” some 10,000 years ago. But the weed was just a plant well before we humans arrived and started putting things in the ground and covering them with dirt.
When Socrates drank the hemlock (a poisonous plant) humans had already been arguing about weeds for thousands of years. I want to “argue” for another thousand years and maybe think about what it all might mean.
I have been blogging since 2004, had an environmental and sustainability blog with the Kansas City Star and was an opinion columnist in 2007. I have published two novels and a short story collection, which can be found on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.
I was a Peace Corps Director in the Caribbean, lived in South America, have acted in repertory theater, written a stage play, and currently train medical students in basic exam and interpersonal skills.
I plan on writing short pieces two or three times a week and probably a longer story every two weeks, most likely appearing on Sunday morning. Comments are most definitely welcomed and encouraged.
Walter Winch
