What the hell is “Wild,” anyhow?
Unpacking the distinction between “wild” and “urban”
Regarding this concept, of “participatory ecology,” I’d like to expand a little bit on some of the questions that come to mind when we’re talking about what “ecology” means, and what it means to participate in it.
Generally speaking, I’m not too keen on the distinction between “wild” and “urban.” Although it may have made sense when there were a few hundred thousand people on the planet, I think it’s becoming less and less helpful as a distinction, especially if we want to fully participate in our ecological surroundings.
What does “wild” even mean?
- Is something “wild” because it’s never been influenced by humans? If so, nothing is wild any longer — in the Anthropocene Era, we’ve been influencing the global climate since we started burning stuff in our agricultural fields. If you go into the “wild” on the Eastern Seaboard of the US, or parts of the Interior West, you’re going to be in forests almost entirely planted by humans.
- Is something “wild” because no humans have ever been there? If so, that leaves very few almost entirely inhospitable places “wild.” I mean, look at this list of the “Top 10 Least Explored Places” (note that, in most cases, “Least Explored Places” means “Least Explored by White Europeans.” I’d bet the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin and Papua New Guinea would find the placement of their traditional homes here a little laughable). If this is the meaning of “wild,” then how does one even “participate” in it?
- Is something “wild” because no humans go there very often? If so, we’re going to have to include vacant lots and a large part of the suburbs in Detroit “wild.”
So do we go with “natural” instead? If so, how do we decide something is “natural”? Is it “something made in nature”? If so, as Tim pointed out, there is very little that’s “natural” about any kind of farm, including organic farms.
Is it “something made with natural products?” This doesn’t work either. Let me give you an example: I know you’re likely not terribly keen on plastic, but plastic were mostly made of plant resins for a long, long time. Now they’re mostly made using petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are derived from fossil fuel sources. Fossil fuels mostly come from millions-of-years old dead trees. So, plastics are derived from plants. Does that mean they’re “natural”?
I want to circle back around to “wild.” A lot of what I’m personally interested in fits into the umbrella of “wildcrafting,” which is using “wild” or “uncultivated” plant or animal material to create products. If I’m using nettles I harvest from the local park, which although uncultivated are certainly “managed,” does this count?
Or, what about that Hawthorn tree up at the top of the page? It’s also at a local park, but was almost certainly planted intentionally as it’s part of a landscape feature. If I make hawthorn jelly using its berries, am I “wildcrafting”?
What if I make an eczema cream using the chickweed I have in my own garden bed? I didn’t plant it, but the soil and water it gets are definitely due to the influence I had over it. Is it “cultivated,” or does this count as “wildcrafting”? I don’t know!
Look, when you have so many blurred lines, eventually everything will run together, and I think what is ultimately being illustrated here is that all of these definitions consider humans outside or external to the ecosystem. I would like to see more of a blurring of lines based on the idea that humans are intrinsic to the ecosystem, and just because we’re less physically present or influentiual in a place doesn’t mean that place is somehow “better” or “more valid.”
I’m not sure what this would look like, but for me, participatory ecology happens in a so-called “urban” environment just as readily as in a “wild” environment, and interacting with the weeds and plants that grow in the local park is just as “valid” as interacting with those in the back-country. Let’s face it: we all live in the “wilderness.” We just happen to have participated in that wilderness in different ways.
