We have access to a lot of people who would be enriched by courses like Native Plants of California, Coast Ecology and Walking for Fitness. Older people, such as those who live in nursing homes, could have a class in horticultural therapy brought to them to revive memories, provide stimulation and encourage coming out of themselves.

Young people who perhaps have legal problems could be given community service hours to create gardens in vacant lots or propagate plants to give to people. They could perhaps plant edible landscaping to help provide food for the poor and those who will be straining to make it when gas prices go sky high and food rises accordingly.

People in responsible positions have a duty to look ahead and anticipate problems and solutions for those they serve.

Also, I have heard that the agriculture plant science major still exists at Ventura College. Many of the classes required for that degree have not been offered in recent history. Plant Biology is a great class I am taking now, and I would like to take Pest Management, Soil and Water Science, Insects and Diseases of Plants, as would many in the community — perhaps just for personal edification.

There are many landscapers in our county who would greatly appreciate support for these types of courses, as well as the community in general, as those who know and appreciate nature take better care of the Earth. How can you be unhappy in a garden?

We need to find ways to be happy without buying more, polluting more or going places, because we live on a small planet and that really needs our help.

This work will bring us together as well, and together we may find a way to reverse the destruction.

— Maryanne deGoede, Ventura