Whatever Happened To the Skunk & Other Concerns

As I write this, I reflect on picking up roadside trash, the job I just finished again. The thought I had last month about my neighborhood drinker–who throws empty cans alongside the road–turned out to be untrue. He or she didn’t go to Alcoholics Anonymous and quit drinking. There were next to no beer cans along the road last time I cleaned the roadside but they were back again today. I found the same Keystone and Coors containers. I was rooting for you in your recovery Buddy!

The roadkill skunk was still on the side of the road also. It’s no longer giving off that distinctive skunk odor. I don’t pick up dead animals for two reasons:

(1)  I don’t like to deal with dead, rotting carcasses.
(2)  And, the scavenger birds and other wild animals need food and this is part of their diet.

I’ve done things to make my surroundings look more pleasant other than picking up trash.  In the past, I took a Master Gardeners class and cut back the overgrown rose bushes around the courthouse in my community. I didn’t keep up this effort to “Keep America Beautiful” after leaving the organization. I also found out my plants don’t thrive unless I plant something that’s considered to be a very hardy plant. (And, if you haven’t heard of Master Gardeners, it’s a good organization that teaches people how and what to plant in the area where they live).

 I still do the planting needed to keep my yard looking decent and grow edible vegetables that thrive best. But, picking up trash is the easiest way for me to improve the area around my home. I enjoy hearing what other people are doing to make their area a better place to live.