Mick McEvoy, manager of the Upper Hamlet Happy Farm in Plum Village in France, is telling The Earth & I about the connection between mindfulness and farming when he uses this somewhat enigmatic expression. It was coined by the Buddhist monk who helped establish Plum Village, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

The Earth’s massive deserts, and their persistent efforts to keep swallowing up nearby lands, have long been the bane of farmers and agriculture. Desert sands blow away, are impossible to shape, and retain no moisture.

Stress and anxiety are common conditions in the world population, international mental health data show. While the exact sources of stress differ around the world, real and perceived dangers—including from weather-related events—can make people feel uneasy and fearful over what the future might hold.

For decades, chewing gum was the epitome of casual cool. But a new study has found that those who enjoy gum may be biting off more than they want to chew.

Children don’t protect what they don’t love. Environmental education at its best cultivates a felt connection to living systems—wonder at a bee’s flight, delight in a sprouting seed, awe under a night sky. And those feelings can be further solidified by developing a spiritual connection in which to root them.