As America reacts to the coronavirus pandemic, some societal enterprises have been categorized as “essential” while others have been categorized as “non-essential.”¹ Surprisingly, in many places—such as Texas—landscaping services (called “lawn-care services”), including cutting grass and weed-whacking, are now defined as “essential” activities.¹

Recently, when speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, President Trump announced his intention to promote America’s participation in an enormous planting of trees: the One Trillion Trees Initiative, also called the Trillion Trees Campaign.

Biological systems that allow organisms to function, grow, and adapt bear the hallmarks of being exquisitely engineered. These complex systems exhibit the same design principles that human engineers use to create successful machines and devices.

Should we murmur (whine, complain) about our presently inconvenient circumstances?¹ Or should we adjust to what happens around us, so we keep our proper distances as we ourselves move about, carrying on our daily activities,² many of which involve interacting with others?3

Nowadays, many folks experience “cabin fever,” but are banned from ordinary travel and social activities.¹ However, some get out of the house—yet stay home—by investing time and labor outdoors, doing yardwork and gardening.