Event, September 9, 2006: 2nd Annual World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD)

[Viewer discretion is advised before following the link from the title of this blog entry.]

Okay, I could have held this for Friday, but it's hot, and two circuit breakers have tripped already this evening, requiring me to get dressed again, grab the flashlight and keys, and go down two or three stories to the basement to reset them, and I'm down to crashing in the last room in the house with air conditioning, so running around naked in the outdoors almost sounds attractive ... almost. If it weren't for the mosquitoes, and the heat stroke, and the ... well, ummm, other things.

Gardening has a timeless quality, and anyone can do it: young and old, singles or groups, the fit and infirm, urban and rural. An elderly lady in a Manhattan apartment can plant new annuals in her window box. Families can rake leaves in their back yard. Freehikers can pull invasive weeds along their favorite stretch of trail. More daring groups can make rapid clothes-free sorties into public parks to do community-friendly stealth cleanups.

Why garden naked? [My question, exactly. They need a FAQ page.] First of all, it's fun! Second only to swimming, gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude. [Ummm, what's number three?] Moreover, our culture needs to move toward a healthy sense of both body acceptance and our relation to the natural environment. Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, it reminds us--even if only for those few sunkissed minutes--that we can be honest with who we are as humans and as part of this planet.

All that's involved is getting naked and making the world's gardens--whatever their size, public or private--healthier and more attractive. WNGD has no political agenda, nor is it owned or organized by any one particular group. Naked individuals and groups are encouraged to adopt the day for themselves.

Now, aside from all the naked bits (sorry) they also have some info and links regarding organic gardening, permaculture, and that sort of thing. Some helpful gardening tips (really sorry) for the naturists who find their way to their site.

So, this is not an endorsement, nor a recommendation. The neighbor's security searchlights will not find me cavorting in the backyard with the raccoons and opposa. But I know some of you out there have rather large tracts of land ... distant neighbors ...

Just think about it. That's all I ask.

Props to Improbable Research for bringing this to my attention.