1400 litres of litter cleared, 2000 crocus bulbs newly planted, but mainly solidarity: this was the result of the ‘Grote Ontfermbermdag’ – loosely translated as the Big Roadside Care Day – on 14 January 2017. For this initiative, DOWN to EARTH was used as an inspiration to come to new insights and create more connection, both with nature and each other.

During the Grote Ontfermbermdag, an initiative to keep the roadsides in the communities of the Duffelt, Ooijpolder and surrounds clean and liveable, thirty people took care of various roadsides through a clean-and-plant initiative. Afterwards they watched DOWN to EARTH together. During the cleaning walk, farmer Hannes Brücker talked about how the litter in the area poses a threat to his cows, and how grateful he is that actions are being taken to prevent this. Alderman Erik Weijers demonstrated how civilians can use the app developed by the municipality of Berg en Dal to report big piles of trash and litter.

Participants were surprised that people throw the most odd things onto the side of the road and don’t realise the gravity of it. But the positive feeling they got from cleaning op the litter together also surprised them. This feeling of solidarity within their community was strengthened by the answers of the Wisdom Keepers in DOWN to EARTH, who talk about the differences in the world and the outgrowth of consumer society. A message of hope for the future emanates from their stories; of a great involvement in what is happening in the world, but mostly a message of attention to what natures has to offer, of living by the seasons, of living with the generations before and after us. Joint celebrations or rituals can be healing for a bigger circle than just the individuals that partake in it; one of the participants called the film a ‘medicine’. DOWN to EARTH gave many the insight that they must restore the connection between nature and society, of which the Ontfermbermdag is a great example. They want to actively help spread the message that we are all Earth Keepers.

An important effect of the day is that the trust in informal cooperation has increased and that new connections have emerged in the community of the Duffelt and Ooijpolder.

For more information and photos have a look at the Facebook page of Ontfermberm.