Soil is precious to gardeners. As a gardener there are times though when I must tread lightly and not disturb the soil. Stepping on the soil compacts it which reduces aeration and impacts root growth. So once the soil is ready for planting, I need to respect it and stay off. Before I reach that point, however, I must prepare the soil itself – turning it with shovels, mixing it with compost, forming rows for planting. These actions are invasive, but are what actually help make the soil more conducive to growing good vegetables to begin with.
I see my travel as an author/speaker much like this gardening process. I am conscious of my carbon footprint and do my best to tread lightly. I reduce my driving, refrain from wasting resources, and, of course, grow my own food. But I also see benefit to traveling to be with others. Whether to educate myself, to teach and encourage others about just living, or simply to build supportive friendships – the benefits of spreading ideas and providing community often have far greater impact in the long run than if we all made the choice not to travel. In other words, helping people come together to discover how to reduce their carbon footprint, learn how to live simply, and find a community to support them in the endeavor will far offset the footprint traveling to the gathering created.
There are times to turn the soil and times to tread lightly. Both can be beneficial.