With leaves carpeting yards, the last harvest due in before the killing frost, not to mention pre-winter to-do lists a mile long, the end of October is a time when Dragons lend paw, tail, and wing in earnest. Today we celebrate draconic altruism and general civic mindedness: it’s Chipping In Day.
Autumn Dragon – Lars Grant West
Much as they thrive on just “being” in the world, Dragons are most definitely not all-play-and-no-work creatures. They are acutely cognizant of their sometime-precarious place in the modern world and the truth in the particularly onerous gnome, “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” (TANSTAAFL), when applied to their kind.
Earth works of every sort are particularly fun for Dragons as well as being tailor made for their size and abilities. (Personally, I could have used a little help yesterday when I was shoveling a couple tons of gravel across my drive, but the Dragons were off at the Fire Fest.)… Dragons are also natural horticulturists; their affinity for the soil makes them enormously helpful in the vast agrarian regions of the world, notably the Great Plains of the Americas and the grain belts of the Ukraine and Asia. Their innate knowledge of plants, their eldritch link to the rhythms of season and weather, not to mention the nutrient-rich properties of Dragon manure, make them ideal farmer’s aides. They can help with post-hurricane clean up and keeping the frost from citrus orchards – both of growing importance in these uncertain days of global climate change.
If your Dragon is assisting humanity at large, do be sure that she’s properly compensated for her time and effort. TANSTAAFL applies to humans as well as Dragons, though humans are more likely to forget the fact.
Whether you’re piling leaves with the swish of a Dragon’s tail or getting a lift to put the storms on the second-story windows, remember this: The more work is fun for Dragons, the more Dragons make work fun for us.
Go out and have fun with your Dragons. And don’t forget to say “Thank you!”
NOTE: Month of the Dragon is winding down. Remember: everyone who leaves a Comment here at Dragon’s Nest this October gets their name put in the hat for a signed copy of either Dragons for Beginners or The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook. Winners to be announced November 1, 2012.
MacKENZIE's Dragon's Nest 
The dragons up at the breeding grounds in Arizona, are still active, since we’re now just cooling off here. The weather has been a normal ‘Indian Summer’ in the Canyonlands here, although the Utah team reports a cold ‘snap’, and New Mexico is showing us some snow, and blowing winds this last week Dragons there have immediately reduced their activity. At least for now… ~ The Dragon Master ~
I’m not as familiar with the SW as I should be–How cold does it get in the winter? The Dragons around here are New England easy keepers–used to deep snows and gelid temperatures.
Yes, I was using my dragon for bar-b-ques all summer, Now he gets to burn leaves. He’s not very good at raking though, every time he stretches his wings out, the leaves go swirling around again. Oh well. He thinks he’s helping.
LOL! They do sometimes forget the great gusts they can blow up–but if you’re not partial to your neighbors you can always have them “fan” the leaves next door.
Dragons here in SE Pennsylvania are gearing up for either the Big Storm or the Big Fizzle, whichever it turns out to be. The older ones are scoping out their favorite perches and hidey-holes to keep them from storm damage. The younger ones are doing what youngsters always do: waiting to skate the winds, ride the surf, and have some fun. I’m reminded of a Stargate quote: “The very young sometimes do not do as they are told.”
Always a pleasure to hear what the enchantments are up to around the world.
Yes, Stargate quote is spot on when it comes wee Dragonlets. 🙂
Keep your hatches battened, Karen, just in case.
Reblogged this on the secret keeper and commented:
“…Dragons are also natural horticulturists; their affinity for the soil makes them enormously helpful in the vast agrarian regions of the world, notably the Great Plains of the Americas and the grain belts of the Ukraine and Asia…they can help with post hurricane clean up…” For more on “Lending a Paw…” go to MacKenzie’s Dragonsnest to read just how helpful a Dragon can be and also for the always wonderful Dragon Illustrations. NOTE: Month of the Dragon is winding down. Remember: everyone who leaves a Comment here at Dragon’s Nest this October gets their name put in the hat for a signed copy of either Dragons for Beginners or The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook. Winners to be announced November 1, 2012….Enjoy and Good Luck to the Two who WIN!!! J.K. the secret keeper
I did it. There Be Dragons All Over Me Blog at The Secret Keeper’s Domain. It was a real effort. I think we had the help of some wee folks and some rather large fiery breathing Dragons and sorts helping us. So good night. See you sometime Sunday. J.K. the secret keeper. ps. now i want to go play with my new toys before i go to sleep and read a poem i wrote last night. i’d like to know what exacty i wrote thank you very much. 🙄
You did yeoman’s work, indeed. Thank you. Hope you got some sleep.
I agree that if we compensated the creatures of nature for all their efforts in helping the eco-system to tick over, it would cost the world economy more than the world GDP! I had never thought of dragons tending orchids. This has been a great series.
Maybe we should just get rid of money all together. It is the cause of so much trouble and pain in the world–that and reigion….But a good lunch for a morning’s work, that would suit a Dragon.
What could we feed a dragon in payment?
Oh, depends on how hard they were working–access to the local fishing hole might work–or some fowl. And assorted greens, of course,
I heard tell that some dragons in Wales like eating coal. Apparently, it stokes their fire breathing and also provides carbon, which they really need, as they are so prehistoric.
Ah, might be digger dragons–they would have been instrumental in early coal mining, 🙂
Wonderful. I have not really looked at dragons before
Welcome to their world! 🙂