On Saturday I toured the 5-acre Ethnobotanical Garden behind the 16th-century Santo Domingo church. Hundreds of years ago, it was a much larger garden kept by the monks.

Later the military took over. For the next 120 years (up until 1994) the church served as a jail, the garden was demolished and the walls were used as a firing range.

In 1994, under pressure from the Oaxacans, the government moved out the military.

But then, an American corporation wanted to convert the church and grounds into a luxury hotel. The former garden would become the parking lot.

The locals protested again.

As a result, in 1998, work started to create this beautiful garden showcasing the incredible diversity of all the plants in the state of Oaxaca. I loved the two-hour tour with our guide named Diego. He was passionate about the history and use of each plant. And keen to explain, not only the plant’s characteristics, but their cultural context and significance as well.

It occurred to me that what happened at Santo Domingo needs to happen the world over…

Here then, is my simple recipe for a perfect world.

• Remove the military in any form, everywhere. Conscript them to become gardeners.
• Say no to any proposal that includes parking lots (especially over gardens).
• Plant gardens & celebrate diversity; both in plants and humanity.