Happy Earth Day - a little early

Justin and I are going on a retreat this weekend - a Marriage Encounter to be exact - so I wanted to leave you with a little food for thought early on Earth Day.

Now what kind of a granola head would I be without saying something about Earth Day?

Yahoo! has a great site here with lots of links and information about what a person can do to get started.

You see, it isn't all about being a tree hugger - it is about personal responsibility and making sure we don't make such a big mess that our kids can't clean it up.
We buy as many things that are minimally processed as possible. We buy local produce if we can - and cage free eggs - organic creamer - we use Shaklee cleaners whenever possible - or orange oil - and Burt's Bees reigns in the bathroom.

As an aside, if you spend time outdoors, they have a carrott oil spray that feel FANTASTIC on your skin.

We use the more expensive energy saving light bulbs - which cost more up front, but have lowered our energy bills significantly. Even the flood lights are the compact kind.

When our water heater goes kaput - we are looking at buying one that is tankless - or at least uses some solar heating - we live the the South and have so many warm days that it seems silly to use energy to heat the water when the sun is already working hard to heat everything else!
Our dishwasher and washing machine use a gray water system - which means that teh water goes back into the yard so that the water isn't wasted - or sent to a wastewater treatment plant where energy and chemicals are used to clean the water.

We put up bubble wrap which came around things from Amazon - to help insulate the windows in the winter.

We throw anything organic that we can into the compost pile - and we reuse all the glass jars and try to buy things with minimal packaging.

When we looked at buying cars we paid attention to mileage and fule efficiency - not only for cost - but to assure that we didn't contribute any more than necessary to the fossil fuel problem. With my new job there will be travel - and there is a good possibility I may choose a hybrid as my next car - if I can afford it. But in the mean time, I get my oil changed and try to keep my tires filled to make sure the present cars are as efficient as possible.


The sustainable farm we have is as much therapy as it is environmentally friendly, but is serves both purposes well. The rabbits are warm and furry and take my mind off the dishes left to be washed - then their little pellett droppings fertilize my garden, enabling me to grow organic vegetables and feed my family. That garden is grown without pesticides - and with just enough left over that the birds and the squirrels will also be fed. That part of the lawn doesn't have to be mowed either - well that and the portion covered in trees. Reducing the emissions from our house. I don't use pesticide or Miracle Gro on the yard. Intentionally - it isn't good for the frogs or teh crawdads in our creek - and it kills birds.

There are plenty of opportunities for us to make changes in the way we do things - so that we take care of the land we are entrusted. This Earth Day take a minute and look around at all the beautiful things which surround you - and take a minute to take care of your Mother.