Happy Earth Day!

Your Life is 68% Green

You live a very green life, and you're aware of how your actions help the earth. Of course, it's hard to be totally green. But when you make a tradeoff, you know why you're making it.

How Green Is Your Life?

Still nursing my coffee this morning, so how about a few thoughts from last year? I'll be back with a "fresh" post before long ... :)

A few ideas for celebrating our lovely, life-giving earth today:

• If weather permits, open your windows wide and exchange the stale winter air for the freshness of spring.
• Make up a new spring nest for each of your loved ones (soft cottons sheets, light woven blankets, quilts folded at the foot of the bed).
• Set up a small nature shelf for the children. Let them add little treasures they find like nests, stones, and blossoms.
• Make up a basket for your field guides, and keep it handy!
• Rise early and sit by an open window with a warm cup of tea. Listen to the new sounds and feel the new air - write down your thoughts in a journal.
• Sit down as a family and discuss how you might be better stewards of the earth.
  • Great list here: 101 Ways to Get Started
• Carry canvas bags to the market instead of bringing home plastic. You can buy plain ones at the craft store and decorate them yourselves.
• Find out where there will be farm stands this summer; try to buy local as much as possible.
• Begin a compost pile.
• Go on a neighborhood walk - bring a trash bin or bag, wear gloves and clean up trash as you go.
• Plan to grow some food of your own this year.
• Visit a natural foods store and look for environmentally friendly cleaners. (Even better, make your own.)
• Look up your town's recycling guidelines; they might have changed! We just found out ours did - and there is much more we can recycle.
• Read biographies of naturalists with your children.
• Sit down with your grocery list (I use my store receipt) and consider each item you purchase regularly. How might you make a better choice (less packaging, better nutrition)?
• Do an energy audit of your household. Where can you decrease your energy consumption?

Have a BEAUTIFUL Earth Day, my friends!