Earth Day 2013-14 An Invitation to Take Positive Actions

Ideas have been germinating in my mind and heart...and my inner guidance tells me April is the perfect month to birth changes in my life that I wish would manifest in the world.

Today I make a commitment to align more closely with our planet's best interests.

What steps am I taking to further my goal? See below.

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1.    I will hang my wash outside rather than dry it in my dryer whenever possible. Wash that is air-dried smells sweet, conserves energy, and allows me to soak up the sun's rays for a dose of vitamin D. See further details in article from Organic Gardening Magazine below.

2.    I will set my Energy Star Dishwasher to "Eco" and start it, only after I have a full load to wash.

3.    I will plant a vegetable patch in my backyard. I want to be more self-sustaining and cut down on the amount of time and resources I expend getting to and from the supermarket. I am deeply concerned about the quality of the U.S. food supply. As a consumer and inhabitant of our planet, I abhor that fact that I can't tell which foods sold in the U.S. marketplace have been genetically modified. Since there are no mandatory federal labeling regulations for Genetically Modified Products or state labeling requirements for them in Arizona as yet, I know at least 80% of seeds for conventionally grown U.S. corn, corn oil, corn syrup, soybeans, or upland cotton has DNA that has been altered by being injected with Roundup or other stronger pesticides. I intend to grow organic crops, because it makes sense to say no to GMO's. I vow to support  companies that sell organic veggies and/or voluntarily label their products as Non-GMO. I refuse to purchase, grow, or eat GMO "freak" crops.

4.    I will live simply. I don't have to purchase every new electronic gadget, widget, or doodad I see. I have found that it drains my energy and pocketbook and pollutes our community, nation, and world with disposable objects. I choose to repair rather than replace. I want to decrease the amount of junk I discard, and reduce the amount of garbage that is dumped into landfills.

5.    I will find at least 5 new projects a month that reduce my carbon footprint during each of the 11 coming months. One idea I'll implement next month is to bring my recycled shopping bag into every place I shop, rather than just the supermarket where I make my food purchases. Another idea is to goggle green blogs and Websites, gathering green ideas for reducing carbon footprints. Here are two I visit often.

Mrs. Green's World      http://www.mrsgreensworld.com/

Greenpeace              www.greenpeace.org/

What earth friendly changes have you made recently? I'm hoping you're willing to share your Earth Day ideas with us. Please provide "eco" tips by clicking on the white envelope to reply. If you prefer, send comments via email. 

Spread the word that it's simple and smart to preserve and protect the environment every day throughout the year. 

Links about topics mentioned above as well as the quotation for today follow.                                        

Organic Gardening Website Article on Drying Clothes Outside

http://www.organicgardening.com/living/drying-clothes-clothesline

Statistics on the USDA Dept. of Agriculture website show that in 2012 over 80% acres of all corn, soybeans, and upland cotton planted in the US has been genetically modified.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/documentation.aspx#.UW7CbbV4xGF

Quotation for today is from http://thinkexist.com:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Mahatma Gandhi quotes (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948)

This post was shared at @ http://urbannaturale.com/live-it-up-at-the-healthy-happy-green-natural-party-blog-hop-22/ and featured at http://urbannaturale.com/live-it-up-at-the-healthy-happy-green-natural-party-blog-hop-23/

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