Waste not our Earth

As a citizen and an avid gardener I cannot help but reflect on the environment and global warming as Earth Day approaches. Here's a few things you probably already know:

1. Recycle, reuse and re purpose old things. It can be a creative endeavor.
2. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.
3. Walk whenever you can.
4. Seal up you home lower your thermostat.
5. Plant trees and go outdoors.
6. Turn off lights when you're not in the room.
7. Turn off your computer when you're finished using it.

Here are a few things you may not know about reducing our carbon footprints:

1. Compost kitchen scraps into rich organic matter for you garden beds outdoors. Better than any amendments you can buy.
2. Buy fresh fruit and vegies from local growers, natural and organic foods will become less expensive as consumer demand grows. You are also saving the expense of shipping by buying them locally, especially if you can walk there.
3. Mow and maintain your own lawn without using gas and electric powered tools if possible.
4. Use natural predators to repel bugs and critters from your garden instead of pesticides and insecticides. Bird feeders and bat boxes. Bats enjoy a nice meal of mosquitoes.
5. Unplug phone chargers and other small appliances when not in use. Electrical appliances drain energy when not is use.
6. Reclaim rainwater directly into a covered storage container for watering your garden plants.
7. Green shade grown coffee growers save against deforestation, use less pesticides and natural predators.
8. Stop using paper towels and napkins. How about recycled TP? I am not so sure about this one. Here's the scoop. Recycled paper saves many pounds of clorine pollution and preserves fresh water supplies.
9. Empty the trunk of your car of the extra weight that burns more fuel.
10. Grow your own salad greens, veggies, whatever you like in your own yard. Fresh, organic and readily available. Raspberries and strawberries never taste better than fresh off the vine.
11. Stop using plastic water bottles........at least reuse them.

There are 100's of things we can do to help our planet. Magazine articles abound these days and you can go to websites like www. Earthday.net for ideas. We cannot all go out and buy hybrid cars but if each of us did a few things, whatever we can, then maybe the Earth will continue to do what she can for us and for our children and their children. Guess Grandma was right, "waste not want not." We only have one planet Earth!