I ask you to consider honoring Mother Earth everyday. We can not continue to take from our resources and never give back in return. There needs to be a balance in nature. We have moved so far away from living in harmony with nature. The foods that we eat no longer come from the local community. We drive when we can walk or bike. We make several trips when they could be minimized. We spray pesticides and bug killer like they do no harm. We consume to try to fulfill a deeper need…

Where will it stop? How much ’stuff’ do we truly need? How big do our homes need to really be? How many cars do we need? When will we begin to live in harmony with the earth that nurtures us? We in North America are perhaps spoiled and lazy and it is time to wake up and realize that you can make a difference in many ways. Be an example to your children and grandchildren.

You can help celebrate earth day every single day in so many small ways. If you will just do it. If you aren’t ready to move to the woods and live in a yurt with a composting toilet and no electricity like some of us that’s okay, but you can still make a difference! Here are a few ways to help you begin celebrating the earth each and everyday and you may just have fun doing it:

1. Join Freecycle. Freecycle can be found online at www.freecycle.org You can join your local group to give away things that you no longer need or get the items you need from others. It’s all free!

2. Shop at thrift stores. By buying second hand clothes and household goods you save the environment and help various causes. Finding a local thrift store in your community helps your local area too.

3. Bike, walk or take transit. Do you really need to drive three blocks to the market? Come on, you can use the exercise and may enjoy the moment by meeting a few folks along the way. And if it’s too far to walk or bike then try transit.

4. Buy local organic food, eat wild foods or grow a garden. Buying local organic food not only helps your community farmers but saves on the transportation of food and helps you by getting fresher and healthier food into your body…putting you in sync with the area of the earth that you live on. Growing your own garden is the best for those that are willing and even better is to eat ethically harvested wild foods.

5. Recycling is so easy these days. You can recycle just about anything. Be creative.

6. Plant trees. For all the trees we cut down…lets plant a few in their place. They help us breathe.

7. Have a green baby. Come on mamas use those cloth diapers and cloth baby wipes. They are so much easier then you may think with snaps and velcro. The money you will save is amazing and they are healthier for your baby as well as Mother Earth. Try elimination communication.

8. Use the library. Instead of buying more magazines and books use the library. There is interlibrary loan if they don’t have what you are looking for in your community. Just ask and they will help you out.

9. Hang your clothes on the line. There is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry coming off the line. You can turn it in to a totally zen moment when you are outside hanging the clothes. Saving on your electricity and enjoying the simplified life is not so bad.

10. Use cloth shopping bags. So, you probably think only granola, sandal wearing folks use cloth bags to go to the market…well, yeah some of us are but come on and join us. Those plastic bags can be easily replaced with creative cloth bags. Some places are even banning the plastic.

11. Use eco friendly cleaners. There are many eco cleaners that are found in your local health food stores or even your markets. However, you can easily make your own with some simple household goods such as vinegar and baking soda. Much better for you and the earth.

12. Make your home more energy efficient. Spend the extra money for making your home more energy efficient and it will pay off in the long run. Check out your area for possible tax incentives as well.

I could go on and on with ideas as I sit here, but you get the idea. You can all do something. So, if you don’t mind please do you part. We are all in this together and the sooner that we become cooperative and live in harmony with the earth and each other..the happier and healthier we will be. Celebrate earth day everyday by making a difference…in whatever way you choose.

Author: Lisa R. Marshall
About the author: Lisa R. Marshall is the facilitator of Path to Nature….honoring life through whole health, natural living, herbal healing, sacred celebrations & journeys. Path to Nature’s vision is to help people recognize their ability to empower themselves. She is a also a mother and doula. Lisa is a facilitator to those who want to make changes in their lives. Visit http://www.Pathtonature.org for further information or to contact the author.

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Planting your own vegetable garden also allows you to know exactly how healthy or dangerous the foods is that you are eating. Store bought produce for instance, is often grown on farms which use chemical fertilizers and poisonous pest control methods. Plants absorb whatever is put onto them or into their soil as they’re growing, so if you’re eating produce which has had chemicals and toxins used on it, those chemicals are also in the plant itself, and are being fed to your body.

When you grow your own vegetables in a home garden though, you can choose to use organic growing methods which are much safer for both the environment, you and your family.Growing a vegetable garden starts with planning. You’ll need to decide first what vegetables you plan to grow in your garden. If this is the first time you’re growing a vegetable garden, try to start small so you can get a feel for how much of each thing is needed as you become more experienced. A nice way to get started with your first vegetable garden is to select three to five of your families favorite vegetables and plant just those the first season.

Next you’ll need to decide where you will place your vegetable garden. You’ll need both plenty of space and plenty of sunlight to grow vegetables. Vegetables need at least five to six hours of full sunlight each day, so figure out where in your yard that much sun is available, then see if there is enough room there for the number of vegetables you intend to grow. If your vegetable garden will be small, you can probably choose a planting location which is only about three to four feet square.

Once you have chosen your location you can prepare the soil for your vegetable garden. You can create raised garden beds to plant your vegetables in if you’d like, and this will make preparation and care easier. If you’re planting in the ground though, you’ll need to turn the soil, remove all weeds, roots and large rocks, then mix some healthy compost into the soil so your vegetables will have the nutrition they need while growing.

After preparing the soil, you’ll need to make planting rows, or long mounds of soil, to plant your vegetables in. These rows should run east to west so they’ll get the best sun and water exposure. When you start planting seeds or starter plants, be sure to put those that will grow the tallest at the north side of your lot, so they won’t shade the smaller plants too much during the day. The smallest plants should go on the south side of your vegetable garden plot, and progressively taller ones should be planted across.

Author: Adam Fletcher
About the author:
Please visit my great new website Gardening With Adam It is a great resource for enthusiastic gardeners and will guide you through the whole gardening process.

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More and more tea varieties are available as organic. Every variety of tea, whether Black tea, Green tea, White tea, or Oolong tea, is cultivated in some regions under protocols of organic cultivation. This trend has much to do with a return to the source need which has taken the world by storm in the recent years.

Organic tea is grown following strict rules of organic cultivation, using only natural elements in the treatment of the soil, fertilization process and providing natural light instead of any artificial light source. It makes no use whatsoever of destructive chemicals, preferring to go the natural way and encouraging nature to provide for better crop cultivation. Chemicals are known to destroy not only the land where they are used, but also the surrounding ecosystem.

Organic cultivation of tea contributes to improved soil fertility. The use of natural fertilizers such as compost, natural organic matter and plants provide all the nutrients and elements needed by the soil to grow better crops. It has been noted that organically grown crops produce a better yield. Organic cultivation also makes use of natural methods of pest control such as little bugs and insects like the pest-controlling spider. Associated with traditional methods like crop rotation and mulching, a more eco-friendly cultivation is thus ensured.

The benefits of organic cultivation of tea also overlap onto the surrounding ecosystem and live habitat around the area. Wildlife is allowed to thrive, and there is less risk of pollution by harmful chemicals. The natural cultivation of the land means that nothing damaging makes its way into the water table, nor does the soil itself suffer from the use of artificial additives. Animals and human are thus protected, and are also provided with a better environment, free of harmful pesticides and other chemicals, some of which may pose serious heath hazards.

Organic tea is also said to retain most of its inherent benefits. Hand picked and processed the orthodox way, the teas carry a quality standard which is not attained by conventional tea manufacture.

Author: Mayoor Patel
About the author:
Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website OrganicTeaUniverse.com and Organic-tea.tea Please visit for information on all things concerned with Organic Tea

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One of the most basic things you can do for the environment is to buy foods that are produced in environmentally sound ways. Unfortunately, this can be quite expensive and the foods can be hard to find.

The main reason this can seem to be so hard is that people often limit themselves to the grocery stores, where organic foods are priced significantly higher than other foods. But your local grocery store may not be the best choice. Find a local farmer’s market. Not all of the food there will be organically produced, but you can talk to the people there and find out. As an added environmental benefit, most of the food will be locally grown.

You can also try a food co-op. Joining a co-op means that you will get whatever is grown at the time, rather than choosing what you want, but the produce will be organically and locally grown. These are not available in all communities, but are well worth looking into. Another solution if you have the space, is to grow some of your own produce. The wonderful thing about having your own garden is that you choose exactly what goes into it. It’s also a great way to teach children about where food comes from. And of course it is a nice bit of exercise.

You may also be able to find a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in your area. You can learn more about these programs at usda.gov and search for ones in your area.

Finding good, organically produced meats is generally more difficult, especially if you don’t want to pay too much extra. Some CSA programs do offer meat, but many will be strictly produce, and perhaps eggs. One of the solutions is to cut back on animal products. If you can eat vegetarian a couple times a week or even just once a week, you can save quite a bit of money, which can make buying the better stuff less painful. Going 100% vegetarian isn’t for everyone, but being partially vegetarian is a very realistic goal for most people.

You can also join a buying club or try buying in bulk on your own. These can get you great discounts on the foods you need. You will want to pay close attention to what you are actually paying to ensure that you are getting the best possible prices.

In some areas, going organic and/or local is easier than it is in other areas. I live in California, where all kinds of organic produce is available. Other states it is much harder and much more expensive.

Choosing more environmentally friendly food options is better for you, your family and the environment. Sometimes it can even be sufficiently friendly to the budget that you start running out of excuses to not go organic.

by Stephanie Foster
Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.greensahm.com/ about trying to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Visit her blog for more ideas on how to help your home and family be more environmentally friendly.

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I never really understood why I avoided certain products but I just felt that they had no place in a clean, classy life. I have had fairly heated disagreements with my significant others who proclaimed me a prima donna or worse. Now that I know these products are toxic, I have to believe that my instincts were protecting me. Incidentally, I also detest carpeting and canned foods but that is a topic for another day.

Plastics
I have always disliked Tupperware and other such plastics designed for food storage. I swore up and down that the food and water tasted different when stored or cooked in the plastic. I even used the argument with my ex-husband that nobody on the Food Channel (or restaurants) uses plastic bowls. Plastic in the kitchen seems so tacky and unnatural to me that I always made a point of using glass or ceramic. I even went so far to feed my cats out of glass bowls.

As it turns out plastic is very toxic particularly when microwaved. It releases dioxins into your food or water which are known carcinogens. Soft plastics are worse than the hard plastics and contain endocrine disruptors which can disrupt fertility, harm a fetus and more. Other molded plastics like the ones used for computer monitors release a dust which are now known to cause a number of health problems.

This is an excerpt taken from “Get Plastic Out of Your Diet“by Paul Goettlich at www.mindfully.org:

If one were to listen only to nonprofits and the industry, it would be natural to think that only the additives are toxic and migrate. But everything about plastics is toxic — both the additives and the base plastics. And both migrate in quantities that are problematic at extremely low concentrations. Some chemicals are obviously more so than others. But it is undeniable that they all migrate all the time into everything that they touch.

Even if it wasn’t toxic, there is something very unappealing about a scratched stained warped bowl vs. a beautiful clear glass, wood or ceramic container. If you are worried about breaking it then don’t drop it.

Particleboard
When I was in college I bought myself my first desk. It was roughly $100 and made entirely of particleboard covered in some sort of wood looking laminate It came in a box and I had to put the whole thing together myself. I was pretty proud of myself for purchasing my first piece of furniture and assembling the whole thing unassisted.

There is no question however, that I would have preferred a solid wood desk. I felt I could only afford a build it yourself model but that it was still cheap and tacky. Since that time I have made a point of furnishing my home with solid wood furnishings if at all possible. They just give me a better feeling which is a basic premise of feng shui.

As it turns out my instincts were right on target again. It turns out that both particleboard and plywood are made with formaldehyde of all things. This formaldehyde “offgasses” from porous surfaces and you breathe the result. Particleboard is made from a particularly toxic form called urea formaldehyde and it contains a large percentage of formaldehyde-containing glue.

Apparently you can buy sealants to prevent offgassing from dangerous surfaces but doesn’t it make more sense not to fill your home with this junk in the first place? Go a step further and purchase someone else’s used furniture made from quality non-toxic materials and reduce waste in the world.

Microwave
Other than making microwave popcorn, I have long despised microwaved food and beverages. I think they taste like crap. Even water that has been boiled by stove top or kettle vs. heated in a microwave tastes totally different to me. (I don’t know why the popcorn never bothered me).

About a year ago I found a study somewhere on the internet that showed a rise in white blood cell counts in people after eating microwaved foods. The interpretation? That your body sees microwaved foods and beverages as invaders rather than food. I took my microwave to the curb immediately and I refuse to eat or drink from a microwave since.

I have since read of people who do a simple “science experiment” with two plants. They water one plant with tap water or stove heated & cooled water and one plant with water that has been boiled in the microwave and then cooled. The result? The microwaved water plant dies. Check out this link to see photos of the alleged science experiment. In all fairness, check out this link which refutes the microwave water theory. Google “microwave water plants” and check out other people’s experiments for yourself.

Interestingly, most people I mention this to seem to think I am some kind of wacko conspiracy theorist and they are willing to risk raising their white blood cell counts for a bit of convenience. Even if I am wrong what did I lose? I am erring on the side of caution. Please dont forget that microwaved food still tastes like crap whether it is safe or not.

What is the moral of this story? If you are serious about taking an active and conscious role in your health and vitality then pay attention to your gut instincts. They could be right on.

www.whatstoxic.com
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Source: www.PRWeb.com
Although Codex says it is focused on “Consumer Protection” the Codex Alimentarius Commission currently allows seven of the 12 deadliest compounds on earth to be used in food. These seven deadly pesticides are banned by US law and the Stockholm Convention, which the US and every member of Codex signed.

The Stockholm Convention, signed by 176 countries including the United States (May 2005) commits the signatories to eliminate world’s 12 most dangerous Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs . The (CAC)Codex Alimentarius Commission, (made up of 171 countries, including the US, uses consensus to set the world’s rules for international trade in food) allows seven of the twelve agreed upon killer POPs to be used in the production of foods as varied as milk, soy oils, cotton seed, citrus fruits, eggs, poultry, cereal grains, pineapples, leafy and root vegetables, legumes and others.

There are currently twelve POPs listed in Annexes to the Convention. These are:

* Aldrin
* Chlordane
* Dieldrin
* Endrin
* Heptachlor
* Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
* Mirex
* Toxaphene
* Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
* DDT
* Dioxins
* Furans
Environment.gov.au

POPs remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are highly toxic to humans and wildlife. They increase brain, bladder, biliary, lung, breast and other cancers, cause damage to the kidney, liver, adrenals and thyroid, can cause decreased fertility, immune suppression, diabetes, porphyria, cardiovascular disease, fatal skin lesions especially in children and nursing infants (“pink sore”), headache, dizziness, nausea, general malaise, and vomiting, followed by muscle twitching, myoclonic jerks and convulsions.

All of the killer POPs pose shared health threats but each has its own special hazards. Endrin, for example, is 2-4 times more toxic than the better known DDT, and tends to accumulate in children. Chlordane, banned in the US in 1988, paralysis cancer-fighting cells and doubles rates of lung and brain cancer in exposed persons. As a group, the seven deadly pesticides are known to increase the effects of the other toxic substances. Codex allows them in food. Scientists estimate that the misuse of POPs leads to thousands of excess deaths, millions of disabilities and billions of lost dollars annually.

The seven restricted POPs banned by both the Stockholm Convention and US law but permitted by Codex are Aldrin, Chlordane, ,Dieldrin,Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene and Mirex. Toxiphene and DDT are the only two POPs pesticides on the Stockholm POPs list which Codex does not allow.

The Natural Solutions Foundation is deeply concerned about the apparent lack of science-based decision making since excellent alternatives exist to the use of these deadly toxins. Consumers, environmentally concerned groups and individuals have raised serious concerns about the trustworthiness of Codex Alimentarius as a consumer protection agency which are strengthened by Codex’s position on POP’s.

The important take home message is to take control of your food. The best choice is to grow your own produce organically. If that is not possible, buy from a farmers market or co-op and make sure they are using organic practices. If you must buy from a supermarket, try to buy from a health food store or choose organic from your chain supermarket. Always wash your produce well or soak in a water/hydrogen peroxide solution. For further information contact The Natural Solutions Foundation.

Additional Resources:
http://action.panna.org/
Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What’s at Stake for American Power
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• emagazine.com
• oregonlive.com

Author: James Grierson

Speciality coffee by its nature is fairly traded. Rather than being treated as a commodity on the futures market, it is traded on its quality, which in turn demands a premium price for the
farmer. For example, in May 2006 ‘Hacienda la Esmeralda Geisha’ coffee, from Panama, set a record of USD50.25 per pound at online auction (This award winning coffee retails for over
USD100 a pound). More over, it is not only third world countries which grow coffee, developed nations such as Australia and United States (Hawaii) also have established industries.

Many people imagine coffee to be grown in large plantations akin to vineyards, with row after row of coffee bushes. This may be the case for the beans that are sold to make your jar of instant coffee, but speciality coffee tends to be grown in smallholdings by the indigenous people of the land. In contrast to the mono-culture of plantations, these smallholdings are bio-diverse. The farmers cultivate the land with self-sufficiency in mind. They have to feed their family and
their livestock as well as growing coffee and other produce they can sell.

“Fair trade’s strategic intent is to deliberately work with marginalised producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency. It also aims at empowering them to become stakeholders in their own organizations and actively play a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international trade.” Wikipedia.com

This approach has great benefit for both the quality of the coffee and the sustainability of the land. The bio-diversity of the smallholding attracts natural predators to eat the pests, so
chemicals are not needed. The nutrients of the soil are not drained as the different species of plants require and produce different nutrients. And so, although most farmers choose not to
pay to be certified, their produce is organic and therefore better for us.

So you should feel good when you buy speciality coffee. Not only is it fairly traded, but it is grown in a sustainable and organic manner. You get great tasting coffee which is ethically
sound.

“Few Americans realize that agriculture workers in the coffee industry often toil in what can be described as “sweatshops in the fields.” Many small coffee farmers receive prices for their coffee that are less than the costs of production, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt.
Fair Trade is a viable solution to this crisis, assuring consumers that the coffee we drink was purchased under fair conditions.” Globalexchange.org

Shop for fair trade coffee

About the author:
James Grierson is the owner of Galla Coffee: http://www.gallacoffee.co.uk - UK online retailer of designer coffee accessories. Through the Coffee Knowledge section of his website he aims to help people understand more about coffee and give them tips on how to make great tasting coffee in their home.

Check out
http://www.gallacoffee.co.uk/acatalog/Coffee_Knowledge.html for more articles.

Author: John Wishley

Gardening is one of the most relaxing and rewarding hobbies which also carries benefits like bringing the entire family together and providing good health. While growing flowers is simply aesthetic joy, growing your own vegetables and herbs is something more practical and you can enjoy the crops in a much greater way. Having your own organic salad garden will ensure fresh and organic foods on your table all year round.

Reasons to Grow Organic Salad Garden
The main concern we all have when we purchase from a store is that the vegetables and salad may not be fresh and/or they are chemically treated. Chemicals are more likely than not to have side affects on our health, especially when consumed regularly; therefore many people seek out organic produce or choose to take the initiative of growing their own vegetables in an organic environment. Starting and maintaining an organic salad garden is easy and you will delight in having fresh from-your-garden salad everyday to accompany your meals.

Starting an Organic Salad Garden
The first and basic thing in starting an organic salad garden - as well as any organic garden at all - is to ensure that the soil in which you are going to plant the vegetables is not chemically treated in any way. Then you need to get the seeds from an organic store only to ensure that they are not treated artificially either. Maintaining an all organic salad garden also implies the use of chemical-free fertilizers and pest control, which can also be found in organic stores.

If your lawn has already been chemically treated then use pots, hanging baskets or raised beds with organic soil.

Start a worm composting bin for the best, organic fertilizer that costs only pennies

Never, ever use pesticides. Search the internet for natural methods of pest control. If it kills bugs then who knows what it is doing to your cells.

Lettuce, for example, is very easy to grow - it only needs plenty of water and sunlight. However, if it is winter and you have a green house you must ensure it has adequate light or else it will not grow very well.

Having Salad Everyday Improves Health
Salad is a very healthy complement to your food, which will not only add a dash of taste but will ensure that your metabolism works fine, blood stays purified and provides iron to the body. Having salad that is organically grown ensures that you don’t alter any of those properties nor compromise on your beliefs.

It takes very little to start your organic salad garden today. You can also get your family to help with planting - and all of you will be able to enjoy wonderful results together. Besides, gardening is also a great way to bond with the family and teach the kids some great life lessons such as, eat right and exercise in order to lead a happy and long life. You can achieve these numerous positive results by such simple thing as growing an organic salad garden.

“Successful vegetable gardens are not accidental. They are the results of planning, constant care, and the will to make things grow. Among the many things a vegetable garden may offer toward a satisfying experience are fresh air, exercise, sunshine, knowledge, supplemental income, mental therapy, and fresh food, rich in vitamins and minerals, harvested at the best stage of maturity.” Organic Vegetable Gardening

Buy the Book: Organic Salad Garden

About the author:
For more information on Organic salad gardens check out Myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. You’ll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.

“The USDA issued the largest beef recall in history Feb. 17 after the Humane Society released undercover video showing workers at Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. shoving sick or crippled cows with forklifts to get them to stand. The video also showed workers dragging sick cows with chains, shocking them with electric prods and shooting streams of water in their noses and faces. The lawsuit says the workers were trying to get the animals to stand, even briefly, so they could be considered acceptable for human consumption.” Foxnews.com

This is about more than the quality of meat that we eat. It is about how we as a society are treating our animal friends. The meat industry is an appalling example of our disconnect and callousness toward animals. The same people who adore their cats and dogs are perfectly willing to eat the meat of an animal tortured on its path to slaughter.

Even if Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer manages to reduce the torture with spot checks (rather than security cameras), we still have the issue of why the cows are sick and crippled to begin with. It is very simple. They are being fed a very unnatural diet of grain, fermented feed, antibiotics and hormones. Free range, grass fed cows are quite literally a totally different animal.

“Before factory farming took hold in the 1960’s……….meat was free of antibiotics, added hormones, feed additives, flavor enhancers, age-delaying gases and salt-water solutions. Mad cow disease and the deadliest strain of E. coli — 0157:H7 — did not exist. People dined on rare steaks and steak tartare (raw ground beef) with little fear.” Motherearthnews.com

Eating supermarket beef is not only supporting blatant cruelty to animals, but the stuff you are putting in your mouth cannot be called food. It is disgusting. The easiest way that you can do your part to end this needless suffering is to go vegan or vegetarian. If that is not an option at this time for you or your family, then please seek out grass fed beef for both the well being of the livestock and for the well being of your family.

Buy the Book: Pasture Perfect by Jo Robinson