Happy Earth Day, yo

What have you done for our planet lately? If you can’t think of a single thing, then you really ought to be ashamed of yourself.

There are so many little things you can do to step up your game when it comes to doing your part to ensure the sustainability of our natural resources and maintain the health of our ecosystem. Could you stop being lazy for a few minutes and perhaps try one on for size? Here, I’ll even give you an idea: reusable grocery bags. Here’s another: RECYCLE, MOTHERFUCKER.

Several years ago I had a conversation with a woman who said she didn’t recycle because it wasn’t her problem. She didn’t feel that her actions would make a difference and it was an inconvenience anyway, so she just didn’t bother. She’s a moron. And so are you if you follow her logic. You may be one single person, but when you figure the cumulative value of all those people out there doing something good, and your actions being added to theirs…change is possible. Stop being so cynical and see it for once. Bastards.

I had a hard time coming up with something feasible to adopt or give up for Earth Day today. Here are some of the things I already do:

• use resuable grocery bags
• recycle like a mofo (honestly, I need a larger recycle bin and a smaller trash bin like they have in Ft Bragg)
• 80% of my groceries are local
• 75% of my groceries are organic
• got rid of all chemical cleaners in the house long ago and now only use natural remedies like vinegar, lemon oil, and tea tree oil
• replaced all the bulbs in this place with CFL’s
• compost my organic materials
• reduced water usage through planting of native plants

Maybe if I just spread a little knowledge, that will be enough to do my part today? I’m always saying that one of the greatest problems facing the environment and the green movement is educating the public as to the facts and theories. There’s so much spin out there, I don’t know that any common person has the straight scoop. If I have to hear one more person go “Fffft! It’s freezing outdoors! SO MUCH FOR YOUR GLOBAL WARMING, HIPPIE.” I’m liable to start breaking things. Cannot be held responsible for my society-induced insanity.

Here’s a piece of sage wisdom. Before you purchase something, even if it’s just a box of cereal…consider everything that went into making that product. Not just the materials themselves…the corn, the sugar, the artificial flavors and colors…think about the resources that were consumed to grow the corn, including not only the water or the fertilizer, but also the fuel used to run the farm equipment and the complete removal of the native vegetation to accommodate the large-scale farming. Think of these things and the impact they can and/or do have on the environment (you’ll need to do a little footwork on your own to figure that out) and then consider whether or not it’s worth it to buy that product or if you can find a more viable, local alternative. It’s more than likely that you will be paying a little more for the local product, but the tradeoff is worth it if you can afford it. Even if you can only afford to go local for one or two products on your whole grocery list…that’s one or two steps closer to change. It gets easier as you move along. And it feels great to know that you are doing a tiny bit of good.

Speaking of trying new products, I loaded up on all sorts of organic things today, including a new oatmeal, a new pump handsoap (in wonderfully recyclable containers, natch), a new toothpaste, and a new sunscreen, to name a few. All local or brought in via green transportation (yay eco-friendly UPS vehicles!). I’m hoping everything works out. I like new stuff and feeling like I’m doing good. I’ll let you know if there’s anything that gives me a boner.