i see trees of green

When you shop for groceries do you take your own bags; paper, plastic or cloth? Do you throw the plastic and paper out or do you reuse or recycle the bags? These are small but important actions that you can take to show you care for the environment. Do you recycle? Not just paper, glass and plastic but clothing, furniture, etc. It’s always better to use and reuse. We are far too wasteful. Recently one of my daughters was shopping on line and was given the opportunity to contribute funds to offset resources used to package products to an organization that is located at www.gozero.org.uk a lot of good things going on in that village. What thought provoking ideas and actions that are taking place, a model for more of us to follow. We can do wonders when we take action.

Everyday should be Earth Day, just as everyday should be Valentines Day or Christmas but, we know that isn’t the way it is. We can be more deliberate about how we go about our life. We can make choices, we can establish goals and set priorities. Our choices often are influenced by ads that have no real information about the product that is being promoted. By taking time to become an informed consumer you will have taken the first step to better choices. Make it a priority to have a toxic free home and in doing so, you will be giving back to Mother Earth instead of taking. If you set a goal to do so by April 22nd (Earth Day), what a wonderful gift! Take time today to check out www.Shaklee.net/greenhome you will be glad you did.

On April 12th, the world celebrates Earth Day. What will you give her on that day? It’s not too early to start thinking about it. Would you like to give enough trees to neutralize your carbon emmissions for a year? If so, you might check out www.shakleemilliontrees.org. If you choose to give or not, the site is very interesting and you can learn about carbon emmissions as well other worth while projects.

I have always loved the lyrics to the song writen by Louis Armstrong:

“I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

Think to yourself what the world would be like without those trees of green. Then, take action! Become involved. Plant a tree or save a tree. I live in the desert where trees fight to exist, where water is next to none so, when I plant, it’s a native low water usage, able to survive on its own after three years. When you plant, consider what is native to your area. If you can’t plant, then recycle and or conserve. Check out my link to GreenHome at www.shaklee.net/greenhome/ to see how you can plant the equivalent of 10 trees without lifting a shovel.

If you want to make a difference in your personal environment, start by checking under your kitchen sink. Household products are among the most toxic substances that we encounter on a daily basis. You may not have been aware or realized that these products can be dangerous to your health and the health of our planet. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission; document#382, each year poison control centers report nearly one million children under the age of five are exposed to potentially poisonious household cleaners and medicines. They recommend safety latches and locks on cabinets. These same products are being breathed in by the person who is using them and in turn are dumped into our sewers where they eventually wind up in our rivers and streams. When I first found products that were environmentally friendly and non-toxic, I boxed up all of the old cleaners and set them in the garage until I decided to take them to the toxic waste site. You can learn about the latest greates cleaners that I use by clicking on the link to greenhome.

Newsweek Magazine, January 8,2007 has an article about the environment “Easy To Be Green” They reinforce the fact that household chemicals contribute to both indoor and outdoor pollution and they recommend using more natural cleaners. The article can be viewed at Newsweek.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16……/newsweek/

I want the world to know that it can become healthy. That it is within the reach of each of us to make a difference. Start with whatever is your passion. If you are appreciative of nature and you enjoy hiking, biking or canoening, then don’t let your area be spoiled with toxic chemicals. It’s your air, it’s your water. Find out about products that affect your water and how long it takes to clean the water effectively so that plants can grow and you can safely drink the water. Find out about toxic fumes and how they affect your health. As we spend more time together, I will share some of what I have learned and what I am trying to do to help keep our planet healthy.