Being a Good Steward

 Today is the official Earth Day.  I feel confident that most people that are reading this, take care to be vigilant about taking care of the earth.  We need to be mindful and resourceful of everything we have.  Our earth is precious - it gives us a home - it gives us food - it gives us the beauty of nature.

We all know that we need to take care of it.  There are so many little things that we can do that just make good sense and that will make life better for all living things.

DON'T LITTER - this just makes me so angry.  So many people don't care.  Not only is it a disgusting and ugly thing, it is so disrespectful to others who really care.

It is also bad for tourism - if your town is trashy, how many will want to return?

Litter can be so harmful to wildlife.  Animals can get caught into various litter and die, they can eat things that are harmful.  Litter is just bad in so many ways.

Go out and pick-up litter when you see it.  It may not be your litter, but be the bigger person and pick it up.  Encourage businesses in your area to keep trash receptacles outside their businesses, that people can use.  Also encourage them to keep their commercial properties clean

Don't use so much packaging.  That just becomes trash and goes into our landfills.  Some packaging will takes years and years (if ever) to break down.

Plant indigenous plants and trees around your property.  They add back to the natural habitat of animals and insects and birds, they add oxygen to the air, and they help the actual earth.

Don't waste.  It takes a lot for food to get to your plate.  Collecting and harvesting seeds  or raising animals, farmers planting, taking care of the plants or taking care of livestock, butchering and harvesting, shipping, buildings to sell it, packaging....... my goodness there is so much involved.  PLEASE don't waste it.  Use in other ways or cook less or just buy less.

Be mindful of your utilities.  Don't waste water - it is precious.  Don't waste electricity or gas or oil.  These things make our life easier - but we should never waste them.  If you are not using - turn it off.

Please don't use chemicals on your lawn and yard.  We need these bees and other insects for pollination.  Without them - we do without.  Try not to use chemicals in your home as well - clean with natural products.  Remember whatever you put on your surfaces - you are putting into your skin and into the air you breath (and what we all breath).  You pets touch surfaces and breath the air and lick their paws - chemicals get into the little bodies.  The same with children - they touch everything and their hands are always in their mouths.

Recycle, reclaim and reuse everything you can.  It just makes sense. Our resources are limited and prices continue to rise - so use what you have in new ways.  Not only are you helping yourself, you are helping this planet.

Plan your trips out - be resourceful with your gasoline.  Car pool if possible,  Walk or bike if you have the ability - it is healthy exercise too.

If you have the ability to raise some produce - do it.  It is just a little less that you have to purchase.  IF you raise it, you know how it is raised.  No chemicals or garbage or preservatives in it.  

Allow fresh air into your home whenever you can.  Everything in your home - from rugs to curtains and furniture - have chemicals in their construction.  They may be older - but the air should still be refreshed.  You circulate the same old air over and over with your heater and air conditioner - purge out the old air and allow fresh air in.  You will feel so much better.

There are a millions 'tiny' ways to help our planet and our lives.  Do whatever thing you can to help.  This is the world that future generations will have to use.  

BE A GOOD STEWARD of this BIG OLD PLANET.