Earth Day Can Be Every Day

The ultimate victory over the unsympathetic wealthy and big businesses would be for the rest of us to take care of ourselves. It is only until the largest portion of us begin to recognize that the wealthy and big business have gotten that way off of us, the consumers. We pay attention to the media telling us what we need to wear, what we need to eat, what toys our kids must have to keep them occupied, what drugs we need to cure the latest malady, the movies we must see and, of course, the latest in electronics to make our lives simpler and our wallets lighter. We are also a VERY wasteful country. Everything we must have is tossed out when a newer, better model comes out. Understandably, big corporations depend on the frequency of replacement products. They can only make money if we are consuming and paying them even more money for the latest model of their product. This is true for automobiles, electronics, clothing, toys, furniture, appliances and housing. We are told by the media; radio. television, print, billboards, internet advertising bombards us daily with what we must have in order to be beautiful, handsome, intelligent, wealthy, in our world of today. Even in the modern age of the television 'reality show' we are constantly bombarded with how to 'keep up' with the Kardashian clan, what the modern day single bachelor or bachelorette must do in order to find love, how to get your little girl to feel 'pretty' and bring home the tiara, what the 'real' housewife is supposed to be doing and so on and so forth. Corporations count on us being wasteful because of our insane need to be a cookie cutter version of our neighbors, relatives, coworkers, classmates ad friends makes them insanely profitable. How many of us parents have heard the plaintive cries from our kids when they must have something because 'everybody' has it or does it. There were days when I wanted to find that kid named 'Everybody" and choke him. With six kids, 'Everybody' haunted our house at one moment or another. If we were to begin living simpler lives, corporations would begin to recognize that the 'golden goose' consumer is through playing their game and prices would lower, products would be made to last and it would make for a better earth, as well.

To begin with, we need to get back to having the family garden where food is grown and decorates your landscape just as hostas and hydrangeas do. Eating fresh food is far better for your health than the chemically infused products at your local grocery. There is also a certain amount of contentment to be found in working the soil and nourishing your own body with food that you have grown. Most people are unaware but the purchase of garden seeds and vegetable plants are covered by the SNAP (food stamp) program. If you live in a urban area where a plot of dirt is unavailable to you, look for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program or frequent your local farmer's markets. Eating local foods can really aid severe allergies. If you do not have a CSA available to you, look into starting one. My CSA of choice is Fresh Fork Market which supplies me with vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy, flour, honey, etc. The food is delicious. The cost is minimal because the food is 'farm to table' so there is no middle man to pay. Possibly the most important outcome of the CSA was the number of 'family farms' who were on the brink of collapse just a few years ago but are thriving and growing us delicious food to eat. The earth has benefitted as well because, instead of growing one single crop that may completely consume a specific mineral out of the dirt, the farmer's have expanded their production with varieties of vegetables that replenish the soil without harsh chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Crop rotation is the method that farmer's used for years before the huge corporations took over feeding us test tube, polymer 'food' stuff. Getting back to the Earth for our sustenance also improves our health which means we will be able to put a deep cut into the 'big pharma' profits. The very act of getting outside and working the garden is healthy exercise.

We must slow our lives down. We need to stop using so much fuel. There is no need for us all to drive everywhere we go. Public transportation is a wonderful way to get to and from work, if it is available to you. Many cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City, etc. have wonderful public transportation systems. Make the change to letting traffic be someone else's problem while you relax with a book, crossword puzzle or some knitting and a cup of coffee on your way to work and a power nap when your work day is done. We seem to have forgotten how to walk in this new millennium. Whatever is wrong with kids walking a couple of miles to and from school. Some of my best friends were made on the twice daily walk. Additionally, children do not melt in the rain, nor do they freeze in the snow and cold. It is actually healthy for children to be outside in all kinds of weather, it's healthy for you, as well. We also need to learn how to consolidate our trips out. It is quite easy to make one or two shopping trips per month. You'll spend less money. Shopping this way cuts WAY DOWN on the impulse buying that may strike you with frequent trips to the market. Of course, that backyard garden will put a big bite in your grocery bill, too!

#victory #waste #garden #transportation