Home and Earth

Organic gardening can be fun and rewarding. Just by laying down some news paper or cardboard on the ground and piling leaves and other yard and garden wastes on top, you've started the beginning of a garden bed or compost pile. This may not seem like much, but after learning more about compost, earthworms, healthy soil, beautiful flowers and tasty fruits and vegetables, I think you'll want to know more.

The earth's soil and water are alive with beneficial organisms, plants and animals. The air is a complex balance of gases that they depend on for life and good health. Having a clean environment insures that these earth dwellers can produce and maintain a productive ecosystem good for encouraging life where we live and grow.

Growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and ornamental gardens organically using compost and natural fertilizers when needed, will help keep our air, soil and water clean. Fruits, vegetables and herbs grown organically taste better and are more healthy.

It will take time to build a good soil structure that will sustain a healthy and more productive garden when converting from chemical fertilizers to an organic method. The movement of water and air and seedling and root growth benefit from a well maintained soil structure.

Green home improvements are environmentally friendly, will save money on utility bills and are good investments. More energy efficient products and services are becoming more available as technology progresses.

Renewable energy sources that we can apply directly to our homes are wind and solar power. Passive solar is used to heat water and living spaces. A geothermal heat pump is used to cool and heat the inside of homes.

Non-renewable energy sources come out of the ground as liquids (oil), gases (propane and natural gas), and solids (coal). They form from the buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. It is too expensive and environmentally damaging to tap these diminishing resources.

Recycling and reusing throw aways helps to keep our environment clean, grow environmentally friendly industries and is economically smart at home and in business.

Reducing waste that would go to a landfill will allow that landfill to be used longer. This will save money on garbage disposal and fuel usage to transport the waste. Reducing waste also conserves our natural resources and land space.

Reuse things that are in good condition when possible.

Recycling metal, paper, plastic, glass and oil will help to keep our environment clean and can also be profitable. Batteries, electronics, tires and even water can be recycled.

Food that has been highly processed and loaded down with unhealthy preservatives and additives are not good for our body. These processed foods and chemicals can harm our immune and digestive systems. We can become weak or sick and unable to absorb healthy food properly.

Eating naturally nutritious food, a good lifestyle and regular exercise can lead to a healthy and productive life.

Eliminating avoidable stress and eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and plenty of water provides energy throughout the day.