Earth Day Preservation- Its Really in Our Hands!
Earth Day is every day but we do take time today to note what exactly is our relationship to being good stewards of this planet that sustains us. I have a reputation for being a recycling nut going back 35 years or more, starting a recycling program in my sons preschool co-op in the 80's where I introduced a circular program of redeeming recyclables to fund an organic garden for the kids, as well as teaching these 3-5 year olds the practices of caring for the earth. I had more resistance of course from the parents who were use to tossing trash without thinking or even considering the health hazards of swabbing down a preschool in toxic bleach everyday!
I converted to non-toxic cleaners and simple practices to keep our school clean and healthy. No one got sick with some horrible disease as was the response when I suggested bleach was chemical warfare on their kids more than germs.
This brings me to today. Opening Lotus Yoga is a GREEN studio in where I took the time and effort to have all the finishes , paint, flooring , lighting etc be low impact, energy efficient and non toxic right down to our yoga mats and blocks with are biodegradable.. Practicing yoga is a practice of awakening consciousness. Being a conscious steward of this planet is inseparable from yoga.
There is such a clarion call NOW in terms of the tipping point for the health of the planet. Our water, air and soils health has been doused with billions of tons of pollutants including pharmaceuticals that find their way into water supplies. Our climate is warming and will continue to cause catastrophic shifts in weather, affecting all through mega storms, swings from drought to floods, heat waves to deluges. WE ALL NEED TO WISE UP AND BE COMMITTED IN EACH CORNER OF OUR LIVES TO LEAVE THE SMALLEST FOOTPRINT and IMPACT on the earth.
While reducing our consumption is key, also practices of rejuvenating our corner of the world with planting trees, and drought tolerant native species. Growing a garden is key to reconnecting to the sacred relationship of harvesting ones food from the earths soil. STOP BUYING WATER IN BOTTLES PLEASE, There are so many alternatives, glass bottles, stainless steel bottles, your tap is fine, use it. GIVE REUSEABLE WATER BOTTLES TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Lobby your favorite resturaunts to stop using styrofoam take out containers. Walk or ride a bicycle more . Air dry your clothes. Set up a toy exchange with your friends to recycle the volumes of childrens toys that end up on the curb. Around here weekly I see dozens of infant and child items disposed of as the market for creating more and more complicated toys that children often ditch with lack of interest.
The list goes on. Be creative and find one issue that you have some passion about it and become a peace warrior for the planet!! We NEED everyone on board to make a shift. By the way, for a family of 4 with 3 adults we produce one small bag (supermarket grocery bag size) of unrecylable trash per week. Its doable ! Let me know what earth preservation practices you have adopted with your family, or at work. Namaste ~ Anne Townend-Duffey
Earth Day is every day but we do take time today to note what exactly is our relationship to being good stewards of this planet that sustains us. I have a reputation for being a recycling nut going back 35 years or more, starting a recycling program in my sons preschool co-op in the 80's where I introduced a circular program of redeeming recyclables to fund an organic garden for the kids, as well as teaching these 3-5 year olds the practices of caring for the earth. I had more resistance of course from the parents who were use to tossing trash without thinking or even considering the health hazards of swabbing down a preschool in toxic bleach everyday!
I converted to non-toxic cleaners and simple practices to keep our school clean and healthy. No one got sick with some horrible disease as was the response when I suggested bleach was chemical warfare on their kids more than germs.
This brings me to today. Opening Lotus Yoga is a GREEN studio in where I took the time and effort to have all the finishes , paint, flooring , lighting etc be low impact, energy efficient and non toxic right down to our yoga mats and blocks with are biodegradable.. Practicing yoga is a practice of awakening consciousness. Being a conscious steward of this planet is inseparable from yoga.
There is such a clarion call NOW in terms of the tipping point for the health of the planet. Our water, air and soils health has been doused with billions of tons of pollutants including pharmaceuticals that find their way into water supplies. Our climate is warming and will continue to cause catastrophic shifts in weather, affecting all through mega storms, swings from drought to floods, heat waves to deluges. WE ALL NEED TO WISE UP AND BE COMMITTED IN EACH CORNER OF OUR LIVES TO LEAVE THE SMALLEST FOOTPRINT and IMPACT on the earth.
While reducing our consumption is key, also practices of rejuvenating our corner of the world with planting trees, and drought tolerant native species. Growing a garden is key to reconnecting to the sacred relationship of harvesting ones food from the earths soil. STOP BUYING WATER IN BOTTLES PLEASE, There are so many alternatives, glass bottles, stainless steel bottles, your tap is fine, use it. GIVE REUSEABLE WATER BOTTLES TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Lobby your favorite resturaunts to stop using styrofoam take out containers. Walk or ride a bicycle more . Air dry your clothes. Set up a toy exchange with your friends to recycle the volumes of childrens toys that end up on the curb. Around here weekly I see dozens of infant and child items disposed of as the market for creating more and more complicated toys that children often ditch with lack of interest.
The list goes on. Be creative and find one issue that you have some passion about it and become a peace warrior for the planet!! We NEED everyone on board to make a shift. By the way, for a family of 4 with 3 adults we produce one small bag (supermarket grocery bag size) of unrecylable trash per week. Its doable ! Let me know what earth preservation practices you have adopted with your family, or at work. Namaste ~ Anne Townend-Duffey
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