Kiss Your Planet 
10 Ways To Show Your Mother (Earth) You Love Her
Happy Earth Day - April 22nd is the official day to celebrate our planet. So this month we offer 10 easy ways you can help keep earth green. When you read the news the situation can appear overwhelmingly dire but, we can all take steps big and small to make a difference.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
It might be sounding old by now but, it’s true. Here are some ways to do it.
1. Be a conscious consumer. Before you buy anything, stop, think about if you really need it and will really use it. Think of all the landfill created by our incredible excess in purchasing and then reconsider that purchase. Vote with your wallet. Purchase items from companies committed to being environmentally aware, look for products with little or no secondary packaging, with natural ingredients and shop local whenever you can.
2. Turn it off! WATER When you let the water run while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing dishes, you are swallowing up our rivers, lakes and aquifers. So please, turn off the water. You’ll save over three gallons each time your brush your teeth.
3. Waste not, want not. Only run your dishwasher or washing machine with full loads. You are saving water, electricity and time.
4. Consider your cleaner. Choose eco friendly soaps for all your household tasks and for your personal use. They are kinder to you and kinder to the planet.
Run off from detergents may contain phosphates (no longer present in laundry detergent in the US). Higher than normal phosphate levels can destroy the health of lake, stream or other fresh water bodies, as they allow algae in the water to grow faster than would naturally occur. Ultimately lakes and other water bodies fill in with dead algae and other organic matter and eventually turn into dry land. On the way to that other life in the water, such as fish is devastated.
There are many brands available to choose from these days but please read the labels carefully. Some of them still contain chlorine bleach which, if it can be avoided, should.
5. Review your household cleaners. Many of them have nasty ingredients which, in addition to threatening the environment are not doing you and your family much good either.
(I am presently testing out various natural household cleaners, if you are interested in seeing the results and recommendations please contact me email: melinamacall@livingwellconsultants.com)
6.Turn it off! Electricity It’s very simple, when you leave a room switch off the lights. If you can, please turn off computers, televisions and other electrical equipment by unplugging them. Here is a chart so you can see which devices are the biggest offenders! http://standby.lbl.gov/summary-chart.html
7. Choose your promo items carefully. Whether it is the give away key ring with your band’s name or the plastic toys at your kid’s party please reconsider. None of us needs this and these products are a tremendous drain of natural resources, energy and space. If you need to get your name out there consider other alternatives. From seeded card bookmarks to, reusable bags to reusable water bottles there’s bound to be a better alternative.
8. Give the trees a break. Reduce paper use. From paper towels to printed newsletters think paperless. Can you send out more of what you do electronically? Can you give up the paper towels and move to cloth? How about declining the wads of napkins given with takeout? Use the back of all those faxes and other printed papers again.
9. Reuse bags. Carry a couple of bags with you at all times. That way you will always have them available for last minute shopping. There are some great bags which fold up into tiny pouches you can keep in your purse or backpack. Reusable bags aren’t just for supermarkets anymore.
10. Pick it up. Don’t litter and, if you are already a saint in this area then think about picking up some of the trash you walk by every day. If you feel like having a fun family or neighborhood activity, try going out for an afternoon in your neighborhood with a couple of trash bags and pick up what you find lying around. You will be amazed by how much you can collect in the space of a couple of hours.
Got Questions? Green goddess and well-living consultant, Melina Macall knows it all.
As CEO & founder of Muti Oils, one of the universe’s most caring organic skincare and healthy living brands; and Boxed Organics which offers affordable organic produce conviently delivered to the local community, Melina has a knack for combining a green vision with an understanding of the demands of daily life.
A lifelong social activist, Melina sources fair trade and environmentally sensitive products & is committed to helping individuals & organizations live healthy lifestyles while keeping its carbon footprint to a tiptoe.
Find out what Melina can do for you:
melinamacall@livingwellconsultants.com
