Earth Day 2012

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.” -Native Indian Proverb

This Sunday is Earth Day’s 42nd birthday. Even though awareness of environmental issues has increased significantly over the past few years, the Earth still needs our help. In honor of our mother Earth, please do something to celebrate and show her you care. Here’s a few ways you + your family can help make this Earth a little greener.

• Plant a tree
• Start a compost pile
• Plant a garden (and use your compost pile)
• Pledge to start recycling
• Buy reuseable shopping bags
• Swap out your light bulbs with energy-efficient ones
• Get involved with your local environmental group
• Support local farmers/farmers markets
• Buy locally, naturally grown produce*

*Buying local natural foods. Foods grown by Aquaponics is just one of the many ways these foods are grown. “Aquaponics is the joint cultivation (growing), of fish and plants in a man-made re-circulating ecosystem that allows sustainable natural food growing without the use of harmful pesticides or chemical fertilizers.” Over the last few years I have tried many fruits, vegetables and herbs grown by Aquaponics and there is a huge difference in taste and quality. The fruits are juicer, the lettuces are crispier and the best part, it’s all naturally grown – pesticide/chemical free.

If you are interested in learning more about Aquaponics, how it works and how you can introduce it into your lifestyle tune in to The Organic View on Monday, April 23rd, 2012 from 4-5pm. My dad, Sahib from Sahib Aquaponics will be the guest speaker and explaining the methods and benefits of Aquaponics. You can also follow Sahib on Twitter @AquaponicsGuru.

This Sunday, April 22nd many local retailers will also be participating in Earth Day and hosting freebies and discounts, here’s a list of some of my favorites:

• Target is giving away free reusable shopping bags.
• Caribou Coffee is offering free coffee for customers who bring in a reusable mug.
• Starbucks is giving away free coffee or tea (your choice of brew, hot or iced) to who brings in a reusable mug or tumbler.
• Disney Store is offering free reusable totes when you bring in and recycle 5 plastic shopping bags.
• Origins Cosmetics is giving away a full-sized moisturizer when you trade in your old skin care product bottle, empty or full.
• The National Park Service is offering free admission to all 397 national parks April 21-29.