In the interests of starting the new year a little lighter and less encumbered by stuff, get in touch with your local Freecycle network. Freecycle is a simple (though somewhat revolutionary, in our new-new-new obsessed society) internet-based concept that allows users to post free items and look for used (free) items they need. Freecycle's stated purpose is to recycle perfectly good items, thereby reducing the amount of thrown-away things that end up in our landfills.
Our household got turned on to Freecycle after my husband attempted unsuccessfully to give away a slightly worn sofa (the result of combining two houses of furniture) using the familiar avenues (charitable organizations, etc.). We were more than a little chagrined to realize that most people simply throw away their unwanted furniture, and thrilled to discover the Freecycle sphere where we found a new home for our old but still usable couch.
It's a curious phenomenon of our easy-credit economy that there seems to be less and less demand for used goods from worthy outfits like Goodwill Industries. I recently tried to donate a set of ski boots and skis - still in good shape and seemingly a great deal for someone new to skiing - at my local Goodwill store, only to find out that they no longer accept ski equipment because "kids won't buy used equipment, they all want new skis". Thank goodness that, if people aren't as eager to buy used stuff, at least they'll take it for free.
Check out http://www.freecycle.org/, and they next time you're tempted to throw out your unwanted stuff, try "Freecycling" it instead.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Plant a flower for the bees
You've probably heard about the devastating - and to most scientists and beekeepers, mystifying - widespread disappearance of bees across the U.S. landscape. It's devastating for us humans because our crops and food sources rely on bees for pollination. In spite of our best efforts to control the earth, we still haven't figured out a way to mimic one of nature's most essential function - pollination. The loss of bees could potentially shut down our fruit and vegetable industries, yet nobody is quite sure how to stop this phenomenon.
While scientists scratch their heads, Burt's Bees is doing their part to help the bees on a grassroots level. While I wouldn't ordinarily endorse any corporation, what Burt's Bees is offering is free, so I feel ethically justified in this case. Burt's will ship you a free packet of wildflower seeds to plant in your garden and help feed the bees.
One theory about the massive bee disappearance is that we've so eradicated their natural environment that they can't survive...or they've simply given up in disgust and moved on to a healthier territory outside the U.S. In any case, wildflowers will beautify your garden, attract butterflies and bees, and bring a little bit of nature to your corner. Don't worry, the bees won't sting as long as you're kind to them...and whatever you do, keep the lawn chemicals away from your new flower patch.
Visit http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SeedUserInfo?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1 and sign up for your free flower seeds. I can hear the bees buzzing with anticipation already!
While scientists scratch their heads, Burt's Bees is doing their part to help the bees on a grassroots level. While I wouldn't ordinarily endorse any corporation, what Burt's Bees is offering is free, so I feel ethically justified in this case. Burt's will ship you a free packet of wildflower seeds to plant in your garden and help feed the bees.
One theory about the massive bee disappearance is that we've so eradicated their natural environment that they can't survive...or they've simply given up in disgust and moved on to a healthier territory outside the U.S. In any case, wildflowers will beautify your garden, attract butterflies and bees, and bring a little bit of nature to your corner. Don't worry, the bees won't sting as long as you're kind to them...and whatever you do, keep the lawn chemicals away from your new flower patch.
Visit http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SeedUserInfo?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1 and sign up for your free flower seeds. I can hear the bees buzzing with anticipation already!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Saving the earth one random act of kindness at a time
Today brought to mind an oft-quoted phrase about the value of practicing random acts of kindness and senseless beauty. The timely reminder came from Indigo, a beautiful deep black (hence her moniker) horse who's been rescued by my friend Rhonda from a large-animal shelter in Massachusetts. Because Indigo has never been trained to be ridden, she's not considered 'adoptable' by most would-be horse owners, a situation that doesn't bode well for animals in an overcrowded and cash-strapped shelter environment. So my friend Rhonda, a horse trainer by trade, is giving Indigo shelter and training to make her adoptable, and a new lease on life.
In the context of global warming, or the loss of vital habitats, or the black-market trade in endangered species, saving one horse may not seem significant. But for me it's a lesson about the value of a single act of kindness toward the earth and its creatures. Because it places value not on the current consumer-spending index or the machinations of warring political candidates, but on simply committing an act of kindness towards an innocent creature.
This could be our best hope for rescuing the planet from the devastation of global warming and environmental exploitation. If everyone started practicing a single act of kindness towards the planet every day - deciding to trade in the SUV for a fuel-efficient car, turning down the heat to save fossil-fuels and carbon output, switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and not spreading chemicals on the lawn - imagine the possibilities. We just might have a chance of saving the planet - and ourselves in the process.
To find out how you can practice random acts of kindness towards the animal kingdom, and Indigo's friends at the animal shelter, check out (http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=acac_NevinsHomepage).
In the context of global warming, or the loss of vital habitats, or the black-market trade in endangered species, saving one horse may not seem significant. But for me it's a lesson about the value of a single act of kindness toward the earth and its creatures. Because it places value not on the current consumer-spending index or the machinations of warring political candidates, but on simply committing an act of kindness towards an innocent creature.
This could be our best hope for rescuing the planet from the devastation of global warming and environmental exploitation. If everyone started practicing a single act of kindness towards the planet every day - deciding to trade in the SUV for a fuel-efficient car, turning down the heat to save fossil-fuels and carbon output, switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and not spreading chemicals on the lawn - imagine the possibilities. We just might have a chance of saving the planet - and ourselves in the process.
To find out how you can practice random acts of kindness towards the animal kingdom, and Indigo's friends at the animal shelter, check out (http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=acac_NevinsHomepage).
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