An Awakening...

It's kind of strange where one has epiphanies.  Rachael and I were out the other day at one of our favorite stores (REI), and stumbled across a t-shirt.  I have always been one of those suckers for a good bumper sticker, so why not put it on a t-shirt?  Well this shirt in particular had something rather profound written on it.

In the late 1800's, early 1900's there was a Cree Indian Prophetess by the name of Eyes of Fire that had made a prophesy a company by the name of Green Label saw fit to put on a t-shirt.  I would like you to really think about what you read as you take this in.  While ingesting these words please think about what you can do to change your ways.

The Cree Indian Prophesy says: "Only after the last tree has been cut down;
                                                     Only after the last fish has been caught;
                                                     Only after the last river has been poisoned;
                                                     Only then will you realize
                                                     that money cannot be eaten."

After reading this profound statement I came to realize that I am not doing enough to be kind to Mother Earth.  We recycle, limit the amount of trash we put in the landfill, almost never use plastic bags from the store, composting, raising some of our own food, and just overall trying to be more "green".  Some would say we are doing more than enough.  I don't think we are.

When will we as a people stand up to big industry and big brother and say NO!?  They need to stop destroying the world.  I suppose I need to say this now, as it may have come across your mind.  I do not believe in global warming for a whole host of reasons.  But that is for another rant at another time.  I do however, believe in green living and reducing our footprint.  Our world is changing rapidly every day.  Most may not notice as the change is gradual.   Our highly consumeristic society is tragically running this world right into oblivion.  I would be willing to bet that most children think that food comes from the store, where in reality food comes from the ground, through farmers hands.

I say buy local.  I say buy fresh from farmers markets.  Support your local farmers who are struggling to survive.  Buy in season, which means only buy food that will naturally grow in the US for that time of year.  Produce from other countries is not treated to the same standards as ours is.  It may have chemicals on it that are far beyond toxic to your family.

I recommend that you unplug the the electronics in your house that you are not using.  You would be surprised at your next electric bill if you do.  Electric rates are about to go through the roof as the caps come off just in time for winter.  So the time to change is now.  Go gradual.  You can't do it all over night.  But try to make some changes in your life that will help sustain you for the future.  Here is a great idea - get outside and grow a small garden with you children.  Teach them about the land and let them play in the dirt and have fun in the earth.

There are many websites out there that would be good resources for safe gardening.  Don't use chemicals on the food you grow.  Use manure for fertilizer, and food grade diatomaceous earth to kill the bugs on the plants.  We would be defeating our purposes if we planted and ate chemically ridden vegetables.  A good magazine to read is called Mother Earth News.  It can be found at your local book seller, or you can subscribe to them online.  Rachael has been reading it for a few years now and we have gotten many great ideas from them.

Please, I beg you, do you, your family and the world a favor and do something, one thing toward being kinder to the planet today.  Try to change one thing at a time.  Pace yourself to a new way of living.  Thats just the way I see it...