Hey y’all I just wanted to get a quick note out on earth day. So the purpose of earth day is to celebrate our beautiful, bountiful planet. The quickest way I like to enjoy nature is to walk through my garden when I have tea in the morning. Its almost like a moving meditation if you will. Meditation is helpful in lowering your blood pressure and you can actually reshape neurotransmitters to reprogram your brain to be in a constant state of happiness.
Granted my garden consists of several potted plants, lots of aloe and 2 huge variegated blue agaves (which i got as little tiny guys and joke about making tequilla from – half serious) Lately I have been doing some care taking for an elderly woman who has the greenest thumb I have ever seen. She planted tomatoes, squash, cucumber, peppers, and eggplant. Her garden has grown so large in the last month and she is already pulling several cucumbers and squash to eat. Her tomatoes will be ready in a few weeks and there are enough there to feed a small army. The reason why Im writing about this is because as a Registered Dietitian, I am constantly telling people to eat fresh foods and what not a better way to eat fresh produce than to grow your own. Its super simple all you need is a little sun, water and some TLC. If you have kids, this is a great project to do as a family because it helps them to see where their food comes from and how it grows.
In honor of earth day, I encourage all of you to do your part in conserving our natural resources by eating and living sustainably. Growing your own garden helps to decrease carbon emissions and hopefully pesticide use if you use organic gardening techniques. My favorite organic gardening technique is to use the complementary planting method. With this method, you plant different species of plants together that will protect each other. For example, plant marigolds with your tomatoes. Marigolds are known to repel garden pest and therefore reduce the need to use pesticides. Little tips like that can give you some of the most amazing foods that are full of flavor, free, fresh, and are not contaminated with pesticides (that can cause damage to the body). Have you ever picked a vine ripened strawberry that was being warmed by the sun? Its not just food or nourishment, its an experience.
One more thing that isnt really related to gardening, but is definitely related to earth day is how we are letting all kinds of trash into our oceans. I know i have already written about the pacific trash vortex in another blog entry (i think it was stewards of the planet). The pacific trash vortex is a floating island of trash in the middle of the pacific ocean the size of Texas! There is also one in the Atlantic. If you dont believe me, please google it. We need to be more mindful of our actions and how they are impacting the planet. On this earth day in 2014, what habits will you incorporate to your lifestyle to keep our planet clean and green for the generations to come? Will it be starting your own garden, using your reusable bag, installing solar panels, or a installing grey water system? leave a comment below for other sustainable living techniques that you use. and if you have time, check out earthships on google. One day, I will have one.
lynseyargota 