How I Choose to Help

What can I do to help lessen my impact on our Earth's resources?

This question is always in in the back of my mind-almost nagging. Often, what I do does not feel like I am making an impact on our situation.  It is satisfying when I take our recycled cans, bottles and paper and place them into a large dumpster and I know it is very important. Thankfully, many of us reduce, re-use, re-purpose and recycle.

This just doesn’t feel very satisfying even though I know I am doing the right thing.  I don’t really know what the final outcome of my action is.  It isn’t enough for me.

My Recycle Bin: Paper, Plastic and Glass

I gladly contribute what I can to good organizations that ask for donations. But I want to do more than that.

They perform the helping for me.  I receive letters and reports telling me how my dollars have helped.  But I want to do something.  I want to see, feel and know I am helping on a daily basis.

www.heifer.org                                        http://www.gardenwriters.org

 I decided my contribution is to grow some of my own food.

By growing just one tomato plant or some lettuce, my small voice will join the choir singing the refrain-we need to change our ways.

Growing my own food allows me to know I am helping because:

• I can reduce and reclaim profit that would support established food production
• I  can follow my natural instinct to honor and respect my food and how it is grown
• My growing methods are harmonized and balanced
• I  can participate in the miracle that occurs from planting seeds to eating at my table
• My food is healthier and so am I

To sum it up: Growing my own food just feels right.

Just Picked Green Beans Ready to Eat!

How can you help?

• Join a community garden                                   http://www.communitygarden.org/
• Start you own garden
• Grow one tomato plant in a pot on your deck, porch or balcony
• Volunteer at a food co-op, farmers market or with local food producers www.rumblewayfarm.com/           www.calvertfarm.com/      http://www.localharvest.org/
• Learn more about how your purchased food is produced
• Connect with other small gardeners
• Share this link
• Tweet this post
• Share how you help