Earth Day has come and gone, but you can have a long-term impact on those who surround you. Take note of the people, organizations and communities that you find your self living amongst, and work to bring about change in those areas where you have influence.

How you say? The Northwest Earth Institute offers these suggestions:

Use Green Power

You can choose to purchase electricity that is generated from renewable and environmentally friendly sources like wind and solar power. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Green Power Network website gives significant resources for state-by-state options for green power.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Note the order of this common phrase which starts with two important words that can be easily missed – reduce and reuse. Recycling helps to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases, but “pre-cycling,” or choosing wisely before purchasing, can help reduce packaging and energy consumption even further.

Buy Local

The goods that are manufactured and food that is grown close to home require far fewer resources to get them to you than those things shipped from another continent or region. Support local business and the local food economy to reduce transportation associated with the transport of goods.

**For recent data regarding how food choices affect climate change, please refer to the following 2008 article: Food Miles. Offset your remaining global warming pollution. After you take steps to reduce your global warming emissions, take steps to calculate your carbon footprint and consider offsetting the balance. You can go “Zero Carbon” to effectively support renewable technologies and minimize your impact on the climate.

Contact your government representatives Speak with your representatives at all levels of government to let them know that global warming is a priority and needs to be addressed immediately. Support local, state and federal initiatives that seek to reduce global warming.
Resources for the Environmentally Conscious

Member Noel Steiner offers this educational and fun source:

La Milpa Organica Farm hosts a ‘third Saturday’ (the 3rd Saturday of each month) potluck and movie. It’s a free open house that allows the community to visit the farm see where their food is grown and meet like minded people. La Milpa invites guests to share a meal with others, a la potluck, and then gather for a film under the oaks in the Cinema paradise outdoor theater.

Films begin as dusk turns to dark. Plan on eating about one hour before the film so that you have time to walk around the farm, and then share food and conversation with others. There is a wood fired oven available for those wishing to take advantage of it.

Directions to the Farm:

I-15 five miles north of Escondido.
Exit Deer Springs – Mountain Meadow.
Right turn top of ramp.
Immediate right turn onto Centre City Parkway.
Left turn 1/4 mile onto Protea Gardens Rd.
Proceed Through the farm gate. The kitchen is to the left.