Arbor Day-Doing Your Part

 I recently got a letter in the mail, asking me to donate $10 to the Arbor Day Foundation... Donate, I probobly will not, not because I don't believe in the foundation, or for any other reason besides I just don't have money to give to people these days. Besides my guilty feelings of not donateing my $10, I also decided that rather than donate money to them, I will join them by doing my part... by planting trees, flowers, and shrubs in my yard, picking up trash I may see laying around outside, by giving one whole day (April 24th) to Arbor Day.

Doesn't that sound like a great idea? I am going to make my family hang out at home that day and help me. This, also, will make a great "family day" for us, seeing my husband works out of town from Monday to Friday. This will be our "time-well-spent" day.

Many families throughout my town, and the surrounding areas, take a part in Arbor Day. Every year, the kids bring a baby pine tree home from school, the roots wrapped in a wet, brown paper towel, and we plant it as soon as possible. We have even taken them to my father's house and planted a couple. (I think he mowed them both over...) But the kids forgot about them, so we don't bring them up!

I've also participated in the annual "Pick-up-garbage-off-the-side-of-roads-Day"... (Not fun, but for a good cause...) It just goes to show who cares about our earth, I guess. Not that I think we can do much about global warming, but we may be able to at least slow it down a notch...

Some ideas for "DOING YOUR PART":

• Switching from your normal cleaning supplies to "Environment-friendly" supplies is a start...
• Recycling, and USING recycled products

• Growing your own gardens, (WITHOUT PESTICIDES!)

• Spreading the word on LITTERING, and taking part in it yourself

• Teaching your children while they are young, so they can get in the habit
• Using reuseable, cloth grocery bags, which are found all over now, so they are easy to find.

These are only a few tips. There is information all around you about "GOING GREEN", and switching to solar power, and wind power, and bio-fuel, etc...etc.

By doing my part, planting trees and such, I think it makes me feel like I did something good for our planet. It makes me appreciate it more... I mean, we live here, and we are the reason it's dying so quick... So, maybe the higher powers at work will see my contribution, and love me for it... Maybe it will make them want to greet me with a Mercedes, or something when my turn is up...(?)

It, also, will make my day to see my kids doing their part, too! I make sure to teach them these important things, and they enjoy it. They get the "belonging" sense, and I see smiles all day long! What else could a mommy ask for???

4 Major reasons why we need more trees:

1.) For wildlife: Trees help make nature a part of our daily lives. They provide nesting sites for birds, and food and cover for a whole variety of wildlife.

2.) To conserve energy: Cities without trees are "heat islands"; 100 million additional mature trees in U.S. cities would save $2 billion per year in energy costs.

3.) To clean the air: Trees help clean the air by "catching" airborne pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and small particulates.

4.) To increase property values: Shade trees planted east and west of your home can cut cooling costs 15-35%. Street trees shade the concrete and cool the whole neighborhood! By planting flowering trees, you also produce food for wildlife. Nut trees can be incorporated into windbreaks or serve as shade trees. A windbreak can lower heating bills 10-20%, and a backyard orchard lets you grow your own fruits...

You see? Planting trees not only helps our planet, but also helps serve us in many ways. By doing your part for Arbor day, your not only helping yourself, but others too. So, join me, and plant something this April 24th! Take advantage of the time spent with your family, and ENJOY IT! Actually be aware of what you are doing for your planet, and be pleased with your outcome.

I'm learning as I go, and I am actually looking forward to learning more on this subject! So, if anyone has any good suggestions, by all means, let me know! I'm always looking for new ideas!