Welcome to Earth Sense News ...

Everyday we read, or hear, or see more information about the State of the Earth. Many of us around the planet are also feeling the effects of climate change and environmental problems. We hear about, or live through, droughts, floods, famine, species extinction, toxic air, contaminated water, and on and on it goes ... 

For me, this gets to be pretty depressing very quickly.  Knowing what other people are doing to make a difference helps me deal with this flood of distressing news.  I find myself actively looking for "news I can use".  I want to know what I can do to make a difference, even if it seems to be something small.  For instance, as many people are doing, we either recycle or reuse the bags that come home with us from shopping trips.  For me, the next obvious step is to buy reusable shopping bags and make sure we carry them in the car.  So, I am currently searching for the best and most economical shopping bags.  I will post the results of my search here soon. 

Another of my recycling efforts has been to save our egg cartons and take them to the organic egg and produce lady at our Farmer's Market.  This works great as long as I remember to take the bags full of egg cartons with us when we go to the Farmer's Market ... !  If I forget for too long, we end up with what looks like a life time supply of egg cartons in the garage.  Always a big hit when we need to find something stored in the garage.

I have been able to do some recycling at work, thanks to everyone's cooperation.  I work at our district fire department and I noticed that we were trashing a lot of AA and AAA batteries from our pagers.  After a bit of searching, I found a battery distributor who would take our "dead batteries" and dispose of them in an environmentally safe way.  Fortunately, their battery prices are good as well.  As part of our Auxiliary fund-raising efforts for the department, we collect used cell phones and ink cartridges.  We send them to GRC Recycling where they are reused or disposed of according to environmental guidelines.  GRC sends us a check and the money goes into our building fund. 

These are the kind of things that help me sleep a little better at night.  There are many things all of us can do, depending on where we live and the amount of time and energy we have.  My experience is that when we work together and share what we have learned, more gets accomplished in a shorter time. 

We live deep in the Heart of Texas, in the Hill Country just outside of Austin.  This year we have had plenty of rain which means we have had a "green summer."  This also means that the limestone aquifers are filling up again after several years of near drought.  Even when it pours rain for several days, I don't mind and I don't complain.  Growing up in the farm country of southwestern Oklahoma, I learned the importance of water for crops and livestock, and, of course people.

So, welcome to the Earth Sense News blog.  I am planning to write about what is happening to our beautiful little planet and what we can do about it.  I learned so much about animals and nature from being on the farm, so I am always deeply grateful for those early years and all the people who were willing to teach me.  My farm experience and my community work has made me a firm believer in "grassroots" activities and networking.  I look forward to hearing your comments and learning what you are doing that makes a difference for our planet.  My absolute conviction is that whatever we accomplish today and during our lifetimes will pay off for the next generation, and the next, and the next ...

On the next post, I'll be looking into bees and the current problem with colony collapse.

Have a great weekend and be safe,

Mary Christopher

Comments

[Prem]

The moview "The 11th Hour" is a well worth seeing related with hope.

Prem

Yes, I noticed "The 11th Hour" on Leonardo DiCaprio's official website, http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/
There is a link for finding "a theatre near you" on that website. Unfortunately, it is not showing in many theatres. I guess we'll have to wait for the DVD.

Mary

[Margo]

Love your common sense and heartfelt approach.
Here is a great, great place to go for all kinds of information and resources on sustainability and environmnet:
Visit "George": Resources for Environmental
and Sustainability Studies
http://web.goddard.edu/ESresources/

[Elizabeth Anne Hin]

What a precious contribution to our global family, our grassroots' need for true, simple, real ways in which to care for our world, one another, our selves. May your "Earth Sense News" weblog be blessed in every way.

[lexi]

Mmmmm, lovely lovely.
informative, purposeful, and a gentle reminder. very nice.
especially as i am gazing out my window...