This week, our SHINE challenge was to GIVE BACK TO THE EARTH
what we've taken.
Here was some ideas Ashley gave us:
Plant a tree, start a garden, go for a hike, clean a park,
pick up trash in your neighborhood,
recycle, carpool...
She also had some facts to put in perspective what we've been doing to our Earth.
Here's some facts about pollution:
1. 40% of America’s rivers and 46% of America’s lakes
are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life.
2. Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60%
of all carbon monoxide emissions nationwide, and up to 95% in cities.
3. Over 80% of items in landfills can be recycled, but they’re not.
Crazy, right!?
Since I'm an apartment dweller some of her suggestions are a bit impossible for me. I'd have loved to plant a garden or tree but I'm not sure the apartment complex would have appreciated my random garden/tree planting screwing up their landscaping feng-shui, no matter if it was an act of kindness towards the earth or not.
Although, if you own your own yard today Lowe's is doing a
so please go grab one & plant a tree!
When I lived in Phoenix I got myself a recycling bin & went on monthly(ish) trips to the recycling drop off center (in the midst of the PHX SkyHarbor Airport, which was a major pain in the butt & a very easy way to get "lost" IN the loop that goes around the airport for the directionly challanged, like me). Then The Thrill (aka, the boyfriend) and I moved in together when I moved back to Mesa and the recycling bin sort of stopped existing.
It is now a cat block so the little turkey's don't slink out the opening in the patio (to let rainwater out??) when we let them have some outside time.
It's been over a year and having lived out in the elements has made it a bit um...dirty. We don't have hose access so washing it out isn't possible unless we bring it inside to the bathtub, which at this point isn't going to happen as 8 legged creepers are calling the inside of it a home. I've been meaning to have The Thrill take care of that part of the cleaning process but it's been a crazy week & it sort of slipped by the wayside.
I did manage to start a recycling pile next to the garbage can inside. It was a pretty nice pile until The Thrill took ALL the trash out, being the nice "house husband" he is sometimes. When I went to add to the recycle items after getting home from work I noticed the trash was taken out & my nice pile of recyclables was GONE.
So I reclarified my objective and started a new pile. It's not as big or pretty as the last one but it's a start.
I guess not too shabby for 2 days of collecting.
I've, also, found the Mesa Recycling & Drop Off Centers information.
They actually accept more items than the one in Phoenix did. I can recycle plastic containers #1-7 now. Before I think I could only do #1-4 so I think that'll help a lot more too.
Plus, the locations are a lot easier to get to. This girl isn't going to get lost recycling anytime soon! Not that driving around the airport for 20 minutes wasn't a fun time. I can just think of other things I would enjoy more in 20 minutes of time.
It wasn't necessarily my intention but I ate at two "eco friendly" resturants this week.
Sunday a group of us went and ate at The Olive Mill in Queen Creek. Where their farming & product offerings exemplify their dedication to the environment and the health of their customers.
Last night a group of us
(the same group, actually) went and ate at Joe's Farm Grill in Mesa, which is an urban farm where their farming methods exceed the standards for USDA organic. The fruit, vegetables, and herbs they use are directly from their gardens...located right across from the grill.
It's beautiful & you can stroll down walkways surrounded by gardens.
I just noticed that I'm wearing green today. It was unintentional but appropriate none the less.
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