• Freshness. Locally produced vegetables, fruits and crops are delivered to the market right after harvesting so buyers are safe that they are buying fresh produce. Produce from other locations or other countries may not be as fresh.
• Taste. The taste of freshly produced fruits and vegetables tastes better when eaten right away.
• Nutrition. The nutritional content of fruits and vegetables may significantly reduce during long time of travel so locally produced goods are more nutritious that goods from other locations.
• Purity. Locally produced crops, especially organic ones, are free from fungicides and pesticides. Some crops being delivered to other locations have pesticides and fungicides to avoid decaying during the travel period.
• Regional economic health. Buying locally produced foods is like helping your own community. This is because the money is kept within your neighborhood making your health sector benefit as well as the people within your community.
• Variety. Farmers in your community are not limited to planting various types of crops because they know that they have their own market, besides, they will not worry about planting crops (especially green and leafy vegetables) that easily perish. Usually, they plant goods that are not available in the groceries.
• Soil stewardship. A healthy soil is important for every community. If your people are patronizing locally grown foods, then their soil is healthy because it cultivates continuously.
• Energy Conservation. Consuming locally produced food may conserve energy because you do not need fuel for transporting goods to other location. It also reduces the use of pesticides and insecticides on food.
• Environmental Protection. Organic growing can protect the environment because you eliminate soil erosion; you also reduce the use of chemicals such as insecticides and pesticides.
• Cost. Cost of locally produced foods may be cheaper because the suppliers do not have to add costs of other expenses like fuels, fertilizers, etc.

There are so many reasons why you should consider replacing your old electricity provider with solar panels and here are some of the reasons why:

• Solar panels are great money savers. Solar panels use natural power coming from the heat of the sun and change it into an energy that can power various home appliances and the likes. Because of this fact, you can be able to save a lot of money that is supposedly needed to pay for your electricity bill. With solar panels, you can be able to allot these money to other more important things.
• Solar panels do not need high maintenance costs. You can buy kits of solar panels that you can assemble at home. Once done, these solar panels will work wonders for themselves and would not need maintenance that would cost you hundreds of bucks. Solar panels will be able to give you electrical power without having to worry that they might need maintenance every so often.
• Solar panels are usable even in rainy climates and cold weathers. You might think that these solar panels can only be used in places where the sun is always shining. However, the technology used in these kinds of devices allow these solar panels to be something very useful even on climates and weathers that you would not think they are.
• Solar panels are earth-friendly. Because they come from natural resources, solar panels do not need to destroy trees or to produce harmful chemicals just to produce electricity. It would not cause any harm to the environment and it is always completely safe to use.

There are numerous ways in which organic composting helps in gardening. Aside from soil nutrition, it improves retention capabilities of soil. It also helps to restrain and control microorganisms in soil preventing the plant from some diseases. Organic compost is also a good substitute for chemical fertilizers reducing the use of chemicals to plants. It is already a good source of nutrients needed for the proper growth of any plants. It gives healthier environment also needed for plants nourishing.

Anyone can make organic composting at home with just waste material and organic composter. Even with a small space, we can contribute to a greener environment and a greener plant. This can help us prevent pollution as well by preventing the used of methane and production of leach ate.  It also avoids soil erosion and loss of grass on the hillsides, road sides and even playing sides. Organic compost helps avoid drought and other soil problems helping plants, gardens and lawns as well.

In essence, organic composting not just helps the plants but the environment and the people as well giving us a more clean and safe natural environment that will carry on for the next generations. It is never too late for organic composting.

All the world’s leaders have urged the nations across the world to emphasize renewable sources of energy. This way, we can have a Green Earth and have a good ecological balance to maintain the process of life. The United Nations has come out with a system of so-called “Carbon Credits” to encourage the countries to go for renewable sources of energy. This proved successful in the last 3 years of ‘Carbon Credit’ trading strategy. A special day, “Earth day”, on April 22 has been able to create awareness among the masses to contribute their fair share for a Greener Earth. Earth Summit is also going to take place in Rio De Janeiro in 2012 to assess the present global situation. Both the developing and developed countries should go side by side towards the goal of sustainable energy. If every individual is successful in providing their contribution towards a Green Earth, then there is no doubt that sustainable energy can be a real thing rather than a dream.

These wood planters are heavy enough to stay in one place during most extreme weather and won’t blow away like plastic, chip like concrete, crack like pottery or rust like metal planters eventually will.  These wonderful planters can be treated and sealed to maintain their natural look and beauty or painted or stained to match your chosen décor.  This gives you the flexibility to use them in just about any outdoor or indoor living space where you want to enjoy your favorite plant and blooms.  I love the versatility of these planters and the fact that they are all natural.  Go green!

Though my aunt could raise Cain with her neighbor she believes this is a good drill for hard times. She washes clothes and dishes by hand, keeps water outside for livestock and other wild creatures in the area, keeps their house a balmy 85 degrees and has a great outlook on life in general. They use the windmill on the property and she laughs about the “new” wind energy since windmills have been used for years to pump water. The last thing she said to me was the younger generation might learn a thing or two if they would just ask some old coots what worked in their day; after all, before modern technology, they still lived well.

It is funny how so many things that were used back in the day (a long time ago) are coming full circle and becoming all the rage again.  One of those things is the lowly rain barrel.  Rain Barrels used to be used for one thing and one thing only; capturing water today to be used somewhere else in the future.  There were issues with them that included attracting bugs were also overcome by using the water sooner rather than later for watering crops and gardens.

Today’s rain barrels are more sophisticated and have solved the problems of the past.  They capture clean water to use for your potted plants and garden as well as help reduce runoff.  This is a great way to reduce the amount of fertilizers and pesticides that wash into our rivers, lakes and streams.  The new barrels have lids that prevent the stagnant water developing and attracting pests and bacteria as well as having hoses for easily getting the water out of the barrel and onto the plant areas.  It’s just a great way to save on water usage, cost and reduce waste water into the environment.  A win, win, win for everyone!

Funny that I just wrote about Alice Waters and the Slow Food Movement and the advantages of either growing your own food or purchasing your food locally because one of the things she has been very passionate about just happened today.  The White House is planting an organic garden on the grounds.  In fact, Michelle Obama is a proponent of good healthy food sources and she sounds like an Alice Waters believer!

Ms Waters has written many a letter to the powers that be at the White House for many years now with no takers.  She won’t have to say that anymore.  I am so pleased that something so close to Alice’s heart has come to fruition. Bravo Ms. Obama, may you lead the way for a better way to have food; Alice Waters as well as many of us will be right there by your side with shovels in one hand and seeds in the other!

This past week 60 Minutes did a segment on Alice Waters, who is lovingly called the mother of the Slow Food Movement.  As important as that is and as wonderful the movement is she continues on with a drive a spirit to teach and educate children on the value of good food.  It was impressive to see her hands on approach to developing a place where kids can not only plant and grow organic food but a place where they can learn how to turn this food into great meals!

If every community would start the process of teaching kids the valuable lessons behind preparing and planting their own food source, harvesting that source and turning it into great meals, we will insure our country’s survival. This is not to come across as a doom and gloom thing just as a way to make sure we can sustain ourselves no matter what comes our way.  That old Boy Scout Motto “Always be prepared!” rings true.

So what’s all the hoopla about this green living?  Is it really worth the investment that the government is expected to put into it or is it another Y2K fiasco?  Well, let’s look at what we know about green living.

The first thing is about using energy, water and other resources efficiently.  That alone would make it worth it in the long run with energy getting more and more expensive and water harder to come by.  Add to that the improved health that is estimated to accompany the reduction in waste, pollution and other damage to our environment and we find that living green has some wonderful advantages and side effects.

Living and working green will also reduce operating expenses by using less energy and water and increasing productivity.  Though critics estimate that building and renovating according to green standards will costs 12 to 15% more than traditional building, the real estimates are only 5% more and the cost benefit increases as energy prices rise.  Don’t get fooled by gas prices going back down as this has happen several times in the past.  We are now learning from our experiences and moving forward as a green nation.