Michael and Jaspenelle

Earth Day

Michael works for a produce company and sometimes they get plants in for restaurants and have some left over. Today he brought me home tulips (that Parade Rose is from his work too.) After they finish blooming I am going to transplant them outside on either side of my front steps. Flowers are beautiful but I especially love getting live plants (like those tulips!) I have quite a few though ,they are currently all in the kitchen - except an Indian Rubber plant on my living room altar. I have rosemary, mint and thyme by the kitchen window and the seeds for basil, parsley and chives (which I need to plant this weekend…)

Today the Bank of America building in downtown Spokane shut off their power from 12:00 to 13:00, and people were invited down to the lobby for free coffee and tea as well as free compact fluorescent light bulbs*. The Spokane mayor, Mary Verner, spoke briefly to the people gathered about how our city is working towards a being more green and that all our little changes could make a big impact. It was a typical inspirational political speech, but I was still happy to hear it. We need more politicians who care.

So many people do eco-conscious things on Earth Day, which I think is really fantastic, but it is important to carry those goals throughout the year. I feel I lead a pretty “green” lifestyle. Change does not happen instantly or particularly naturally to me but as long as I keep moving towards it, one small step at a time, I know that I will reach my goals.

*Just a note about CFLs that most people do not know, they do contain mercury so you shouldn’t toss them in the trash. Once they die you can return them to where they were purchased, (the store will recycle them correctly) or you can take them to a recycling facility.