SPT: Earth Day

So, I actually googled "holiday list" on Wednesday, trying to anticipate the upcoming SPT topic.  My eyes scanned right past earth day and planted instead on April 28th..."Kiss Your Mate" day.  So there I was planning the capture of the perfect camera-worthy smooch, but...no luck.  Well, I do still plan on a bit of Saturday kissing, but in the meantime, my mind was forced to move to less familiar territory. 

Reading through the list of SPT prompts was daunting (and somewhat shameful, I'll admit).  I don't recycle, am horrified at the thought of reusing ziplocs, drive a gas-guzzling SUV, am more horrified at the thought of "gently used" wearables, don't have a library card, and avoid thrift stores.

So, I took this Ecological Footprint quiz.  If everyone lived like me, we would need 2.1 planets.  Apparently.

I hope Grandma Hulsey isn't reading this.  The woman is Jim's grandma, and she is honestly amazing.  She has a wash basin in her kitchen sink so no water goes down the drain.  When the basin fills, that "gently used" water is taken outside to water plants.  Nothing wasted.  And this example only taps the surface of her conservation.  I grew up reckless and pretty much unaware.  She grew up in a place where if the water ran out, well, it actually could & did run out...so you save it.  What a thought.  It strikes me that we've become a society of imagined limitless resources.  And here I am in a desert, watering my lawn twice a day, running my dishwasher every other and doing about 6 loads of laundry a week....oh, not to mention the fact that my air conditioner is used from March to October.  And, no, I don't do anything above 78 degrees.     

So, what now?

After the quiz, I clicked on the "What can I do?" section of the site.  It frightened me.  Eat less meat?  Drive less?  Nix the air conditioner? 

So, I went to Lelly's Earth Day link & was thrilled to find one "I already do that!"  Plant an herb garden with your children.  This IS some green in my life that does bring me great joy.  I grew my first herbs last year.  And the thrill of walking a few steps for fresh basil was, well...honestly, it leaves me speechless and nearly teary.  My basil grew abundantly.  The cilantro was a little sparse.  Rosemary, I used often.  Chives, too. 

And then we went on a few little trips & poof! my herbs were gone.  I've been waiting for spring to try this again.  And so SPT spurred me forward in this delight. 

We planted basil & flowers on Monday.  SPT done.

Then...today we went to the zoo and I had to snap the leftovers of their Earth Day celebration...plus a partial me at one of about a trillion recycle cans. 

 

 
Amy in the embryonic stages of recycle 

I'm hoping to be inspired in this foreign Green arena by fellow bloggers today.   Looking for baby steps to inspire beyond the embryonic.  Perhaps we'll try to accustom ourselves to 80 degrees this summer.  I suppose it would be a start...for both the planet & my SRP bill. 

Comments

[Jill]

It cracks me up that you say you're in the embryonic stage of recycling, but that's still a good place to start.

[Shanon]

Way to start caring Amy! I guess I should too. I am like you and don't do anything to help recycle. I admire Grandma Hulsey and hope to be more like her and you.

[Michelle]

I am going to have to take a look at the link you posted. I serioulsy need all of the help I can get at doing more in the planet.

[Emily]

Thanks for the big smile, I love your humor and hey, in a way I went with the "kiss your mate" day theme on my SPT without even knowing it!

[Elizabeth]

I keep saying I am going to plant an herb garden. Someday I will. I love picking up the bunches from the farmers market down the road. Rosemary on steamed vegetables and pesto with fresh basil. Yummy.

[Amberly]

I'm working on my herbs this year too. I hope yours are terrifically successful! We do have endless resources, or so we think- I don't think you're horrible!

[Jordan]

As you look to "be inspired" you have inspired me!!

[Kelly]

Amy, my earthling embryo.

Here's an earth day haiku for you.

Recycling delight
Please don't make salmon thirsty
Turn down your AC

It's been a long day. :)

I salute your efforts to get inspired!

[Cozzette]

Love the term "embryonic stage of recycling" At least you are trying right?

[Barb]

That was a fun read. You're such a slueth googling holidays to guess at the next SPT.

[Price Cream Parlor]

Amy - you just totally crack me up! I love this post today. I think that I would love your Grandma! ;-)

[Mandi]

I think every day should be "kiss your mate day." I guess we should all work harder at recycling, etc. In Mesa, they have a trash and a recycling day so I was getting pretty good (and feeling good about myself) at recycling, but then I moved. Here in QC (as you know since you live two streets from me), there are two trash days, but no recycling. I was in recycling withdrawals at first, but am now happy to throw everything into the trash. . . maybe we should write our city officials and get recycling days out here! What was Kelly's word for this year - DO. Well, I guess it's not my word so I'm off the hook - just kidding!

[jenny c.]

I did that ecological footprint as well. Yazers is all I have to say for myself. I had no idea that the Phx Zoo got into earth day. Very cool and love the shot of all the barrels.

I wish I could plant and garden anything. Anything I try and plant with a seed ends up just dirt. Good for you for planting herbs!

[Annalisa]

You live in Arizona. You are granted more A/C usage than the rest of us. But if I could fit a recycling bin in a mail package, you'd find one on your doorstep (somewhere that doesn't require your key so it stays safely in your purse).

[lelly]

awesome, awesome baby steps!!

so glad to know someone else who cries over fresh basil!! seriously!!

[crystalyn]

i too drive an SUV, BUT if the same car was available in a hybrid i would definitely choose the hybrid over what i've got...does that count for something?

growing things scares me. annalisa has a garden and i can't even begin to consider it. i feel like i have my hands full taking care of growing little people and the idea of growing food or anything else really is daunting to me. but it is in the back of my head and i do think i would like to try it sometime.

and i recycle because i have a bin and it's picked up from my curbside. don't know that i would if i had to take it places. seeing as my DI donation sat in the back of my car for at least a month before i FINALLY dropped it off.