Healthy Choices
One Green Week
April 2009 | By Suzanne Mieso
Reprinted with permission from Taste For Life

Each day, make an effort to incorporate environmentally conscious practices into your routine. Here are seven ways to become a steward of the Earth by following an organic lifestyle.

Monday
Drink shade-grown coffee. Fewer fertilizers are required and shade protects plants from direct sunlight. Homes for migratory birds and wildlife are also provided, and this complex ecosystem helps eliminate the need for pesticides.

Tuesday
Opt for organic milk. It comes from cows not treated with antibiotics or bovine growth hormones (used to increase milk production). These cows are given pesticide-free feed when they’re not grazing on organic pasture land.

Wednesday
Raise a glass of organic wine. If labeled as such, a wine must be made from 95 percent organic ingredients and contain no added sulfites.

Thursday
Plant a pest-free lawn. Dangerous herbicides and pesticides can be completely eliminated by growing native plants, wildflowers, or groundcovers suitable for your location. You’ll reduce the need to mow too!

Friday
Go green at the office. Most office supplies now come in recycled or organic versions—from paper products to pencils and more.

Saturday
Be fussy about fiber. Organic cotton is produced without pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified seeds. That’s great not only for the environment but also for farm workers who avoid exposure to toxic chemicals.

Sunday
Start a revolution. If you feel passionate about the environment, advocate for it. Contact local, state, and federal officials about your specific issues; join (or start) a movement with like-minded citizens; or write letters to your local newspaper explaining your position.

selected sources

• 365 Way to Live Green by Diane Gow McDilda ($7.95, Adams Media, 2008
• "Environmental Facts," Organic Trade Association, www.ota.com