If we were enlightened, sensitive souls, we’d wake up every morning and think what good we could do for the planet. But we’re not, so we’ve got to shoot our wad tomorrow, Earth Day.
Vegetarians in particular have much to celebrate -- everything we eat comes from the earth. So for the 35th anniversary of Earth Day, party in planet-happy ways.
Give Earth and yourself a present. Go organic and try produce and products free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic isn’t just better for us, it’s better for the planet.
Java junkies like me can start the day with organic shade-grown coffee. It’s cultivated in Latin America rainforests, not deforested land, so it’s kind to trees and wildlife and still provides a great java jolt. Look for it in natural food stores.
A regular processed tomato may be larger and more uniformly beautiful than its organic sibling, but the revelation is in the eating. Organic tastes tremendous. If you’ve been bemoaning the pale tasteless supermarket tomatoes, one picked from my garden, shockingly red, juicy and vibrant, reminds you what a miracle a tomato really is.
Yeah, I believe in organics and I’m not alone. The consumer demand for organic grains will soon top $30 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association. While the USDA resists saying organic is a healthier way to go, even they admit organic ketchup has more lycopene -- that luscious phytochemical in tomatoes -- than regular ketchup.
Something extra to celebrate -- organic products are more available than ever and buying them doesn’t always mean ka-ching. Check out weekly sales. A two-pound bag of lemons at the supermarket is now (gaah!) $3.49. Two pounds of organic lemons from the natural food store is $1.99, and they’re bigger and sweeter.
When you’re heading home from the store with your organic goodies, think about how you transport them. Break your plastic bag addiction. Keep a stash of reusable canvas bags to use each time you shop. Recycle plastic bags at the supermarket.
Earth is the only planet we’ve got and it treats us pretty well. Honoring it tomorrow is the least we can do. Let’s aim to keep the Earth Day party going all year long.