RESPECT THE EARTH

Celebrate our Earth!  Celebrate Life!  April 22^nd is officially Earth Day but really EVERY day is Earth Day!  Earth Day 2005 theme to "PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FUTURE" is one we live every day.  The theme is a lovely reminder of our importance in the world.  We have an impact on the health of our planet, our future, and strong, healthy children.   Celebrate Earth, Protect our Children and our Future:

• Choose Organic foods and set a good example.  Do it for your health, your children, the environment, our future™:

1. Organic foods are grown in harmony with nature.  Organic foods are grown (or made from foods grown) without pesticides, chemicals, fungicides, herbicides, or petroleum-based products.  Certified organic is an arduous process that takes a minimum of three years.  Organic means that the food is not genetically modified, irradiated or bio-engineered.  Organic Beef, Chicken, Dairy, and Eggs are grown without hormones or antibiotics, are fed grass or feed not treated with chemicals, and have more room to move.  Organic farming is more difficult (and therefore the foods are sometimes more costly) but we support our world, our health, and our future by choosing organic so we actually can't afford to buy conventional and support the big companies who care more about their bottom line than our health and the health of our planet.  Organic food is better for our bodies, better for our families, and better for our earth. 

2. Pesticides and chemicals have been linked to the growing cancer rates and disease.  Why is it that when people get cancer and other disease the doctor recommends an organic diet?  Logically, therefore, we can prevent these diseases with a healthful organic diet.   Less pesticides and chemicals have been found in the bodies of those who eat primarily organic foods.  This is particularly important for growing children.  When we feed our children, we feed our future.  Teaching our children the importance of protecting their health and making good choices when we are not with them is an important concern for every parent.  Be particularly cautious of the conventional fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides.

3. Children of conventional farmers are exposed to unsafe levels of pesticides so by choosing organic we are supporting a healthier environment for children in farming communities everywhere in the world.  Fair trade practices surround many organic farms as well so the farming communities are paid a fair wage for their work and don't employ slave labor (common in conventional chocolate production!) and can create a better future in the lives of their children.

4. Organic food tastes better.  It just does.  It is more flavorful and with a richer color which means more antioxidants!  Organic food has more nutritional value!  After all, if you’re going to eat Brussel Sprouts because they’re good for you, shouldn’t you make them count and maximize the vitamins and minerals?!  Taste life!  Eat organic! 

• Choose Wild Salmon and know your source!  This is an important way to protect our future (and the future of salmon) as well as our children (who need those valuable omega 3s) and our health.
   

• Conserve Water - Water is a precious commodity indeed.  Don't waste it and teach children to appreciate the value of clean fresh water.  Don't let the water run as you brush, and teach your children to turn it off while they brush too.
   

• Save Electricity!  Turn off the lights when you leave the room. 
   

• Turn off the TV and share time outdoors.  Earth Day correctly coincides with TV TurnOff Week.

1.     April 25-May 1, 2005 is TV Turn Off Week! 

2.      With all the latest studies of how television can affect our children and cause ADHD in later years, this is a perfect week to turn it off.   ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and teachers are seeing it in epidemic proportions!

3.      This celebrates

• Earth Day,

• TV Turn Off Week,

• Protecting Our Children,

• Time with Our Families,

• Our Future!

• Plant a garden!  Plant a tree, a flower, an herb garden, indoors or out.  Create a safe lawn for our children to play and animals to live.  This is a perfect time to work together and teach children about the earth! 
   

• Send Organic Flowers to show you care about the recipient and the environment!  Protect the earth, protect wildlife, protect flower farm workers and their family, protect your special someone and send a colorful smile their way for Earth Day!
   

• Compost or Disintegrate instead of adding to our landfills! 
   

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Be creative.  Make art projects out of materials you would normally discard.  At Delicious Organics we reuse boxes and ice packs and coolers.  We reduce by reusing.  We do most things online to use less paper.  When we do use paper, we use recycled paper.  We even recycle our boxes that arrive full of organic goodies.  Every one of us makes a difference.
   

• Don't use chemicals on your yard.  Instead of chemical fertilizers or pesticides on your yard, find eco-friendly ways to make a beautifully lush lawn.
   

• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products.  Keep hazardous cleaning products off our land and out of our waters. 
   

• Share information and activities about the earth and our environment with children.  There are lots of ideas and activities online.

Each and every one of us makes a difference.  Our choices impact our health, the lives of people living in farming communities, our children, our earth, our animals, our world, and our future.  Each of us is an important part of a healthy future.

Additional Links for more tips and ideas:

• Kids Domain – Earth Day      

• Earth Day Network                   

• Earth Day Energy Fast             

• Activity Book - What to do with kids without TV

• Go Organic for Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!  Happy TV-Turn Off Week!