Guardians of Mother Earth
by Margaret Lembo

    We are all Guardians of Mother Earth. We are the Planetary Stewards. We are the ones responsible for this magnificent planet.
    We were given the gift of living here in virtual paradise. Paradise seems more evident to me living here in Florida with our magnificent flora, parrots screeching as they fly overhead and our tropical weather. Of course, the only way for the earth to remain a paradise is based on how we treat it.
    Let us take a look at how we care for the material things in our live like our cars, our homes, our bodies, our clothes, our shoes, our books and so on. Most of us like these things to look nice and neat and be clean and fresh, right? Now take a look at how we care for the living breathing body we walk on, drive on, dance on and live on every day, Mother Earth. Do we treat her in a sacred way? Do we honor every step we take on her? Do we keep her clean and fresh? Or do we take, take and take some more and never clean up after ourselves?
    Ok, now, this is not meant to be a guilt trip yet an opportunity to take a reality check and observe ourselves on what we are doing and are not doing to uplift and take care of this planet.   
Here are some simple things we can do that definitely make a difference.
    Reuse things until you just can’t reuse them any more. For example, use the back side of paper, flyers, letters for printing out things on the computer, to make your daily things to do list, to write your grocery list, to write down your messages when you listen to your answering machine OR put all papers into the recycling bin. You can put magazines, junk mail, envelopes from your bills and other mail as well as all newspaper into the recycling bin.
    Recycle all plastic, aluminum and milk carton type containers. Remember to recycle that soda can and water bottle even when it is not as convenient. This may mean you will be carrying it back home with you to your own recycle bin. We have our plastic recycle bin in our Men’s Bathroom. I have a case of righteous indignation when I find a plastic bag or soda can in our garbage here at The Crystal Garden. Reuse plastic bags again and again and then bring them to Publix as they provide an avenue for recycling plastic bags. Reduce the amount of paper, plastic and Styrofoam that you use. Bring your own plate, knife and fork to gatherings when ever possible. When buying at a store, think about whether you really need that plastic bag to carry it home. Think about using paper bags or boxes to carry things. Buy yourself a tote bag to replace the plastic bag and then use it!
    Composting is my favorite way of making a difference. I am still amazed at the difference in the small amount of garbage I put out as I compost all organic materials. Composting accomplishes many things. It reduces waste, reuses waste and it re-fertilizes the soil. It’s really quite simple. You may choose to obtain a compost bin from the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (which is quite affordable for Palm Beach County Residents.) Or you may choose to collect your compost materials in your home and drop them off into our Community Compost Bins located behind The Crystal Garden. When you decide that you want to join The Crystal Garden composting team, please talk to me about the particulars so we make great new soil from what we once thought of as garbage.
    We are stewards of this planet. I have named just a few things here. There are many more things we all can do and not do. All that we do or don’t do affects at least the next 7 generations. We do have a responsibility as guardians of this planet and we are held accountable for our actions or lack of action. It is an individual thing between each of us and God and Mother Earth. So let us all take an additional step toward taking good care of this magnificent planet.

Margaret Ann

The Crystal Garden
2610 North Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, FL  33435
561-369-2836
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