Earth day, every day

Mark your calendar for April 22: It's Earth Day, the annual reminder of the precious state of our planet. Yet considering all the beauty and nourishment our world offers, isn't just one day out of 365 a bit stingy? Here are five small, yet significant, ways to enjoy greener living year-round.

1. SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS. Buy certified-organic ingredients from farmers' markets or join a local community-sponsored cooperative and shop there. Visit localharvest.org for a list of the farmers' markets and co-ops in your area.

2. PLANT YOUR OWN ORGANIC GARDEN. Buy certified organic soil, seeds, plants, and flowers, and use only nontoxic methods of pest control and fertilization. Find vendors at theorganicpages.com.

3. THROW A BETTER BLOCK PARTY. Distribute trash bags to your neighbors and comb the block for litter, separating recyclable cans and bottles. Find drop-off locations at earth911.org. Then celebrate with organic ice cream sundaes.

4. LATHER UP FOR THE CAUSE. During the month of April, 50 percent of the sales of Aveda's Rosemary Mint Shampoo (aveda.com) will support the Coalition for Clean Air and other environmental groups.

5. USE YOUR LEGS. According to the League of American Bicyclists, half of all American workers commute five miles or less to work. Biking or walking to the office at least once every two weeks could keep the pollution of close to I billion gallons of gasoline from entering the atmosphere annually. Learn how easy it is at bikeleague.org.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group