Love of Garden, Green & Earth

Hi everyone.

It's been awhile since I have been around. I have something on my mind that I want to share.

When I was a very little girl (4 or 5ish) I decided my favorite color was green. Not dark green, but a spring green. I loved it's vibrance and that color uplifted me - it was a feel good color then and years and years (won't tell) later, it still is a feel good color.

We now hear so much about saving our planet, and the "green" color comes up.

I don't think I'm the only gardener on this website that shares the same feelings about growing and nurturing. We do it because we love it.

We need to protect what we have and share it with others. It is our own personal responsibility to do that. Recycling is great - but it isn't enough.

We are losing bees. yep - bees, because of chemicals. Without bees, we don't just lose our own gardens, we lose produce that goes on the shelves from which we feed our families and loved ones.

Please contact me if you would like to help in this effort - we CAN make a difference. Listen to your heart is all I ask - nothing political. Find out the facts. If you haven't seen the earth video (will make you cry) feel free to contact me and I will email it to you.

Karrie

Hi Karrie,

Two thumbs up to anyone making an effort, but indeed
the effort has to be an honest one. People will get nine
kinds of uptight when mandatory recycling is in effect.
They can't be bothered to care.

We keep honeybees, and though we haven't noticed a
great reduction, they are indeed reducing in numbers.
This year we only harvested a small amount of honey so
the bees would have plenty of their own, Maybe next spring
there will be more and hubby can make more hives for them.

Even if they did not produce honey, we enjoy having them
for the pollination factor. It's a give and take thing, we love it!
We grow things, they pollinate. Couldn't be a better deal.

Sad to say, 'going green' is more popular as social statement
than inspired by one's conscience to do what is right for the world.

KM

I want to say that I agree 100% with the no politics but following your heart idea. We can do all of that political stuff on our own time....this place is about gardening! :)

About 18 months ago I started a compost pile. I am amazed at how easy it was/is. I'm also amazed at how much stuff I can recycle there....from rugs to t-shirts. It's also an incentive for me to buy more organic, natural-based things. When I am looking to buy something new I end up thinking of the end of it's life...."Can this be composted?" I know that sounds ridiculous, but I do think that way now. Buying a cornstalk broom instead of a plastic one, a coir doormat instead of a rubber (or who knows what?) one, and even buying things that are packaged in cardboard rather than plastic....those are just a few examples.

Last summer or fall there was someone on the boards who had gone to a class in their area pertaining to the decline of the bees. I wish I could remember who it was or even where they were from. All I can remember for certain is that they were looking for seeds for blue and purple flowers because in the class they had been told those would bring in the bees (possibly help the bees?). I only remember that part because I keep it in mind and try to plant lots of blues and purples in my garden.

Can I ask what you are proposing to do to help more? Planting for bees/wildlife? Composting/recycling? Less use of chemicals in our gardens/going organic? All of the above plus something I've not thought of? I'd love to hear more about this! :)

Heather

Hi,

I recycle and freecycle what I can. I live in the city now, in an apartment and don't have an outside garden anymore. I don't want bees in the house, lol!

However, we can all do what we can to help. If it is just recycling, that's at least something. There are also yahoo groups (you find them under "freecycling") where you can donate or ask for things, in your area, where another person may be in need or another person be wanting to get rid of - and it is better than going to the dump. I like that site because everything is free - you'd be amazed at some of the offers (as well as some of the wants, lol).

I think disposing of our chemicals, oils, etc... is also good - and watching what goes down our drains or into our aquifers underwhere which we live.

I think anything that anyone can do helps. Laziness I think is the biggest culprit as far as us regular people living every day lives.

Keep spreading the word!

Karrie

I love freecycle too. I've even gotten plants and pots off of my local freecycle. Right now I'm looking for one of the old time reel type push lawn mowers. You can get a new one for $100+, but I figure I'll wait till I get one for free. I know someone out there has one sitting in a shed and eventually they'll remember it and if it's junk to them then it'll be mine. :)

worth a drive to central MD? I have one...

Too bad we don't have our own Dave's Freecycle Program - if within driving distance it can be well worth the time and better for the environment!

I recycle everything I can! Save's money plus the eco system!

BUT.... I was wondering...Karrie20x.... remember how you said your fav color was spring green..... Green was my favorite color too !

AND what I am wondering is how many gardeners here had green as their favorite color as a child?

I always had some form of green as a favorite and still do always have green in my house. Lucky it's in style now! The williamsburg blue and dusty pink-mauve phase of the 80s ? was hard to take.

Hmmm - very interesting question! I think I'll post that question on another forum, maybe General Discussion. I'll let you know where I post it.

Regarding the bees - apparently they are thinking it is an insecticide that is killing the hives. They are finding empty hives - the believe the bees are fleeing whatever it is that is making them sick. I will try to find a link about it. I saw it on 60 Minutes or Dateline, or one of those shows.

I made a new post on General Discussion called "Favorite Color as a Child"