My Planet

• save water
• reduce waste
• save energy
• enjoy nature

we have a very important responsibility today; to preserve and restore our planet for future generations. this may seem like the most daunting of the three categories of MSP, but we can start right in our own homes and neighbourhoods.

saving water and energy can be easy fixes. we can change to energy saving light bulbs, unplug electronics when they're not in use, walk or use transit instead of driving to more local destinations, take shorter showers, fix leaks etc. the first step is to become more aware of our resource consumption, and then brainstorm ideas on how we can use less.

reducing waste can be a simple byproduct of another category, My Health. making healthier food choices isn't just choosing foods with 'low fat' or 'less calories' written on the package.. in fact, the healthiest foods don't come in packages at all. bring reusable shopping bags with you to the market or grocery store and compost your food scraps, and you can have one hundred percent waste-free meals! not only that, but composting will make for healthier soil and plants!

which brings us to the last point, enjoy nature. this can be as easy as going for a walk each day, or a weekly hike on nearby nature trails. to turn a hike into an adventure, bring a bird watching guide and binoculars, or a book on local flora and try to identify as many different plants as you can. or bring a handheld GPS or smart phone and try your hand at Geocaching or various other GPS supported location based games, they're gaining popularity the past couple years and can be a very exciting way to get outside.

there's another way we can enjoy nature a little closer to home.. plant a garden. if you make it a food garden or incorporate various edible plants and herbs, making healthier food choices become more of an exciting option. there's few more satisfying things than biting into a juicy fresh tomato or snacking on a handful of berries that you grew yourself.

my mission for My Planet this year is to continue to learn and refine my gardening skills and knowledge about plants. and of course, to blog about it! follow the tiny urban farm with the super long name at southernontariourbanpermaculture.blogspot.ca!

What's your MSP?

• how can i reduce my water consumption?
• what products can i replace to reduce the amount of waste my household produces?
• can i make my home more energy efficient, and save me money?
• what are different ways i can enjoy nature?