by Ingrid Justick:

Vol. 28, No. 1

Consider this New Year’s resolution: easing month by month into a greener world!

Living in tune with nature is an invitation to live creatively. This calendar of twelve simple but healthy baby steps will help you into a greener way of life.

JANUARY Green Step: Replace your conventional personal-care products (deodorants, shampoos, body lotions, etc.) with non-toxic organic choices. For green options check www.BurtBees.com, www.AubreyOrganics.com or www.Aveda.com

FEBRUARY Green Step: Bring commercial pesticides to your local hazardous waste center. Almost half of the most widely used pesticides are classified as carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency. Visit www.PlanetNatural.com for non-toxic alternatives.

MARCH Green Step: Check labels on cleaning products for toxic ingredients (chlorine or ammonia) or warnings (hazardous or poisonous.) Replace them with green cleaners, available at health food stores and select grocery stores.

APRIL Green Step: Take off your shoes when you enter your home or every chemical and pesticide from the street and lawn comes inside with you.

MAY Green Step: Shift to organic coffee and milk. Coffee crops are among the most heavily sprayed with pesticides and cows providing most milk are treated with hormones and antibiotics.

JUNE Green Step: Park your car and walk whenever possible. Formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide are six to ten times higher in cars than outside.

JULY Green Step: Replace polyester or permanent press bedding with untreated organic cotton. Conventional cotton fields are doused with pesticides.

AUGUST Green Step: Reconsider dry cleaning. Most dry cleaners use a very toxic solvent, called perchloroethylene. Find a “Wet Cleaner” who uses no toxic chemicals. And note that many garments labeled “Dry Clean Only” can be washed by hand.

SEPTEMBER Green Step: Add one meatless meal per week. It takes seven or more pounds of grain and 840 gallons of fresh water to produce one pound of beef.

OCTOBER Green Step: Buy at least one organic fruit and vegetable each week, to replace those that may have been grown and sprayed with pesticides.

NOVEMBER Green Step: Replace your plastic shower curtains for those made with organic cotton or hemp. The plastic variety contains toxic chemicals, called phthalates, which you inhale.

DECEMBER Green Step: Open your windows for at least 15 minutes every day. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is up to 90% more polluted than outdoors!

Change does not happen with a single action but step by step 
with a series of small gestures.