These past couple of months, we saw how Mother Nature can make people pay for what they have done and what they are still doing to it. Worldwide, we saw drought in different parts of the country, there were awful storms which brought about floods and even the ground we walk on is threatening to shake anytime it deemed be. Mercifully, people are starting to take notice, even government of third world countries are beginning to take certain steps to alleviate, if not remedy, the problem at hand. It may be a little late for that but it is certainly welcomed.

Meanwhile, the authorities can only do so much. If we want to feel the change, it should start from our own houses, from our own lifestyle and definitely, from us as a person. This should not be hard and of course, it won’t kill us. In fact, some of these easy steps for living green can even improve our quality of life. It is good for your health and most of all, you are doing the environment a favor! Here are some easy steps in making your life as green as possible:

1.    Go organic- Going organic means you buy your fruits, veggies and even meat only if they are not contaminated with any chemicals. This way you support organic farmers which I must admit, are a little low in numbers as compared to commercial, traditional farmers we know. It can be a bit expensive than the commercial ones but like stated earlier, the demand doesn’t encourage the farmers that much to make the big switch.
2.    Buy local produce- In doing so, there will be lesser fuel burns to harm our environment. If you are a gardener, you can even sell your crops to neighbors and set aside some for your own use.
3.    Lessen fuel consumption, if possible- You don’t have to ride your car all the time and if you need to, try to carry it in full load, meaning, find people who might be needing a ride to your destination in order to fill up the car to its full capacity. If the distance is manageable, try walking back and forth. This is a great way to get a dose of your daily exercise plus you saved fuel.
4.    Let go of the pack-rat syndrome- Do you know that the other term used for a pack-rat’s practice is hoarding? Surely, you don’t want to be accused of something as sinister as that! You need to let go of the things that you don’t need and make someone else happy by donating them to charity. The rule of thumb is to let go if something remains untouched for at least 6 months.
5.    Refuse plastic especially if you cannot reuse it- yes, I am referring to grocery plastic bags that you throw away after one use because it’s either soiled or torn. Instead, bring a canvas bag or any wide enough bag and put your purchases in there. Just make sure you do that after you pay for your purchases!
6.    Conserve water everytime- Just imagine how hard it would be if our water supplies gone dry. There are ways you can conserve water without altering your lifestyle too much. All you need to do is use a little common sense. For example, turning off faucets when it is not needed.
7.    Use biodegradable soaps- The idea behind green living is lessening your harmful impact to the environment as much as possible. When you say it is biodegradable, it means it dissolves and completely breaks down to natural elements. If it doesn’t, it means it will stay intact for undeterminable amount of time. It may even outlast your grandkids!
8.    Unleash your inner creativeness- Cans can be made as garden pots, scraps for tables and chairs. In your own little ways, you can make something useful out of ordinary objects that usually end up in thrash.
9.    Apply natural gardening method- You don’t need to use chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers. Remember, your plants can still survive even without them. Use compost as a fertilizer, it will lessen your waste and will benefit your soil at the same time. Handpick nasty pest and bugs when you see them instead of spraying harmful pesticide all around town.
10.    Keep plants at home- Plants are a natural air purifier, it will make your air a little easier to breathe in.