I know some of you may gasp but “Earth Month” or “Earth Day” never seems to cross my mind. I mean, I don’t even think of it until I see it mentioned on a blog or site. Why? Because I feel like every day of my life is above and beyond respectful to Mother Earth. That might seem a little too confident, but I feel it’s true. Why? Because honoring Mother Earth is my LIFE—not just a day or month to me.

I’m very passionate about living green, preserving and replenishing our beautiful Earth, and sustainable living.

“Every day is Earth Day.” –Author Unknown

How do I live green (every day)?

Well, for starters I:

• live on an Amish farm (that my family bought from the Amish—not with the Amish like some of you have asked)
• buy used clothes (Goodwill, yard sales, consignment shops, etc.)
• have a 100×100 organic, heirloom garden
• hang laundry on the line 99% of the time
• use locally handcrafted natural and organic soap and lotion
• support local farmers and artisans
• compost
• use natural remedies and medicinal herbs and plants for my health
• travel with reusable bottles
• don’t use chemicals to dye my hair (that I feel harm the environment AND my body/health)
• don’t use chemicals to artificially tan myself (that I feel harm the environment AND myself)
• use food for beauty products, such as coconut or olive oil, avocado, etc.
• carry reusable shopping bags in the vehicle at all times (sometimes I forget to use ‘em, but most times I don’t)
• buy natural, local, or organic as often as possible (soon I’ll be able to shop from my own yard)
• take food and drinks with me when I go somewhere instead of purchasing food/drinks served in plastic/paper containers
• use natural teas, tonics, and other remedies to fertilize and care for plants/trees
• eat as much real, raw food as I possibly can—avoiding as much processed, packaged, altered food as I can
• make my own washing detergent
• sometimes make my own “perfume” from essential oils (Jasmine is my all-time favorite!)
• have only eaten a teeny amount of meat in the last 5+ years
• eat mostly a raw, vegan diet (but don’t call myself “vegan” because there’s the rare occasion I eat a farm fresh, organic egg (from my farm) or a small amount of fish
• am a green writer (see my article just published: 5 Ways Writers Can Honor Earth Month)
• and more

Some things in my life that aren’t green:

• vehicle – and since I live in the country, I can’t “just walk to town”
• computer/Internet
• using too much paper (although I’ve cut back tremendously and rarely even print anything out anymore)
• occasional use of hairspray (rarely, but I do sometimes use it)
• buying some frozen/canned food (hopefully after this year’s garden yield, I’ll have my own food canned and dehydrated and won’t have to purchase as much)
• etc.

To me, living as green as I possibly can, is NOT easy. I get frustrated sometimes and just wish for all the luxuries life has to offer—even if they do harm the environment! But then I step back and take a breath, and remember why I live this way; why I’m so passionate about it. And it comes to me: I want to live a self-sustainable lifestyle, not only for my own health and future, but so I can feel good about walking lightly on Mother Earth.

Am I perfect? No, but I think Mother Earth is very pleased with me. What about you? How do you live respectfully for our beautiful Earth? Do you live on a whim, or do you make each choice based on how it will affect the environment? Oh, and don’t forget to check out my eco-friendly water bottle review if you missed it.

"Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children."—Kenyan Proverb

Don’t forget to read my eco-friendly A Sense of Place Water Bottle Review if you missed it—and you can win your own in my giveaway!! It’s a $30 value!!!