Be a Good in the World: April 30

Ditch the High-Maintenance Front

Lawn and Plant Natives

As a Northern Californian experiencing a seriousbdrought, I am thrilled to see more and more gardensnbeing cultivated with plants that need no  water. Thisnmethod is called xeriscaping and it is gorgeous and hasbenormous variety. If you're tired of the constant mow/ water/fertilize cycle of your lawn, consider getting rid of it altogether. It’s not as bizarre as it sounds. Some water conservationists estimate that up to 40% of a household’s water usage during the summer months is spent on outdoor watering, so ditching the lawn altogether can save you time and money, not to mention a precious resource. One eco-friendly option is to replace all that turf with plants indigenous to your region, which will require less water and look far prettier than any plain ol’ square of green grass ever could. Start a xeriscaping movement on your street.

Be a Good in the World: April 22

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

This is the day to acknowledge your connection to your home planet and all the nurturing nature, bounty, and beauty you receive from this big blue dot. April 22 is Earth Day, celebrated annually in over 184 countries to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful planet. Earth Day highlights our connection with nature, bringing awareness that each one of us is responsible for the destruction or abundance of our natural world...the only one we have. Earth Day makes us realize that each of us has a voice and every one of our actions matters; collectively great things happen.

Celebrate Earth Day by joining an organized group and help clear beaches and parks of cans, paper, plastic, bottles, and trash. Go with your family and friends, or go out alone. Look around in your neighborhood to see what needs to be done. Petition your local government for more trees, cleaner waterways, and an end to industrial pollution. Use earth-friendly chemicals. Recycle paper and cans, and compost green matter. 

Log onto earthday.org or check your local press to find out what is happening in your area, how to organize  your own event, or what commitment you could make in your own small way to help save our Earth...and then make every day Earth Day.

Be a Good in the World: April 21

Top of the Mornin'!

 One of our fabulous interns here at Viva Editions, Sara Wigglesworth, has a lovely way of saying “Good morning” upon arriving that ensures it will actually be a better day. I have to admit that greeting coworkers sometimes slips my mind, so it’s helpful to be reminded of the power that a simple, well-intentioned, and sincere greeting can have. It is a wonderful way to start the day with elegance and ease.

Be a Good in the World: April 17

Extend an Invitation to Life's Rich Banquet

If you see a uniformed soldier or veteran in a restaurant, arrange to pay for their meal. Anonymously is perfect unless you want to thank them personally and "enlist" a new friend into your life!

Be a Good in the World: April 15

Be a Good in the World: April 15

Eat for the Environment

Cutting back on meat consumption is good for the environment, your health, and your wallet. Producing one pound of beef puts as much carbon dioxide into the environment as driving a typical car 70 miles! Read "Livestock's Long Shadow," the 2006 UN paper about the effects of the meat industry on the environment and human populations, at fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM.

Be a Good in the World: April 14

Hold a Closet Swap Soiree

You can share your surplus clothing with friends and acquaintances by throwing a “naked lady party.” This is a fun way to exchange clothes as well as other items. First, set a date, and invite a group of friends to your house (we do ladies only, but men could be included, too) and ask everybody to bring some clothes that they don’t want anymore. Set up your living room as a shop, designating different areas for guests to deposit their items—dresses in one pile, sweaters in another, and so on.

Be sure to make a bedroom available for those friends who are too shy to try on clothes in company. We usually drink wine and have some snacks, and we end up with bags of new-to-us clothing. Don’t be bashful—things that you are heartily sick of will be starring in somebody else’s wardrobe, and the surplus can be dispatched to the thrift store.