Be an Anonymous Gifter

    Have you ever heard of the Bolinas Free Box? This institution began 30 years ago by accident. As the story goes, a young couple was departing the shores of Bolinas, California, and dumped some boxes of extra belongings behind at the community center as they left. The rather nice assortment of clothes, books, and household utensils drew some interested residents to have a look. By the end of the day, several other people had brought free stuff down to share. The Free Box took up residence in a shed between the health food store and the community center and has been providing all comers with all kinds of free fare ever since. The era of the free box was born.

Ditch the High-Maitenance Front Lawn and Plant Natives

    As a Northern Californian experiencing a serious drought, I am thrilled to see more and more gardens being cultivated with plants that need no water. This method is called xeriscaping and is gorgeous and has enormous variety. If you're tired of the constant mow/water/fertilizer 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 that turf with plants indigenous to your region, which will require less water and look far prettier than any ol' square of green grass could ever. Start a xeriscaping movement on your street

A Red Nose Can Change a Life

     Whether they're juggling many balls at once, riding a unicycle or walking on very tall stilts, youth get a chance to shine on stage with the Prescott Circus Theater in Oakland, California. This youth development non-profit provides skill mastery, physical activity, and positive relationships with peers and adults. Their website, prescottcircus.org, goes on to say "the basic principles to succeed in circus (and in life) are: hard work, teamwork, practice, believe in yourself, and never give up." Even with the pandemic, they are still looking for help in sharing these steps with everyone. Donate to the Prescott Circus and you'll be sure to bring many more smiles to the world.

Wild in the Streets

     I live in a nice town adjacent to Berkeley, California, that is very urban, but I have a big o' backyard, which I love- it is the reason I live here. I have raccoons, a family of squirrels, and a pair of deer who seem to love the yard as much as I do. One of the older trees bears a huge amount of apples every fall, much more than my boyfriend and I can cook or eat, not to mention our friends, coworkers, and deer and squirrels. So we bag up the extra apples and take them to a place where deer congregate at the edge of the woods a few blocks away. Every time I deliver a new bag, I see lots of deer tracks, showing that my four-legged friends enjoy their apple a day. So before you just compost the extra bounty of your garden or fruit trees, take a look around and see what else might appreciate a neighborly gesture.