Watch this powerful video if you need inspiration to recycle

                  

 I cannot imagine some of these images in my backyard, and yet they are.  Where will all of our waste go?  Sometimes I need some extra inspiration to recycle.  I'm improving since viewing this video.  Hopefully, if I start to slack, I'll view it again.  There is beautiful land all over this country and in every corner of our earth.  I was reminded just how awesome it is when visiting Sedona.  I had a life changing experience while visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  The red rocks are truly breath-taking and they stopped me in my tracks at every bend of road, but when I looked up to the sky, through the Chapel's window, I was overwhelmed.  I sensed God's presence.  It was very frightening and wonderful at the same time.  I began crying uncontrollably and was humbled beyond belief.  When I see places trashed, I feel badly about the paradise that was created for us.  I wonder what our ancestors would think.  I wrote this poem after my experience.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

They removed 25,000 tons of rock

for me to believe…

a small price

to open a heart,
a soul.
I scaled the
spiral medium
and looked out at the sky.


There was Tom,

Uncle Dick,
Grandmom,                                                                                           

Mom,
pouring over the sides
of clouds,                                                                                                     
down cheeks,
into the shafts of
my bones.


Urgency led
my tremulous hands,
lighting wick
after wick,
as the boy
tossed burnt
pleas into
a box.


I knelt on the solid base
of my doubt,
trying to get a glimpse
of the cross,
but my eyes were
drawn to the
loyal blue heavens.


They removed 25,000 tons
of rock for me to believe…
a small price
to open a heart,
a soul.


Click on this link for facts about plastic bags.  Most supermarkets sell very inexpensive reusable bags now.  I purchased six.  Now I have to work on remembering to bring them into the store with me.  One step at a time.

This beauty stops me in my tracks when walking through my gardens.  Let's appreciate our paradise!

Recycle something today!



Battery Caged Hens = Salmonella---Protect Yourself and Your Family!!!!!!!!!!

                   This is so sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Factory farms that use battery cages should be banned!  The European Union has already banned them! These cages allow a living space of 8.5 x 11 inches for the hens entire life.  Its so stressful for them that they peck and kill one another.  The factory's answer to that is to debeak them-yes cut off one-third of their beaks. Because of the stressful lifestyle and close quarters they release stress hormones, which stimulates the growth rate of Salmonella, and lowers immune function.  The factory's answer: feed millions of pounds of antibiotics to them.  The primary source of Salmonella infection is eggs!!  Purchase your eggs from cage-free, organic or free-range sources!!!!!!!!!  Check out this site from the Humane Society.  Cage-Free vs. Battery-Cage Eggs : The Humane Society of the United States.  Cage-Free doesn't mean a great, totally stress-free life for the hen, but far better, according the Humane Society.  Free range seems to be the best choice to provide environments that are harmonious, nutritive, and honor the most basic needs of the animals.  If you google battery cage egg images, it will make you sick..........and aware ( if the above picture wasn't enough to sadden you).

Check out Nature's Yoke for cage-free sources.  Read your egg cartons!


Check out Mother Earth News regarding free range eggs and their increased nutritional value!

This is a favorite poem written by William Carlos Williams.  If he only knew.

The Red Wheelbarrow


so much depends
upon


a red wheel
barrow


glazed with rain
water


beside the white
chickens.


If the animal cruelty doesn't stop you from buying eggs from factory farms who use battery caged hens.......think of the health risks to you and your family.

Your thoughts?


Ross, S., Food for Thought, Holistic Nurs Pract 2006;24(3);169-5
Williams, W., Selected Poems, p 30.