A gift for Mother Earth

I'm giving Mother Earth a little gift....

These little containers once held berries and cherry tomatoes...

 I painted them and added some pretty scrap paper and some ribbon...

Our mail usually comes bundled up and secured with these elastic bands, but unfortunately, people dump them on the ground as soon as they pick up the mail.  Hubby knows how I feel about that and he makes a point of picking them up and brings them home to me.  I have hundreds of them, but they now have a sweet home in their own recycled berry box.

I prepared this one for the kiddies.  I attended my cousin's baby shower this weekend and these were given to us as a party favour.  They came in a sweet box, but I think this little box is just as pretty.

We recently watched a documentary about the landfills in Brazil and the many people who survive by picking recyclable items from the dumps in order to resell them.  I was so moved by the story, but there was one particular line that stayed with me - " 99 is not 100".

This line is repeated by a man who has been 'picking' for almost 50 years.  He views himself as a hero, a protector of Nature, and I understand his view.  There will be 3 less plastic containers in the landfills today.  It's small, but it's my gift to the Earth.

I wanted to share a poem I had written a while back, shortly after the Oil spill disaster.  While I usually always look for the silver lining, I remember feeling anger and great sadness at the time.  I feel it's appropriate for today since it is that passion for a greener and cleaner Earth that inspired me to write it...

Another day is upon me and my sheets holding me ever so softly and warm don't want to let me go.  I too, hold on to them and try to send this new day away. "You've come too soon", I say.

I begrudgingly arise from our bed, my legs barely wanting to move and start the day.  I walk over to the window and see clouds grey and cold, full of sorrow and sadness.  Rain coming down like tears upon our earth.  Why do you cry? I wonder.  Tears slowing down telling me the sad story.

"The oceans, once beautiful mirrors of the earth, now dirty and smudged.  The forests, once lush green carpets,  now sparse and bare.  Beautiful landscapes, now landfills of human's greed.  Children's sweet songs of laughter, now cries of abandonment.  White doves symbolizing peace now hide under the shadow of hungry vultures looking for leftovers of war.  The poor are forgotten while the rich boast under the reflection of their gold.  Rain coming down forcefully now, clouds sobbing."

What can I do?, I asked. " Don't turn your back." they said.  " Don't forget the poor...don't ignore the cry of the children...don't litter your lands.  PRAY hard for justice and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE as hard and as deep as you can, as passionately as you can.  APPRECIATE what you have because you have more than many.  Don't forget, but rejoice they said.  Tomorrow we'll feel better because people are cleaning the oceans; people are planting trees.  White flags are being raised.  Children are being picked up and held; the poor are being given bread to eat; the rich are sharing their wealth.  The people of the earth are praying and they are loving one another.  Be thankful for a new day, no matter how grey it is."

I sigh, close my window and slowly walk to wake my children from their slumber as I embrace this brand new day.  

Here is a bright and cheery picture to
wish mother Earth a happy green day.

I hope you find the time today to do
your part in renewing our earth.

much love,

Lucy