It is hard to dispute that the Earth’s ecosystem affects our health. Clean air, water and soil are vital. Every product we buy, use and dispose of carries a cost to us and our planet. Do we reduce, conserve, recycle and cherish every natural resource? Daily choices add up and everyone has their part to play in preserving our home planet.

In America’s convenience-minded culture, most people disregard the polluting impact of everyday choices. But we can instead look at our selections of products and services through a new lens, looking for Earth-friendly alternatives and practices. Many new ones are being developed now while others cultivated for millennia are now being revisited and implemented.

As we integrate more healthy choices into home, work and play, reducing our personal environmental footprint is a priority. Our family continues to lighten the load sent to the landfill through composting kitchen scraps and adding nutrients to boost gardening soil. We also purchased rain barrels made from recycled materials to capture rain runoff from the roof to water our chickens and reduce water usage for yard care.

I love that the experts Avery Mack interviewed for this month’s Green Living department, “Zero Waste Lifestyle – Ways to Make Far Less Trash,” clue us in on how simpler living focused on experiences versus things can yield more free time. Voluntary simplicity not only changes our daily routines for the better, it can produce more fun.

Our picks at the fish counter also are more conscious now because they influence our own health and that of our rivers, lakes and oceans. As the global population continues to grow exponentially, overfishing is common and delicate ecological balances are being destroyed. To help ensure that we are not contributing to the problem, we suggest reading Sandra Murphy’s interview with Chef Rick Moonen on “Why Buying Sustainable Seafood Matters.”

Rounding out the issue, Marlaina Donato explores yet another facet of exercise that helps us foster a healthy internal environment. “Why Our Body Loves Yoga - Gentle Poses Foster Flexibility,” may benefit anyone and especially individuals living with chronic pain that can find relief in additional flexibility.

Admittedly, we need to be vigilant in our pursuit of natural living know-how. But the feel good factor—from every angle—makes practicing it delightfully worthwhile.

Encouraging conscious choices,

Trina & John Voell, Publishers