So, you wanna save the planet do ya? And, while you’re at it save your favourite oceanic creature, the rainforest and then the rest of humanity? Well, first things first. Get the word save out of your Earthy vocabulary. Saving can come after we do one important thing, and that is adapting. Now, before I fill you in on some ways to adapt (which you’ll have in the coming weeks), I wanted to share with you one of the easiest things you can do if you’re needin’ an instant gratification fixin’. So what’s the answer? Donating of course! It has never been easier to help an organization – whether it’s an international one with a big following or a small grass-roots one down the street. When I say donating I’m not saying to give away a big lump of cash per say. There are other ways you can help an organization like, being a representative at an event, donating your skills to aid a specific project, attend monthly meetings and share your ideas or become a member of an organization and help them grow. Don’t get overwhelmed here, set yourself some do-able goals. Donating to an organization that aligns with your personal values just feels good. To give you an example, this year my friends received an adoption of a Canadian animal species from WWF-Canada and a protected woodland plot from Ontario Nature’s Trees in Trust program. Last month, I ditched the act of giving a material, meaningless gift and instead chose to support charities and invest in the future of our planet on behalf of a recipient. The best part was that it was all done online!

Here are some of my personal favourites:
http://www.fsccanada.org/default.htm – Making sure that trees are harvested responsibily
http://www.treesontario.ca/ – Planting 10 million trees a year across Ontario year by 2015
http://www.ontarionature.org/ – Protecting Ontario’s wild species and spaces through conservation, education and public engagement
http://www.350.org/en – Raising awareness and educating the world about climate change
http://www.environmenthamilton.org/ – Providing Hamiltonians skills needed to protect our green spaces
http://www.peta.org/ – Educating the world about the safe, responsible treatment of animals
http://www.niagaraescarpment.org/ – Protecting Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment
http://greenventure.ca/ – Community-based workshops to lead to a sustainable lifestyle
http://rbg.ca/ – Promoting public understanding of the relationship between plants and us
http://wwf.ca/ – Conserving Canada’s wild spaces and Canadian species

kitestring wants you to grab your hat, trowel, watering can and boots because we’d like to introduce you to our newest pro-bono brand, Sprout Summer Growing Camp. This down-to-earth day camp will get the kids in our community back to nature with lots of exciting activities. Everyone knows that the easiest way for us to learn is through hands-on fun and that’s exactly what kids will get when they attend Sprout. Campers will spend lots of time outside making eco-conscious crafts, playing educational games, getting their hands dirty in organic teaching gardens, going on green culinary adventures, learning about the big “sustainability” word and lots more! Sprout Camp sessions run from the beginning of July to mid-August for kids ages 4 to 13 years old. To register a camper visit www.sproutcamp.ca or send Sprout leader Kelly an email at getgrowing@sproutcamp.ca. Have a buggy, muddy and veggie filled summer at Sprout Summer Growing Camp!

One of my favourite tree loving commercials of the 80′s.

Great commercial! I’m so happy David is Canadian.

Break out the tissues.