On Namah Shivaya,

As Earth Day (April 22nd) approaches, the weather warms, leaves color trees and flowers bloom, here is an Embracing the World/GreenFriends email, which covers some seasonal ground. Here is the official Earth Day web site for those interested in further exploration.

Gardening

Amma has asked her children many times to plant vegetables and she herself has her own rooftop garden. Fortunately, there are many ways to plant gardens - in your yard, in containers on your balcony or patio, in a community garden, or in window boxes. You can even grow sprouts in your kitchen.

Starting a Garden

If you haven’t started your own garden yet it’s a good idea to begin by learning about gardening in general and what you will need to start a garden.

Tree Planting

"If we haven’t done any selfless acts, we should plant a tree or sapling; that would be a truly selfless deed benefitting others and ourselves." -Amma

A few more reasons to plant trees...

• Healthy people: 100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants per year
  
  
• Healthy communities: Tree-filled neighborhoods lower levels of domestic violence and are safer and more sociable
  
  
• Healthy environment: One hundred mature trees catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater per year
  
  
• Homeowner savings: Strategically placed trees save up to 56 percent on annual air-conditioning costs. Evergreens that block winter winds can save 3 percent on heating

- US Forest Service web site

And trees add beauty to our lives!