Living the good life, naturally

It is the simplest things in life that can make a difference.  We found this great article by South Florida Parenting Everyone has the power to make a positive impact on the world around them, whether it’s choosing locally made products, making environmentally friendly home solutions or helping those in need. These actions can be beneficial to your family, your neighborhood and your local community.

Eco-expert and author Sarah Copeland blogs about her everyday food and lifestyle experiences on EdibleLiving.com, a Web site that helps readers discover easy and innovative ways to live the good life, naturally.For me, good, natural living starts with the little things,” Copeland said. “No matter how big or small the action, every one of us can take steps toward making the world a better place.”
Copeland offers simple tips on how you can live well naturally — starting today.

Be a Local
Buying food that is grown and produced nearby cuts down on the number of miles between the food and your plate. It also means supporting local farmers and agricultural businesses. There are several ways to find locally sourced food:

• Shopping at farmer’s markets. You can find fresh local produce, flowers, honey, breads and more.— Eating at restaurants that source ingredients from local farms.

• Joining a Community Supported Agriculture group. These are partnerships between community members and local growers. Through a CSA, you can buy what are essentially “shares” in the harvest each week. Pick up your goods from the farm or another pickup location, such as a grocery store, and enjoy fresh, seasonal ingredients.

The Natural Way
Go green — literally — by growing your own herbs and vegetables. There’s no faster way to enhance your meal than by adding freshly chopped chives, parsley or mint to your plate. Plant a windowsill herb garden so you can snip and serve up a bit of green in every meal you create.

Products made with sustainable practices give Mother Nature a bit of a break. Select brands and products that are continually improving their operations to help minimize their impact on the environment. Even products like wine can be natural. The Naked Grape wines are created using 100 percent sustainable winery practices.

Do Good for Your ’Hood
Food banks need nonperishable items throughout the year. Find a local food bank, and see what will best fill its shelves. Other organizations take unwanted furniture, clothes and household goods — and many will come pick them up from your home. There’s always a way to repurpose.

Volunteering is a great way to create good in your community, and you’ll feel great doing it. Look for volunteer opportunities that fit your abilities, passions and schedule. Enjoy gardening? Get involved by planting and maintaining your local community garden. They always need help weeding and seeding.

Support local charities and organizations with monetary donations. Financial support, big or small, helps them provide services to others and keeps organizations running.

We hope that you have found these tips useful and you can start helping your family, your neighborhood and your local community.