But remember who and what you are. You are the catalyst of change. The catalyst of change exists because you are choosing to be the catalyst of change. The seeds of peace exist because you are choosing to be the seeds of peace. The hope exists because you are choosing to be the hope.

Every time you take a paper bag, or use your own canvas bag, instead of taking a plastic bag at the check out, your making a difference. Every time you choose to buy a soda packaged in glass or aluminum instead of plastic your making a difference. Every time you choose to clean a window with vinegar and water instead of using a store bought chemical “cleaner” your making a difference. Every time you pick an aluminum can off of the street and throw it into a recycle bin, your making a positive change in the world. The positive change exists because you are choosing to be the positive change. The hope exists because you are choosing to be the hope.

During the last month I’ve found lots of large plastic containers in piles of garbage put out at the curb in my neighborhood. If I’ve been able to carry these large plastic containers then I’ve brought them back home with me and cleaned them up. I don’t need all of them, as a matter of fact I’ve only found a definite use for one of them. They come in all shapes and sizes. Most are square or rectangular. Some are only a few inches square, others are several feet long and deep too. I’ve been collecting them because I know that these are great for storage, and they will sit in the landfill for a million years if we throw them out. Plastic doesn’t decompose the way that produce or paper does. Plastic just sits there forever.

If any of my neighbors expressed interest, I would gladly give them the containers, if I knew that they would use them instead of throwing them back into the garbage. There is another use for some of these containers. Planting.

I’ve decided to do what I always wanted to do. Plant a serious garden. I’ve tried to do this in minor form before, and so far I have had only minimal success. Maybe I didn’t turn the soil deep enough. I feel stronger this year, though I can’t explain why. I think I’ve been able to go down about six to 11 inches in most places. I’ve tried to break up the soil as much as I can, because I know that it is easiest for the plants to grow if they are in fairly loose soil with very few rocks, so I’ve also tried to remove as many rocks as I can. I am planting the yellow, orange and red pepper seeds I’ve saved from organic peppers bought in a local health food store, and I hope to get hold of some organic cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon seeds to. Because I live in a northern climate, I’ve heard that I will have to cover the peppers with a row cover if I want them to turn red, and I would like them to turn red. In order to keep critters from eating at the peppers and melons I am planting marigold seeds too. I’ve heard that marigolds keep bugs away from the garden.

Why did I pick peppers and melons? Because I like them, and they are expensive in the store, so I thought I would try growing them myself. I am also going to try planting a few organic apple and orange seeds. I know that if I am successful with the orange seeds then the trees will have to stay inside all year round because the climate here is too cold for citrus fruits, but if the apple seeds do grow large enough then I will be able to plant them outside, and have apple trees in my front yard.