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When I needed to find a place to move very quickly last year, the number one thing on my list of needs for a new home was garden space.  I could not afford to rent/buy a house, so my only real choice if I wanted to live alone was to rent an apartment.

What sort of an apartment complex would allow me to have a garden, much less even have the space?  During one phone call to the apartments where I am now living (surprise surprise), I mentioned the desire to garden and sort of threw it out there, saying, "Look, I really like to garden and it is at the top of my list of what makes a good home.  I know it's pretty hard to garden while living in an apartment - is there something we could work out?"  The manager suggested I start a community garden AT the apartment complex.  He even showed me where he thought would be a good spot for it when I went to look at the apartments. 

Fantastic! All I wanted was a spot for some veggies, but it turns out a community garden is such a better idea.  I'm in the process of organizing it now.  I am attending a community gardening workshop next Saturday, which popped up out of nowhere and is perfect timing!

I have done my research - the hardest two things I foresee: getting donations (either from stores or from people in the community who want to be a part of the garden) to get started on the garden and gathering people to join in the effort.  You see, the apartment community is not actually a community (which makes the community garden such a wonderful opportunity to create a much needed community!), so it has been hard thus far to reach out.

My plan at the moment is to get all the paperwork done, basically creating and signing an agreement with the complex so all our legal bases are covered (even though it was their idea to do this), and then just get started on the garden!  I have it mapped out.  I know of a good bamboo grove half a mile away which will make for a great fence and raised beds.  I think once people see me out there working working working, they will become interested and I can garner their support.

It's in the works.

The future is not somewhere we are going. It is something we are creating. Every day we do things that make some futures more probable and others less likely.

Global warming already disrupts millions of lives daily in the forms of destructive weather patterns and loss of habitat. What is already happening is only the tip of the melting iceberg, for it is our children and grandchildren who may suffer most from the effects of global warming. Hundreds of millions of people may be exposed to famine, water shortages, extreme weather conditions and a 20 - 30% loss of animal and plant species if we do not reduce the rate of global warming and reduce GHG emissions.On the other hand, having warmer winters means longer growing seasons in temperate and subarctic climes, sometimes allowing an additional crop to be planted and harvested each year, or simply making the existing crops more productive. This article outlines some ways that you can act to help prevent the Earth from warming further. While humankind has the ability to destroy the planet, we can also help protect and sustain it.

Reducing your carbon and greenhouse gas emissions will not only make your personal living space more sustainable but it will also save you money in both the short- and long-term. Global warming is occurring more rapidly than it was originally expected to. Only forty years ago, the big worry was global cooling. Even if you remain a cynic, however, and disagree with the consensus of scientists, you will benefit from reduced pollution, a more healthful lifestyle and increased savings from enacting these simple activities that will not reduce the quality of your life.

It's all the little things... Nothing makes me feel better than giving my hard earned money to local farmers and/or organizations, buying green items that help our beautiful planet, and eating healthier foods so that I am treating myself well... Try it, I bet you'll feel great about it too!!! Melanie =)

POST MY FINDINGS ON FACEBOOK

BUY LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE

EAT LESS MEAT

MEET MY FARMERS

KEEP AN OPEN MIND

TALK TO MY SCHOOLS WOODSHOP ABOUT INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS TO RECHARGE OUR DRILLS (At least)

In my community and in my college, I will do my best to show what this Earth provides, and the simple things we can do to help save our home.

Anything not needed by me anymore but still usable is not thrown away but given instead to other people.

I have changed all lightbulbs of my appartment so as to be friendly to the environment and save me money.

I do support environmental groups,not necessarily in a financial way but in other forms too, like telling others about those groups' aims or

by volunteerimg to process on my computer fragments of their research on several things.