Image by Dorena-wm / Creative Commons

Well, the weekend is here and after a long week, I figured it was time to catch everyone up on some of the weekly green news I’ve seen, heard and read about this week. I know many of you keep up-to-date on the latest and greatest in environmental and green news, but here are a few you may not have checked out. Either way, take a gander at this week’s green news:

1) German Government to Oppose Fracking: In what some consider a bold move, Germany has stated they are pulling the plug on plans that were intent on using hydraulic fracturing aka “fracking” to extract natural gas.

2) For all you environmentally-friendly chocolate lovers out there, you’ll be happy to know that the UK’s only carbon-neutral chocolate is transported by sailing ship. That’s definitely one way to travel. Now if they could just get the price down…

3) Only 1 in 10 Americans is a Global Warming Denier: How do you feel about global warming? Do you believe it? Are you moderately concerned? Are you not quiet convinced? Well, according to a recent report only 10% of Americans are convinced there is no such thing as global warming and that what we, as humans, do have no impact on global temps whatsoever.

4) Speaking of global warming, or actually climate change, how about taking a 3-minute journey through the last 250 years of our climate history…

5) Have you been pondering the idea of getting an electric vehicle? With PG&E’s new EV proposal laying groundwork for $1-per-gallon fuel, now might be the right time to seriously consider it. Of course, we’re talking the equivalent of $1 a gallon, but you get the point.

6) Plastic trash altering ocean habitats: There is no lack of information on the importance of recycling, cutting down on the use of plastic materials and working hard to see that trash does not end up in the ocean. Unfortunately we are now seeing “a 100-fold upsurge in human-produced plastic garbage in the ocean is altering habitats in the marine environment”. So much so that damage to the world’s oceans may cost trillions.

7) World’s rarest (and one of the most endangered) gorillas caught on film in Cameroon. It’s nice to hear stories about the life and survival of species that we rarely see or even know still exist. What’s even better is getting a glimpse of them in their natural habitat…watch the video and you’ll see what I mean.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to green news for the week, but hopefully it will help to either peak your interest to find out more or at least put a little green in your life. Hope you have a wonderful and biofriendly weekend ahead. Don’t forget to get outdoors and check out some of that green that nature so aptly provides.

Image by Vijay / Creative Commons

Since 1872 people have been celebrating the “tree-planting holiday” known as Arbor Day. This year, National Arbor Day falls on Friday April 27th. While Arbor Day is a creative way for people and groups to get together and plant lots of trees, in reality, any day is a great day to plant a tree. I mean what could be more biofriendly than planting a tree?

Did you know it is estimated that more than a million trees were planted on the first Arbor Day, 140 years ago? The value, not to mention the beauty, of trees has been broadly recognized for generations and generations. That is why there is no question as to the numerous benefits trees have to both our personal well-being and to that of the world around us. They remove CO2, they produce oxygen, they can help keep an area cool and provide shelter and homes for wildlife, some can produce food and much more.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung / Creative Commons

I think George Orwell had it right when he said:

“The planting of a tree, especially one of the long-living hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity at almost no cost and with almost no trouble, and if the tree takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of any of your other actions, good or evil.”

Martin Luther made clear the value of trees when he said:

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”

Even Franklin D. Roosevelt had a clear view on the importance of forests and trees:

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”

That is why on this Arbor Day I urge you to join the Arbor Day Foundation in helping to replant our national forests.

If you would rather celebrate Arbor Day in a more personal manner, you can do any number of biofriendly things such as: taking the time to learn more about the different kinds of trees around your home, going for a nature walk and enjoying the beauty of the trees, or planting a tree of your own.

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” – Proverb

Image by Creativity103 / Creative Commons

The year is coming to a close and while some people may be fearful of making New Year’s resolutions, because they rarely keep them, here are 10 resolutions you’ll probably find pretty easy to keep. The key is to keep this in mind: go small and go simple.

I think it is important to make resolutions you can include in your daily routine. Whether your resolution is to recycle your water bottle, switch to using reusable bottles, or turn off the water when you brush your teeth, just pick one small, simple action per day. These little actions will add up throughout the year until you’ve actually made some fairly significant and smart, green changes in your life.

1. Smile. Once every day, for no reason at all, smile. Even laugh a little if you feel like, and definitely if you don’t feel like it. You will find a smile or laugh will brighten your day and your mood. Try it, it really does work.

2. Unplug. I don’t just mean at the end of the day. I mean at various times throughout the day. Whether it’s deciding to unplug while you enjoy your lunch break, unplug while you take a quick walk, unplug while you run to the grocery store, or whatever. The key is to get unplugged. Yes we live in a technology-driven society, but that doesn’t mean your electronic devices need to define who you are and what you do.

3. Grow something of your own. I mean grow some vegetables, or maybe a few herbs to add some new flavors to your food. If you think you have nowhere to grow anything or don’t know how, check out UrbanOrganicGardner.com. My friend Mike has some wonderful tips and ideas, stemming from his personal experiences, for growing food right on your balcony.

4. Even if you are not a vegetarian, nor have any desire to become one, try skipping meat at least one day a week. Opt for another type of protein. It’s a relatively simple thing to do and if you need some good recipes, I recommend the recipes at Green Wine Guide. Jerry can take almost any food and make it look and taste good.

5. Cut down on your water waste. This one has many facets. You can turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take shorter showers, use bathtub water to water plants, put your lawn sprinklers on timers (or opt for native plants instead of a lawn), only wash dishes with a full dishwasher, only run your washing machine with a full load, use a waterless car wash and more. You simply need to act.

6. Be a smarter consumer. Whether this applies to food, goods, materials, clothes or whatever, the idea is to buy only those items which you and your family will truly use. If you don’t need to buy a bulk package of carrots, don’t. Be honest with yourself and figure out which items you tend to let go to waste, then make a change to become a smarter consumer. I’ll bet you notice your costs will go down and the amount you throw away will go down too.

7. Go outside. I say this a lot and I really mean it. Every day resolve to go outside, look around and soak in the beauty of nature around you. Not only will the light of day do you some good, but you might find you like it and then you’ll spend even more time outdoors.

8. Ditch the car. Wait…before you start ranting about how you cannot do that, all I’m talking about here is ditching your car for one day a week. Try going car-less at least once a week and see how you like it. Walk, ride your bike, jog, take public transportation, whatever will get you where you need to go without driving your car.

As an added bonus, for those of you who are interested, Biofriendly Corporation has a proven fuel additive that can help you lower emissions while improving your fuel economy (on those days you do drive).

9. Throughout the year, take any good deed another does for you and pay it forward instead of backward. Do a selfless act for someone else. Not because it would be cool, or because you expect to get something in return, but because it’s a good thing to do. Can you imagine all the good will if we all took steps to pay it forward? If you need help, here are 3 Eco-Friendly Ways to Pay it Forward.

10. Last but not least, as my friends at EcoSalon put it so well, “Hope Less. Realize more.” This one is pretty simple when you think about it. Stop hoping things will happen and take responsibility for making them happen. This is probably one of the most basic resolutions anyone can make.

There are many green New Year’s resolutions you can and probably will make today, tomorrow and throughout the year. I say, if you’re going to make them, make them simple so you can actually get them done. Wishing you and yours a truly happy and biofriendly New Year!

Image by Stella Blu / Creative Commons

The holidays are here and as we all scramble to finish up our shopping or finalize those last minute plans, I wanted to take a moment to wish each of you a happy holiday. Here are my biofriendly wishes to you and yours:

1. May your days be filled with smiles, laughter and other eco-friendly ways to brighten your spirits and lift your mood.

2. May the beauty of nature draw you outside to experience the natural wonders of the world around you.

Image by Per Ola Wiberg / Creative Commons

3. May you have lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency as you travel to visit friends and loved ones.

4. May your house be filled with natural decorations, soy candles, and plants that help clean the air and improve your indoor air quality. A healthy dose of fresh air wouldn’t hurt either.

5. May you have little waste, and may you finds way to recycle, reuse and reduce during the holiday season.

6. May your meals feature lots of organic, healthy and local foods, like those found in these gourmet vegetarian recipes, perfect for Christmas dinner.

Image by Andy Roberts / Creative Commons

7. May you have just enough food to provide for you and your loved ones. May any leftovers find their way back to the table to be used and enjoyed. And may your compost be your friend.

8. As often as possible, may your home be warmed by the natural heat of visiting family and friends. The rest of the time, may your home heating oil be tempered with a little Green Plus® to reduce your costs and help save the environment.

Image by Cody / Creative Commons

9. May you take the time to unplug, both at work and home, during the holidays. I don’t mean just log off your computer, unplug. Even those of you who do not have time off work should spend your downtime unplugged. Who knows, you may find you like it.

10. For those of you with kids (or even for those of you who do not have kids), my friend Bethe says it best with her 12 Days of Christmas: Kicking it Grass Stain Guru Style!

Image by Biofriendly

Last, but not least, may the following quotes help inspire your actions and activities throughout the holiday season and into the new year:

“ Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.“  ~Author Unknown

“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.“  ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.“  ~Native American Proverb

Wishing you and yours a truly biofriendly holiday!

Image by Jenn Deering Davis / Creative Commons

December is here and the holidays are just around the corner. Before you know it, the holidays will have come and gone and we will be ringing in the new year. But for those of you (me included) who haven’t managed to finish their holiday shopping, here are some green holiday shopping and gift tips that may help you wrap things up and do so in a relatively “green” fashion.

1) I am a strong advocate of making lists. Before you go out shopping for presents, food for a family gathering or holiday party, make a list and check it twice. Don’t forget to make a list of not only what you need, but where you need to go in order to get it. This way you can plan out your entire day, spend less time, waste less gas and be back home in no time…hopefully with your entire list checked off.

2) Do your last minute shopping online, especially if you have items that needs to be shipped. Think about it. This one is kind of a no-brainer. Rather than driving out to the mall, wandering around trying to find the exact right item, buying it, buying wrapping paper and packaging materials, going home and wrapping everything up, taking it to the post office and shipping it so it arrives on time. Whew! Shop online as it saves a lot more time, they ship it for you, and many sites, like Amazon, have eco-friendly shipping options.

3) Don’t get sucked into the hype. Not everyone needs the latest and greatest, brand new item to hit the holiday season.

Image by Clint Currier / Creative Commons

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure a lot of people love to get stuff like that, however, that doesn’t mean all gifts need to be brand new. Sometimes refurbished or gently used is just as good as new, and it is less expensive. Besides in the reduce-reuse-recycle scheme of things, doesn’t that make more sense?

4) Donate during the holidays. There are many people in the world, and even in your own neighborhood, who are less fortunate than you. During the holiday season take some time and donate. You don’t have to donate money, you can donate goods, donate your time, and even donate your specific professional skill.

You can even donate as a gift to a friend or loved one. The neighbor who needs help repairing the fence would probably much rather have your help, than have you buy them a hammer. The dad who would rather spend the day with you instead of getting another tie to stick in their closet. There are tons of ideas and ways you can donate.

5) Get creative with wrapping. It’s probably no surprise that wrapping paper is a big waste. Because of the dyes, non-paper additives and other materials that go into making up wrapping paper, most of it is non-recyclable.

Image by Julie Magro / Creative Commons

Instead of investing in something that will only get one use before it goes in the trash, how about buying reusable wrapping or using different materials, fabrics, reusable bags, and ribbons you have around the house. It’s a fun way to wrap and it is better for the environment. My mother-in-law is really good at this. In fact most of our gifts come in the same boxes/bags, year after year, holiday after holiday. Works for me!

6) This may seem like an odd shopping tip to some people…smile. That’s right. Smile while you’re shopping. Not only will it lift your spirits, but it will help lift the spirits of people around you as well. And there really is no less expensive way to brighten someone’s day than to smile. My guess is you’ll find your shopping adventures will be more enjoyable and time will past quickly.

Image by LizMarie / Creative Commons

7) Visit your local farmers’ markets, not only for fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and other goods, but for handmade gifts as well. There are a number of very creative gifts you can find at the farmers’ market. If you buy items, you are supporting your local community. If you don’t, you still may come up with some great ideas of gifts you can make yourself. Definitely a win-win!

Those are my 7 simple, green holiday shopping and gift ideas for this year. Take them to heart and I bet you will have a greener, more biofriendly holiday season! Don’t forget to share your green holiday shopping and/or gift ideas too.

Image by Gardner-Mathews / Creative Commons

Autumn is officially here. Unfortunately, other than a little fog we had over the weekend, you’d never know summer wasn’t in full swing. To be honest, I’m really looking forward to experiencing some of that traditional autumn weather. Some cooler temperatures, a little rain, and a few falling leaves, would be wonderful right about now. So, in honor of the new season, here are 7 biofriendly ways to celebrate autumn.

- Get up from your desk and get outside. There is nothing like breathing in some fresh air, feeling the warmth of the sun, or the cool drops of rain on your face. Take a couple of deep breaths and enjoy the moment.

Image by Eric Snopel / Creative Commons

- Go for a nature walk. After you’ve managed to get outdoors, the next thing you can do is go for a nature walk. Look around at the fallen leaves, keep your eyes peeled for insects and animals, and most important of all, don’t just walk, soak in the natural beauty of nature all around you. You may be surprised at the many benefits a nature walk can provide.

- Open your windows and let some of the outdoors in. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it again and again. There is nothing that can help rid your home of all the bottled up indoor pollution quite like some fresh air.

- Take it a few steps further and clean up your indoor air. Closing up your home is not necessarily the smartest thing to do. While opening windows helps, here are 10 other things for cleaner indoor air. And don’t forget, if you purchase heating oil to heat your home, Biofriendly Corporation’s Green Plus® has been proven to improve boiler fuel economy.

Image by Rebecca Farmer / Creative Commons

- Compost those falling leaves. If you’ve got leaves, instead of raking them up and throwing them out with the rest of the trash, put them in a pile to be used as future compost.

- Use extra leaves for decoration. If you don’t have a compost, or have extra leaves, you should bring them inside and decorate. Here are some fall decorating ideas: DIY art from autumn leaves.

Image by Caro11ne / Creative Commons

- Plant some fall vegetables. Although many people consider spring and summer the best seasons to do some garden planting, there are a variety of vegetables that can still grow strong once autumn comes along.

I know there are many other biofriendly ways you can celebrate autumn, but these are a few you can integrate into your life on a daily, weekly or right now basis. What is your favorite way to celebrate or ring in the autumn season?

Image by Lida Rose / Creative Commons

Believe it or not, autumn is here and the year is almost 3/4 of the way over. With school back in, work piling up and holidays looming on the horizon, it may be hard to keep up on the latest news. Even some of the most interesting green viewpoints and articles may be missed completely in favor of other news or work.

So, in honor of Autumn showing its face, let’s get right into this week’s weekly greens:

1) Going green and getting EVERYwhere: Every green step you take makes a difference. Whether it makes a difference in your own life, in the life of your family, your friends, your neighbors or the world around you, each step makes a difference. It is the combined efforts of everyone which will bring about a broad change.

2) Plan B: A Roadmap for Stabilizing the Climate: Plan B is a movement set out to stabilize both population and climate. It is geared towards cutting carbon dioxide emissions, stabilizing population, eradicating poverty, and restoring the Earth’s natural systems.

3) Moving Planet: In case you missed it, Moving Planet was yesterday. Organized as a worldwide day to move beyond fossil fuels, there were over 2000 events in 175 different countries. Take a look at the photos, videos and demands for the future of the planet and its people. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to keep things moving forward.

4) How Biomimicry Drives Sustainability: From Fish-Inspired Wind Turbines to the Future of 3-D Printing (Video): The numbers of inventions and innovations that have been inspired by nature may astound you. But why not use nature as a guide? If you are looking for sustainable ideas, you don’t need to look far. Here are 15 of the coolest cases of biomimicry.

5) Worldwide Car Free Day was September 22nd: Did you participate? If not, have you ever considered getting out of your car and opting for a different, hopefully more environmentally-friendly mode of transportation? Even if you decide to opt for public transportation, ride your bike or even walk 1 to 2 days a week, it can make a difference.

6) Autumn is leaf-raking season!: Even though we know this time of year is the time when the leaves change colors and litter the ground as far as the eye can see, times are changing. Raking isn’t the chore it once was. Leaves can provide a lot of nourishment to your garden and should be USED in all their natural beauty.

7) Canadian Study Shows Geothermal Potential at One Million Times Current Energy Demand: Think about it…one million times the current energy demand. That’s a lot of energy. Even if only 40 percent can currently be extracted, don’t you think it’s worth further research and investment?

Well, there you have it. Although it’s just a drop in the environmental bucket for the week, if you’re looking for more green and eco-friendly news, you can follow me on Twitter. Until then, have a wonderful, biofriendly day and week ahead.

Well, it’s that time again. Time to wrap up the week with a few of the green and environmentally-friendly articles that caught my attention this week.

Image by Tee Time Tony/Creative Commons

Of course there are so many great articles and a wealth of information I haven’t included, but I thought these might be of interest to you, as they were to me. So, before you head out for the weekend, let’s do a little checking in on the world of green:

Test Driving the Fisker Karma Electric/Gasoline Hybrid Car: You’ve probably heard this one, but the Fisker Karma hybrid sports car has finally started rolling off the assembly line. What do you think? Could you see yourself in one of these? A little rich for my blood, however I do like the look of the Fisker Karma.

Sun-Powered Solaris Car Wins Mazda’s Aurora Survivor 2050 Competition: Looking a little further into alternative energy vehicles, check out this sun-powered car. Using solar electric power, this vehicle seeks to bring the future of transportation to the here and now.

Electric Vehicles to Total 14 Million by 2014: Whether you’re talking electric (EVs, PEVs, PHEVs) or hybrid vehicles, estimates show that public interest is increasing and these types of alternative vehicles will total 14 million by the year 2014. That’s only a few years away. Do you own an electric or hybrid vehicle? If not, do you think you will in the next few years?

Living Off the Grid with Alternative Energy Sources: There are many different options when it comes to using alternative energy to help power your home. But it’s going to take more than one option in order to live off the grid. Take a look at some great ideas and information on how you too can begin living more sustainably.

You May Soon Be Drinking Your…Urine? Yep: Your first reaction, if it was anything like mine, is probably “Not on your life!”. Well, besides the apparent health benefits from drinking urine, since urine is about 95% water, there is no reason is couldn’t and shouldn’t be recycled to meet water demands. In fact, treatment centers are being established in order to recycle, treat and purify wastewater to help meet city water needs. Even Los Angeles is apparently building a treatment plant.

How Much Land Do You Need to Eat Well? [Infographic]: So much talk about living sustainably, I’d be remiss to not mention something about growing your own food. But how much land do you really need in order to grow sufficient food to eat well? This article will help give you an idea.

7 Lessons from Canada’s Environmental Pragmatism: Many people, cities, government and countries like to talk the talk when it comes to making environmental and sustainable changes, but Canada shows they are really walking the walk as well. Check out these 7 lessons which can be learned from Canada.

That covers this week’s Weekly Greens. I hope you enjoyed and got some good information from the above articles. If you have something you think I should feature or mention in my Weekly Greens, please feel free to message me on Twitter or email me (biofriendlyblog at gmail). I look forward to hearing from you. Until then, have a wonderfully biofriendly weekend.

Image by charmar/creative commons

Believe it or not, the work week has come to an end yet again. But before you head out for the weekend, and whatever activities you and your family have planned, I wanted to share a few of the green and environmental articles that came across my plate this last week. I know if you are as busy as I am, it’s nice to have a recap or place to get a little injection of information. So, here is your weekly glimpse into the world of green:

1)Videos on Fuel Efficiency to Help Reduce Emissions and Save Money: Who doesn’t like to save money? And if you can do so while lowering your emissions, then you’ve got a win-win situation. Here are a few videos which give you some tips to help you do just that! Oh and of course, using a proven fuel additive (hint,hint) can also do wonders for your emissions and fuel efficiency.

2) Ford, SunPower Want to Plug Homes, Electric Cars into Solar Energy: Of course having a hybrid or electric car is a great way to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Add to that the use of solar energy to power your EV (and your home at the same time) and you cut down your dependence on the oil industry and coal industry at the same time.

3) Solar Powered Street Lights and Trash Can “City Context”: Okay, I like this idea. The idea of having street lights not only powered by the sun, but also using them as receptacles for trash, recycling, etc. In my opinion this type of idea could lead to much cleaner, greener public spaces.

4) Solar Grill Stores Latent Heat for 25-Hour Cook Time at 450F: The sun generates an enormous amount of heat and power, tapping into that energy is smart not only to power vehicles and lights, but to use for cooking as well. This solar grill might just be the answer to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable cooking option for both the developing and modern world.

5) Passive Solar – As Old As The Sun Itself: Since I was on the subject of solar power, this particular article by my friend Nan came to mind. Although there are many innovative ways to capture the power of the sun, there is nothing new about passive solar.

6) 7 Ways to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week: National Farmers’ Market Week is quickly coming to an end. If you haven’t yet taken advantage of the fresh, organic and local goods offered at a farmers’ market near you, now is the time to do so.

Last but not least, I want to share this article, These small steps add up to a greener daily routine. Although it’s nice to read about different green and environmentally-friendly things going on around the world, it’s even better to be able to implement some green into your own life. I hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the world of green. Here’s to hoping to get to enjoy some time outdoors. Have a truly biofriendly weekend!

Although fall doesn’t officially start until near the end of September, kids are going to be heading back to school soon, officially ending their enjoyable summer break. Rather than spending the rest of summer connected to their computer, video games or the television (yes, this goes for you too), here are some biofriendly ways to reconnect with nature before the summer ends.

Image by Moyan Brenn

Hiking: Hiking is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the afternoon. Hiking through the woods or on predefined trails is a smart and fun way to get some fresh air, sun, exercise and really be able to experience the beauty Mother Nature provides.

Image by Gordon Bell

Walking: If hiking isn’t really your style then why not go for a walk? You can walk alone, walk with friends, walk with family, or really whoever you think would be a good walking companion. Take the time on your walk to breath in some fresh air, look around at the trees, birds, clouds, etc. and definitely take a moment to smell the flowers.

Image by biofriendlyblog

Bike Riding: It doesn’t matter how old you are, kids and adult alike, seem to have a fondness for going on a bike ride. It’s a simple way to get exercise while getting outside. Let’s face it, if this guy is still out riding a bike at 103, then we should be too!

Image by Lorenzo G

Climbing trees: I’ll admit, climbing trees was a childhood favorite of mine. There was nothing quite as fun as being able to climb high above the world and lookout over everything below. Do you still climb trees? Do your kids climb trees? I say, let’s go climb a tree!

Image by mizrak

Swimming: What better activity is there on a hot day than going swimming? Even with the sun beating down, you can still have fun in the water. You get my kids around water and the only trouble you have is when it’s time to get them out. Plus, activities such as this make us want to take steps to preserve what we have for future generations.

Image by Loren Sztajer

Kayaking: Another way to enjoy the wide open space of a lake or the ocean is to go kayaking. You can coast along soaking in every view around you or paddle a little faster to get your heart pumping. Either way, kayaking is a fun way to reconnect with nature.

Image by USDAgov

Gardening: Gardening is something anyone can do. No matter your physical condition nor the amount of time you think you have to spend outdoors, gardening is a quick and simple way to keep you connected to nature. Plant some herbs, plant some vegetables, even plant some flowers. The key is getting down and dirty!

Image by Alexander Acker

Cloud watching: Okay, be honest here. When was the last time you simply laid back outside and did a little cloud watching? Do you remember doing that when you were a kid? I sure do! I still do it today, especially because it’s a fun activity to do with the kids. Try it and you’ll see!

Image by Chris Gehlen

Rock climbing: For those of you who are experienced climbers or even those who want to learn how to rock climb, now is the time. Get outdoors, start climbing some rocks. Use nature as your guide and stepping stone to the top. Please be sure to exercise caution, however, as rocks can be pretty hard-headed or hard on the head.

Image by Rob Lee

Camping: Camping is a wonderful way to connect with nature. Whether you sleep in a tent or simply lay your camping bag out under the stars, camping brings us a little closer to nature. While you are camping, please remember to keep these principles in mind. Leaving no trace is an important part of protecting and preserving nature for those who will come behind you.

Image by mking1783

Stargazing: Another great way to connect with nature is to lay down and do a little stargazing. Yes, you are looking up to the heavens and the sky above, however, when you realize just how great this universe is, maybe some of the smaller things which keep you away from nature won’t seem quite as significant.

Of course in order to do any of these activities, you are going to have to pry yourself away from your computer or other “must do” chores. Remember, the time to get outside is now. Before you know it summer will have passed you right on by and we don’t want that to happen!

“You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.” – Saint Bernard

With those words of wisdom, what is your favorite biofriendly way to connect with nature? Leave a comment below in order to share your great nature-connecting ideas!