ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Recently we were alarmed to hear that a group of City Primary school children, visiting a farm, couldn't believe that hens actually produce eggs and asked "which tap on the cow produced hot or cold milk?" 

Being raised in the country, surrounded by farm animals and plants, this sadly came as a surprise, we take it for granted, that children pick these things up from watching television or from book reading.

At a very early age, although I did not realize that my journey of love for nature and organic food was beginning, experiencing all of the senses daily with Mother Nature as the teacher ...smelling, picking our own plant life, patting and stroking the animals, experiencing life giving life, and of course tasting quality.

My family will no doubt have a chuckle, as at the time I didn't always go about the daily nature tasks with love, feeding the scrap bucket and collecting the eggs were some of my tasks, and not always performed with love. Gazing back down the path, I now say 'thank you'.

Our advantage we had, is that we could tune into life and not into the tube. Without any influencing from advertising, nothing outside to shape our perception of reality. Children didn't go inside until dark, without any television reception in the country until I was sixteen.Which now deserves another big thank you.

Parents today do have a much harder task, for our children of tomorrow, to experience life at it's best and to experience a 'hands-on' adventure with Mother Nature and all the senses, try a visit to an organic farm. Also try to create nature at it's best at home - with your own organic veggie garden or even pots if space is not available.

Compost and a worm farm, and get the children involved with gardening. You will find that children will almost always eat what they create. Our Thierry will munch on anything from the garden, even a hot radish that he has grown himself.

Somethings the children may take home

*don't litter, take all rubbish home.

*help to keep water clean.

*conserve water, electricity and recycle, re-use and reduce.

*protect our precious wildlife, plants and trees.

*enjoy the country side and above all respect its life and work.

*guard against all risk of fire.

*keep our family pets under close control.

*make no unnecessary noise.

*to be one with Nature ... air, thoughts, sun, water, food - path to endless health for all living.

*love ourselves and every one unconditionally, just like baby animals, who give so much love and affection and expect nothing in return.

*organic farming is the most environmentally-sound way of producing healthy food, using methods which co-operate with instead of dominating natural systems.

*quality is not found in commercially prepared lifeless food - love quality in life.

*strive for harmony instead of negating the life force of other beings.

"Creativity is a celebration of life - my celebration of life. It is a bold statement, I am here! I love life! I love me! I can do anything!".  Joseph Zinker

By modeling, talking with your child, and providing them with limited eco toys that build imagination and organic food, young children are naturally inspired. Power struggles do not ensue when your life as a family embraces, living close to nature. You will feel proud when your child recognized that plastic toy they used to want is really landfill junk.

We need to teach our children how to listen to Mother Nature breathing, because whether we like it or not, we're part of the ecosystem. And we need to tread lightly and respect our environment, because every time Mother Nature breathes out, we breathe in.

The more our children understand about our connection to the earth and its natural rhythms, the better equipped they will be for the future.