Thoughts on Earth Day and beyond

    Since the official Earth Day celebrations are officially 40 years old, and since we somehow happened upon Tie Dying last summer, also connected for us to 40 years since Woodstock, the Hippie I was meant to be (since I am only a few wild long hairs past 40), needs to write about Al Gore, Going Green, Small Business and Yard Sales.     One, going green is becoming an “in” business practice! Yes, I had my Al Gore books out again this past weekend, and I am back worrying about our carbon footprints, and what we can all do together to help conserve for our businesses, our children, and our communities. Do-able, cost effective things which are within our abilities and grasp to take action on!
    I had a great conversation with Nancy Chandler, Caribou Children’s Discovery Museum’s driving force, about their attendance at the Kiwanis Home and Garden Show, and some essays the children had written. If only we could keep the enthusiasm we have as children about so many things: conservation is just one of them. Young people feel so enabled, and as if they really can and will make a difference. We seem to lose it along the way. Harkening me back to, I know the vestiges of this exuberance are in all of us.
    Call it Hippies, call it what you will, the point is the same: we can make a difference. We can do it as small businesses, we can do it as individuals, and we need to start now.
    Coincidentally, of course, City Wide Yard Sale is a convenient way to recycle and reuse! The shoppers amongst us, can feed our shopping therapy issues, and help conserve too! Where else will you have an opportunity to hook all these unrelated things together except in Caribou Maine these next couple of weeks? We’ve found all kinds of great new ways even to advertise the yard sale this year, we’re into the twittering groove, and we’re making lots of new green acquaintances: really funny, and the network seems to grow every day!
    So just a few short things to look into: Efficiency Maine can help your small business! It’s the right thing to do! Think water conservation as you clean up your yards, your cars, and your items for the yard sale. Mr. Hitchcock, we love you, and my young men are trying to do their part to keep the consumption up, but there are so many things everyone can do every day to help conserve water. Ask your children, your grandchildren; they are talking about it in Eastern Aroostook RSU 39, I know they are!
    Collective actions amount to much more than just what each of us do in our own small spaces! Take care, only two weeks to Yard Sale Weekend!
    Wendy Landes, MPA, is the executive director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She can be reached in person at 24 Sweden Street, Suite 101; by telephone at 498-6156 or via e-mail at wlandes@cariboumaine.net.