When I was a child, I participated in a beach clean-up with other adolescents from my church. We spent three hours combing the edge of the water, plants, and fringes near the road for plastic and debris. At the end of our three hours, we'd amassed 10 trash bags full of tire pieces, plastic bags and cans, carryout containers, dead roots or animals caught in the mush, and other debris. It was tiring peering into bushes with the sun on my neck and weird gloves on my hands, but the end result made it worthwhile. The sand looked clean again and the trees and bushes looked buoyant. That day I decided that I would always try to do my part to conserve the beauty of natural creation. It's not only aesthetically pleasing and full of natural goodness for our bodies, but we are told to tend to our home.

I own a rose plant named Angus Persephone (I chuckle, too), a philodendron named Matilda, and an orchid named Van der Pol. Not only do these plants brighten my spirits as they grow, they provide me with oxygen and a cleaner living space. 

I'm no environmental superstar, but having these plants and learning different ways to do my part is good for me and better for the world. Growing some of your own herbs in a windowsill can save you money and help combat mass erosion on farmlands. My family owns mint and thyme and we make mint tea and season with thyme often. A reusable water bottle will save you money, though the bottle may cost more initially. Taking your own plastic bag to the grocery store will surely save the oceans and landfills from plastic that won't decompose and saveyour wallet in the long run. I know it has definitely helped me in college.

We are charged to "keep and tend" to our earth. Make it a goal to make a few environmentally conscious changes this month!