It is good for my health on all levels. On a very physical level, I am getting my hands in the dirt and exposing myself to many microorganisms that help strengthen my immune system.  I am also getting sunlight to give me much needed vit. D. I get some exercise (preping a bed is hard work!). On a mental level, I get to listen to the birds, observe all the creatures around me being in their life rhythm, which relaxes me. And I can pay attention to my breathing. My stress reduces and I have space to think about goals and priorities in my life. On a spiritual level, I feel my connection to all the living things around me and know that I am doing something that is beautifying my surroundings and will nurture me.

The water, energy, and hours of labor are the kinds of waste that most motivate me to change my behavior regarding food waste.  There is so much that goes into the production of food. If we all were more mindful of how much we consume and waste, we would not have to tax our land and people as much as we do and would still be able to provide for our needs.

I shop at local markets that do pole catching for most of the fish I buy.  We have a salmon season that just opened a few weeks ago and there are size and number limits to the fish people are allowed to catch.  I also like to keep one of the seafood watch cards in my wallet to make "good" choices about the fish I am eating.  Other than that, I just think there needs to be enforcement of the restrictions so people don't abuse this.  

I actually live in a very agriculture dominant area in California.  There are fields growing strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and many leafy greens all around me.  There has been more and more movement in my area to move to organic farming.  I love buying the local organic produce and making my own garden for supplementing my meals.

As presented, it allows for the same plot of land to have several functions at the same time. I lived in AZ where there is plenty of sunlight but is very hot.  I love that having the plants growing under the solar panels can give them some shade, slightly reduce the temperature under the panels, and create a greenhouse effect for growing more crops.  I hope we get more innovations of how to multitask solutions.

I participated in the youth Earth Day virtual gathering suggested by my teammate, Rachel.  It was lovely.  I am sad that there was not the excitement generated by people being physically together at a gathering, but it made it possible to connect people across the country.  There was some powerful poetry shared by teens and I learned about youth organizations working to champion our environment. Makes me slightly more hopeful for the future.