In Our Hands

Simple ways we can all be champions of the earth.

Earn Your Eco-Hero Points

Ordinary citizens throughout the country are quickly becoming the newest superheroes in the battle to protect the earth. Rather than emerging from a phone booth dressed in a cape and tights, this new breed of superhero looks more like the person you see in the mirror each morning.

Want to be an Eco Action Hero? There are countless ways to fight pollution and waste and become a champion for a clean earth. You may know that unplugging the electronics you aren't using -- like your VCR, boom box or cell phone charger -- and turning off the power strip to your computer can save energy and money. But did you know that choosing local native plants for your garden, which thrive on the normal rainfall of your region, can save water?

From the simple decisions we all make every day to planning eco-adventures, the power to make the world a cleaner place is in our hands. Here are some ideas to help unleash the Eco Hero within you.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Tired of squirrels, bunnies and other critters munching the tasty plants and grasses in your yard or vegetable garden? Rather than using chemical-based pesticides, try dosing your delectables with a large shaker of cayenne pepper or Liquid Fence, a natural spray made of pepper and garlic. Remember not to inhale, and to wash your hands afterward. And be sure to reapply after a heavy rain. A little "pre-seasoning" may make the vermin head for the border, and you won't turn your backyard into a toxic wasteland.

Eat Your Heart Out.
Changing your menu is another way to lighten your impact on the earth. Eating certified organic means your food has been produced without the use of persistent toxic chemicals. In turn, the soil, groundwater and nearby water supplies stay healthier -- and so do you and your family.

Growing your own or buying locally grown food also means lower energy and transportation costs. The shorter the distance your lettuce has to travel, the fresher it tastes on arrival -- with less fuel consumption and air pollution along the way.

Local farmers' markets are a great way to shop, and some area farms even deliver right to your doorstep. Many city and suburban dwellers purchase seasonal shares in CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms. It's like subscribing to a season-long fresh vegetable delivery service.

To find farms and organics near you, go to LocalHarvest.org. You might just get your kids to eat their vegetables -- and you'll definitely get extra Eco Hero points for that.

Get Hands-On

Water Warriors.
Armed with shovels, shears, nets and clipboards, citizen-scientists across the country are discovering that observation is often the most critical step in identifying pollutants and protecting their own backyards and district waters. As state natural resource agencies have become increasingly short-staffed and underfunded, they are less able to detect and respond to threats. Everyday citizens can play an important role in helping protect local resources by serving as guardians, observers and first-responders.

Getting your feet wet in neighborhood conservation efforts can be as simple as joining your area river, lake or wetlands organization. Across North America, volunteers are helping to transform overlooked waterways into cherished assets. Many citizens' groups are even developing water-quality monitoring programs to chart the health of their local waters. And often residents are the first to discover a nasty spill or a fish kill in their area. To learn more about efforts near you, visit the River Network online directory at rivernetwork.org, or contact your regional chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Ducks Unlimited or Trout Unlimited.

Hands-On Habitat.
Reptiles and amphibians are often overlooked -- and, by some of us, avoided at all costs -- but these fascinating and elusive creatures can be a valuable indicator of environmental quality. By tracking population trends, and charting the presence or absence of particular species over time, scientists keep a finger on the pulse of the ecosystem. If the local population of a particular critter vanishes or exhibits malformations, it serves as a red flag. And you can help! The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program recruits and trains committed volunteer observers to listen for and identify frog calls. To try your hand at the online frog call quiz and learn if the survey is active in your state, visit www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp. Or just going on a frog hike may tap into your inner biologist! And your kids will totally think it's cool.

Taking Flight.
If feathered creatures are more your speed, establish a new winter tradition this year by participating in the National Audubon Society's 107th annual Christmas Bird Count held nationwide, and throughout the Americas, from December 14, 2006, to January 5, 2007. Believe it or not, counting birds is not just a hobby; it arms scientists with valuable data. This survey helps monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere.

As with reptiles and amphibians, the presence (or absence) of certain species can be an important measure of environmental health. Local trends can pinpoint contaminants or habitat degradation. Visit the Audubon Society website, Audubon.org, to get involved, and you can become a citizen-scientist even if you never touch a frog.

Get Going

Get Outta Town.
Ready to relax? Take a vacation -- an environment-friendly getaway. What's that? You don't care to sleep on the ground and dine on nuts and berries? No worries. Ecotourism runs the gamut, from plush hotels to rustic cabins to more au naturel accommodations; but no matter the lodging, all eco-friendly destinations encourage travel that treads lightly over Planet Earth and conserves resources.

For a full-service luxurious getaway that won't completely pummel your eco-conscience, the Amaryllis Beach Resort in Christ Church, Barbados, West Indies, may be the ticket. It boasts amenities like golf and banquet facilities, but is also committed to water and energy conservation. Or, for a simpler escape, check out the Maho Bay Camps in St. John, Virgin Islands, where tent-cottages with simple furnishings and elevated walkways deter soil erosion and protect the beach and coral.

Last chance for extra Eco Hero points! Try a working vacation. But wait -- it's more fun than it sounds! The Sierra Club, the American Hiking Society and the World Wildlife Fund all offer service trips that mix saving the earth with amazing locales. Whether it's improving trails in the Virgin Islands or searching for artifacts with U.S. Forest Service archeologists in Utah, these memorable trips are affordable and serve a valuable purpose.

Instead of a spring break to an overcrowded resort or a summer vacation to a noisy theme park, why not get family or friends together and do something you can be proud of? Now, that will earn you an Eco Hero badge of honor.