Happy Earth Day!

Another Earth Day is upon us. It is a reminder to celebrate the natural beauty of the Earth, as well as a time to reflect on how we as humans affect the fragile eco systems around us. Is nature just something for us to own and use or should we, with all of our intellect and wisdom, feel responsibility to take care of this gift we have been given? It is tough to resist the sales pitches and to step back and ask if we really need a bigger house, a larger car, and all of the things that are pushed on us. Do we need to be running here and there and driving countless hours? It's all about balance I guess. If we all had a caring and a balance and put thought into conservation then I think we really could make a big difference. In the end it is about us as individuals and the choices we make. Little changes do help. You don't necessarily have to be out protesting a mine or giving speeches at gatherings, you just need to care, and make the little efforts that you feel will help. Voting matters, volunteering matters, giving financially matters, writing to government officials matters, and your daily habits matter. It's easy to get angry and frustrated with the lack of leadership and the corporate mentality, but if we can all find a little more balance and put in a little more effort then we can make a difference. You don't need wealth to recycle or turn off some lights, you just need to care. It's the right thing to do, not just for the Earth but for ourselves as well. Our health depends on clean air and water and less chemicals. Sure, maybe we are so smart that we will come up with ways to turn the global warming problem around, but is that really intelligence to just sit back and hope for innovation? Why not use our common sense and avoid the problems in the first place? Many people make New Year's resolutions, changes in behavior to try and better themselves. Perhaps we should all make Earth Day resolutions to try and take better care of our surroundings. We can't just float along and keep up our old ways, the climate, the storms, the illnesses are all telling us to wise up. So, head to one of your favorite outdoor spots today (and as often as possible) and celebrate, but also acknowledge the fragility of that space, and what it may need to remain natural and beautiful.

Vote For The Environment

If you looked back through all of my posts, here at Go Rustic, I don't believe you could find one where I preached or pushed my views on others. I do feel strongly about the state of our planet and the environment, and would like to quickly share my general stance. We have an election coming, as you all know, and like any election it is important to get out and vote, and support your beliefs. I don't believe our business should support certain people, or party, and I especially don't think we should be giving money to a certain campaign. So, all I want to say is to remember the environment and the laws that protect it. There are a lot of distractions with talk of the economy and foreign policy, etc..., but we must continue to move forward in the protection of our natural resources. I feel it is important to take a look at your candidates at every level of government, including your state and local levels, to see how they will approach environmental issues, or if they ever even mention them in speeches or on their website. I feel the environment should never be abandoned, no matter what or how big the other issues are. If we don't have clean air, water, soil, and so on then what's the point really? If our temperatures and sea levels rise at a brutally fast rate, and the storms get worse and worse then some of these other issues aren't going to seem so big in the long run.
Wilderness Creations has always worked to be an environmentally responsible company. We are a member of 1% for the Planet, giving a portion of all sales to environmental organizations, and we are constantly working to reduce and recycle waste. These efforts are an integral part of our mission. The rustic style is closely tied to nature, we want to bring people and the environment closer together. So, although it is not the typical route I would take while blogging, I really do feel it is important. It's important to get out and vote, and to look at the entire candidate. Who will look forward, long term? No one is going to have some magic cure for the economy, and if they did it would just be shooting it up towards another crash even faster than regular cycles. I just ask that you give it some thought, and take a look at where candidates stand on environmental issues, and where that stance would put us in the future. Thank you for reading.

Nature’s Top 10 Greatest Comebacks of the 20th Century

Check out some of the positive nature news! See some species and areas that have made a come back due to the dedicated efforts of caring people and organizations.
http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/pressreleases/comebacks-press-release.xml