April 23, 2009 10:33 by
GeneWe are witnessing a nascent
interest in green living as yesterday’s
Earth Day celebrations and other
activities attest. But, green living needs to be more than a slogan absent of real change.
We should each seek to adjust our habits and lifestyles to lighten our load on
the planet, and the single most impactful choice we make is how we decide to
eat. Choosing a vegan lifestyle and supporting Farmer’s Markets, community
gardens and other sustainable food systems can make a world of difference.
Earlier this year, I was
very happy to see Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) break pavement near USDA headquarters in Washington, DC
to establish “The People’s Garden.” On Earth Day, he expanded the effort “to
promote healthy food, people and communities across the nation.”
The USDA press release
says: “In response to the overwhelming public support and hundreds of letters
the 'People's Garden' concept has received, Secretary Vilsack challenged USDA
facilities around the world to plant their own 'People's Gardens.' Let’s keep expressing
our appreciation to USDA for setting a good example and promoting healthful
plant-based eating with ‘The People’s Garden.’