From a baby boomer perspective
Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites. With 500 million active users, there’s bound to be someone on Facebook that you know. And lots of friends you just haven’t met yet.
I’ve been on Facebook for a while, now. I’ve connected with family and friends. I’ve also found new friends all around the world. Not only do we chat just to be friendly, but we share ideas and help our businesses grow.
If you’re reading this, you’re welcome to connect with me by sending a friend request.
And while you’re here, please click the Like Button. You’ll find it on the right. Look for Facebook Friends. Then, just click the 
. And if you have a site with a Facebook like button, add a comment below with a link to your site and I’ll like yours – As long as it’s G rated.
(ARA) – Americans have traditionally considered the health of the planet and their personal health two distinct subjects. Times have changed. When we consider our personal health, many now see the connection to the environment.
“Most people want to be healthy and live on a clean and beautiful planet,” says Amy Lou Jenkins, a registered nurse who writes about nature and green living for Examiner.com, and who has authored the book, “Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting”
Jenkins offers these seven simple steps that can help you improve your own health, and care for the earth at the same time:
1. Replace car trips with a bike ride or a walk whenever possible.
Every day, Americans’ automobiles pour millions of pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Any step that reduces that output is a step toward better health for the environment. Walking and biking are also great low-impact ways to exercise your muscles, burn calories and deliver cardiovascular benefits. Taking a bike instead of a car for just one 4-mile round trip prevents the release of about 15 pounds of pollutants, according to the WorldWatch Institute.
2. Buy local foods and eat less meat.
Locally grown food requires less fuel to transport and causes the emission of fewer pollutants to arrive at the market than produce grown far from where you live. A meal of meat uses exponentially more water, land and petroleum products than a plant-based meal. The greenhouse gas emission associated with animal feed and animal methane increase environmental damage further. Add to that the water pollution from runoff and land degradation from grazing and you begin to see the enormous ecologic strain caused by a diet rich in meat. Lowering your red meat intake and increasing your consumption of fresh vegetables is associated with improved health, lower incidences of cancer and heart disease and a longer life. In addition, buying local produce will directly benefit your community.
3. Discover solar cooking.
Whether you cook on an electric stove, gas range, gas grill or charcoal grill, traditional cooking consumes fossil fuel. Consider buying a solar cooker and swap out propane and charcoal grills for sustainable solar energy. Solar energy is carbon neutral and ultra clean.
4. Take the stairs.
Elevators use energy all day long and two-thirds of that consumption is used to move people up and down. Reducing the number of elevator trips cuts the amount of energy used. Plus, taking the stairs is an easy lifestyle change that can net a big payoff over time in heart health and weight management. Overall, it is a healthier way to travel.
5. Get into gardening – all year long.
Gardening offers many health benefits, from mental relaxation to light cardiovascular exercise. Indoor gardening with easy hydroponic systems can ensure you’ll have plenty of fresh, nutritious produce – even in the winter. And by traveling from windowsill to plate, instead of being flown across the country or planet, your homegrown produce reduces fuel consumption and pollution.
6. Switch to all-natural products for cleaning, rather than toxic chemicals.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that it has found detergent in 69 percent of streams it has tested and disinfectants in 66 percent of tested waterways. Fortunately, many manufacturers of household cleansers now offer all-natural lines. By switching to natural products – including homemade cleaners made with simple pantry products like vinegar – you reduce your personal exposure to toxic chemicals and help keep them out of our groundwater.
7. Unplug.
American homes consume a staggering amount of electricity every year. Switching off the computer, video games, TVs and cell phones not only reduces your home’s energy use, the electronic silence offers an invitation to family time to reconnect and spend time together. Research shows that healthy relationships and social contacts are associated with long life and happiness.
You can find more green living news at www.examiner.com.
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. As newlyweds, my parents owned a mom and pop grocery store. Then, dad and 3 partners started a hydraulics manufacturing factory. When dad decided that a southern climate with less pollution would be better for our health, my parents bought a 50 unit motel along US 1 in Miami, Florida. By then, dad was also learning how to invest in the stock market.
So, when I needed to earn a living, starting my own business was a no brainer. After 5 years of working in an architect’s office, telemarketing for newspapers all over the country and getting a real education working for a small business owner who sold and serviced computer equipment, I was ready to enter the entrepreneurial world.
My first company was Vision Quest, a computer services business. I had a handful of regular clients who kept me busy. When they needed help, they needed it NOW! So, when I got a call, I had to drop everything, drive to their office and solve their problem. When I left town to take care of mom, who was no longer independent, I lost my clients and closed the business.
By then, network marketing found me. For 8 years, I was a rep with Excel Communications. They provided an alternative to AT&T’s high priced, long distance service. Gradually, other services were added: Pagers, Internet Service (ISP), local phone service, 2 way pagers and an online shopping mall. I loved the technology and thought I was smart to be in a service business, rather than products.
I couldn’t have been more wrong! Today, I have a Shaklee business. I’ve been a distributor and social marketer for over 5 years. Because I work from home – Mostly online and on the phone – I’m able to take care of mom, too.
I direct market several product lines of all natural, organic and non-toxic products. And I’m building a team of health minded people who are entrepreneurs.
The more I learn about health, the more I love Shaklee. The products are top quality and priced competitively. And instead of a huge advertising budget, Shaklee pays distributors like me, a generous commission to find new customers and distributors.
Are you an entrepreneur? Visit Team Player Wanted to learn how you can become an entrepreneur in the Social Marketing world. Together we, as entrepreneurs, can change the world. Everything IS within your reach.
The FDA has found Salmonella tainted eggs at another large egg farm in Iowa . There have now been more than 500,000,000 eggs recalled.
If you have any of the eggs listed here or on the orginal News Release, either return them to the store or throw them away. It’s also a good idea to make sure you cook eggs completely to kill any salmonella or other bacteria.
The following is exactly the text from the FDA News Release …
Through tracebacks conducted as part of its ongoing investigation into the increase of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses nationwide, FDA and the State of Minnesota identified Hillandale Farms in Iowa as a second potential source of contaminated shell eggs.
Eggs affected by this latest recall are distributed under the following brand names: Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow in 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package, and 5-dozen cases. Loose eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Wholesome Farms and West Creek in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers.
Eggs involved in this related recall are only eggs with the following plant numbers:
P1860 – Julian (production) numbers ranging from 099 to 230
P1663 – Julian (production) numbers ranging from 137 to 230
FDA continues to have on-site investigators at Hillandale Farms of Iowa, Inc. and Wright County Egg in Iowa.
I’ve gone from green thumb to living green. After spending 20 years of summers out in the yard – planting flowers and vegetables, watering, weeding and reaping the harvest – I’m now going green with the realization that we need to take care of ourselves, our families and the earth. And I found a company to help me do it. I’m a Shaklee distributor.
Going to antique stores isn't as much fun since I started saying "I used to have one of these."
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