Inspiration for Earth Day celebration is easy to find in our area. The writer, Byrne-Barrantes pulled together an environmental piece for the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal that is not to be missed (KPBH 4/8/05).

Byrne-Barrantes wrote of the contribution of Wangari Maathai (Nobel Prize winner) who recognized the need to reforest and understood that planting “seeds of peace” will assist “the Earth to heal her wounds...” Byrne-Barrantes has a gift for spotlighting our local heroes like Jim Trainer, community forester and Jackie Aitchison, community builder and director of our one-year-old Poulsbo Farmers Market.

It is comforting to know that people are committed and working to protect our rural community and the Hood Canal. Also, comforting, is knowing that local people are reducing landfill by recycling. Making the decision to carry a cloth bag to the grocery store is getting more popular and eliminates the choice of paper (cutting more trees) or plastic (making more toxins).

We’ve made some progress in demanding food grown by natural organic methods without toxic fertilizers and sprays. It is cheering to see a few Prius automobiles on the road; yet, so much more must be done to reduce global warming. We need our elected leaders to pass laws that protect our natural resources. Together, we can move from a culture of futility and mere-money-making to greater stewardship.

On Earth Day, April 22, we celebrated and made a commitment to do even more. We are planting our own “seeds-of-hope “ and making the changes we want to see.

Diane Wyland Carle
Poulsbo