Bike to Work Day - Denver

Pull your bike out of the garage, wipe off the dust and start pedaling! Denver's Bike to Work Day is coming up on Wednesday, June 27 and there will be stations all over town with free food and drinks to keep you going. Register at the City's web site to get a free t-shirt and officially join over 20,000 residents hoping to catch the cycling bug. (If you don't live in Denver, check out your city's web site for your bike to work day.)

Coffee, Coffee

Are you a coffee addict? Just in the morning or all day? Either way, go out and buy yourself a cool travel mug and bring it to your local joint instead of opting for a paper or styrofoam cup. While you are at it, buy two mugs, so you don't have to clean the same one every night.

Paper or Plastic? Neither!

Next time you head to the grocery store, instead of choosing between paper or plastic, bring your own bags. Canvas totes, which can be stored in your car, are a simple way to keep trees from being cut down for paper bags and also prevent non-degradable plastic bags from ending up in your local landfill.

Plant a Tree

"Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world." - John Muir

To help create more worlds and a better one for those in the future, plant a tree. It's easy and gratifying. Not only do trees cut down on greenhouse gases, but they also provide natural shade to your house (reducing heating and cooling costs) and prevent water runoff.

And if you live in Denver, you can become part of the Million Tree Effort. The city is trying to plant 1,000,000 trees by 2025.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

When one of my favorite writers turned to non-fiction this year, I couldn't help but be interested in what sparked the change. Barbara Kingsolver and her family decided to spend a year following where their food came from and insisted on either growing their own or buying from their neighbors in farmland Virginia. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is their story and can inspire all of us to try our green thumbs. Even if you live in an urban area, you can grow a few tomato plants or herbs in a potted planter and learn the joys of growing your own food.

Farmer's Markets

While on the topic of supporting farmers, another option is to visit your local farmer's market. In metro Denver, for example, there are a variety of markets on both Saturdays and Sundays, spotlighting the freshest veggies, handmade pastas, straight-off-the-farm goat cheeses and kitchen table herbs.

Farm Co-ops

Support a local farmer by "buying" a share of their farm - Instead of purchasing your fruits and vegetables from the giant supermarket, search www.greenpeople.org for a local produce club. For a nominal weekly or monthly fee, you can buy in bulk directly from a local farmer and eat what's in season. Not what was picked before it was ripe and then trucked across the country.

Wind Credits

Sometimes making a difference is as easy as checking off a box. Many electricity providers, such as Xcel Energy in the West, allow customers to purchase wind power for a minimal fee. They guarantee your electricity is from a renewable source, so even if you live in an urban neighborhood in a condo or apartment, you can use wind energy to run your refrigerator. All by taking a few minutes to read your electricity bill.