Another year has gone by in the world of "green".  Every year seems to get progressively more insane with events, functions and volunteer opportunities.  After last April when my kids were barely speaking to me by April 30th, I decided to dial it back and seek a balance in the Earth Month festivities.  After all, with so many great organizations in town, it was unnecessary for me to carry the banner alone.  

We started out the month with some local business support by mobbing the Queen Street Grocery with Carrotmob; a very encouraging experience that showed how the power of many can really affect the bottom line.   We had lunch at Whole Foods to support The Sustainability Institute, who was the non-profit partner, receiving a portion of the net proceeds for the day.  I attended the Green Business Networking event (for the first time), put on by David Hansen from the College of Charleston.  What a great way to share ideas in a casual atmosphere - I met some new people too! On April 18th I joined in with many other businesses and a encouraging number of non-profit organizations to share the message of The Charleston Green Committee at the Earth Day Festival in Park Circle.  This was a free event put on by Charleston County Waste and Recycling (go Jenny Bloom) and was a huge success, bringing in all types of people interested in learning more ways to live green!  There were all kinds of exhibits with interactive activities for the families to enjoy - really a fun day! 

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, I took part in Mayor Riley's signing of a Proclamation recognizing National Volunteer Week in Charleston.  Then I put my beliefs into action by volunteering...I spent the afternoon at Whole Foods with my friend Katie Wells, sharing the wonderful work of Earth Force with the shoppers.  I continued on into the evening supporting Earth Force as the non-profit partner of Movies at Marion Square put on by The Charleston City Paper (Madagascar 2 wasn't half bad).  I spent time with some very enthusiastic 5th graders at Buist Academy, who were looking to eliminate styrofoam trays in their school cafeteria..."say no to styro!".  This was part of an awesome after school program provided by Lowcountry Earth Force - these guys are everywhere! 

Now while all of these activities were fun and rewarding, I have to say that my very favorite day was on April 22nd - Earth Day.  As a busy small business owner with three active daughters, I have had little time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Lowcountry.  We do try to visit Sullivan's Island and enjoy the beach, but rarely do we venture out to the many other eco-experiences you can find here.  Well after much emotional blackmail from my 10 year old, Katie; I agreed to chaperone her field trip to Bull's Island.  And let me tell you, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a very long time.  It was a beautiful cool morning and we met Ian Sanchez and Captain Will out at Camp Romaine for our boat trip to Bull's Island.  Now if you have never had the opportunity to visit this amazing place, I strongly encourage you to grab your family (or go alone).  You can only access Bull Island by boat, but the beach is totally natural with trails through the woods that offer glimpses of a myriad of wildlife.  The children in Katie's class were overjoyed to see several snakes and a baby alligator.  Most of the Mom's were less thrilled, especially when Ian "snake wrangler" Sanchez, picked up a non-poisonous variety for the kids to touch.  The icing on our cake of a day happened on the return boat trip after we had all enjoyed our packed lunched, when a school of dolphins graced us with their elegant presence.  As the kids squealed in delight, I commented to the teacher, Mr. Irwin, that it was great after spending so much time trying to educate people on how to live greener lives and protect our natural resources - to actually be able to spend time soaking in the very eco-system I am so passionate about preserving.  What a great day...Happy Earth Month!