Going Green in El Paso

Earth Day has come and gone. The First Lady is down on her knees, tending to her greens each week. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is urging Americans to do like our great-great grannies and grow our own food. And I am unplugging all my unused appliances. It seems like Mother Earth is really digging Earthlings' efforts to go green. As for me, I've been unplugging everything I am not using since last year, and I'd like to say my utility bill is going down, but it's not. It's mostly due to all the water I'm using to keep my garden healthy and strong, so I guess it evens itself out?

My veggies garden is not exactly the most productive (unless you solely love to eat mustard greens and lettuce, that is). My squash plants are producing only male flowers. My cucumbers are producing only female flowers. And the bees are nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, I toil away, daydreaming of the grown-by-my-own-hands-and-hardwork feast I will have. It will consist of lettuces, tomatoes, squash, corn, beans, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, chiles (especially green chile!), herbs, and maybe a watermelon or cantalope for dessert. It is quite awesome to think that most of the green stuff in my garden was grown from seed. In fact, I am really proud, except when I stop to think that most have yet to produce anything.

Anyhoo, what does this all have to do with El Paso? Well, maybe you've been jumping on the green bandwagon, too. Maybe you've pondered whether you thumb is green or brown or a little of both? Maybe you just want to do right by Mother Earth but think that all the neo-hippy, tree-hugging stuff is happening far, far away from our far desert town. You are lucky, because if you think that, then you are wrong.

Seeing green. Naturally.
Local Jim Tolbert has a tip or two for those of you who are into the "from farm to market" or "from the yard to the table" movement. ElPasoNaturally likes to keep “things local" and focuses "on things local: farms, neighborhoods, hiking trails, farmers markets, indigenous food, native plants." You know, natural stuff. It is a really well-written and interesting blog, so check it out and get growing!

Take it easy.
Taking the lead from big cities across the country, El Paso's own Greenleaf Pedicab offers you the chance to hang out downtown, without the pain of sweaty armpits and aching shins. Jump into the bike-drawn, rickshaw-type cab for an Earth-friendly tour of downtown El Paso. All drivers are certified through the El Paso Police Department, so you don't have to worry about hooligans playing pedicab roulette with you. Still not sold on the idea? Watch the magic happen:


Wear Your Green On Your, Well, Behind
Del Forte Denim is made of 100 percent organic cotton. Though the darling Miss Forte is not from El Paso and doesn't live in El Paso, she was smart enough to have the denim finished entirely in El Paso. Whooooo! Isn't it haute?




















So, there you go. These are just a few things happening. Go out and find green things for yourself. Or better yet, make them happen!