By Helmut Fields

Green is the new gold. At least you better have stock in gold to go green. Going green these days involves spending – buying organic, solar start-ups, hybrid cars, all-natural cleaners and cosmetics.

Living close to the earth has never been so expensive. What else would we expect from industry? When there is any beginning of a trend, they jump on it like green on grass. Instead of the less is more philosophy, we are facing the buy green guilt. Notice, going green means spending, in other words – consuming.

Isn’t consumerism an ancient enemy of the natural world? Uncontrolled consuming has negatively impacted our earth. Still, it appears to be unavoidable.

So, put those jeans back on the shelf and buy the organic denim. Even if it sets you back $50 more.

The choice is yours. On the personal level, many of us would rather not break open our piggy banks to appease the tide of green commercialism.

Is there any way out of paying to live natural?

Here are nine ways to tread lighter, without the loan.

BUY USED: When was the last time you wore out your clothes? Most of us don’t know what it’s like to wear them out. Because it’s so easy to buy new clothes and get rid of the old ones. What would happen if we bought used clothes? Could you possibly live with the clothes you have for a whole year?

LESS IS MORE: It’s such an easy word to say, but so hard to swallow. The L-word. Using less makes sense, even with the simplest things, lattes, candy bars, magazines, gum, movies, pens, cereal, and fill in this blank. Cutting back on anything will make you feel better, and contribute to a greener you.

BIKE, WALK, RUN: When we bike, walk or run we don’t worry about miles per gallon or cost per gallon. We also are having less impact because we are not polluting. These three transportation methods are the easy way around the Hybrid.

ELECTRIC LOVE: With the flip of the switch or pull of the plug we can show we value our electricity, and want to savor it. Because we know it comes at a cost.

EATING IN: Thirty dollars can buy a few bags of groceries. Thirty dollars is on the low side of what you spend when you eat out. Not to mention how much more control you have of your food when you cook your own. Going to a restaurant for an all organic meal will cost you. Eating organic at home will save you money, and keep you in touch with your food.

TV WHO? Watching less TV means being less mediated, which in turn helps you consume less. We haven’t found many good uses for dead televisions. They wear out, and end up in a landfill. The least we can do is buy smaller ones.

ENTERTAIN YOURSELF: There’s a reason it’s called the entertainment industry. And it often involves unnecessary waste. Invite friends over to your place for dinner. It’s amazing how much less you will use. The fun factor will be on the same plane, or higher.

GROW YOUR GRUB: The cheapest way to eat organic produce is to grow it yourself. Even if you can grow only a fraction of it, you will save.

STAYCATION IT: Even the simplest vacations eat up money and resources. Next time think about staying in town. You can go to stores, and restaurants you’ve never been to. Check out your local museums, galleries and music scene.

Sustainable changes are not made overnight. It’s a slow and steady process, which is rewarding. Take your time, but at least pick one of these steps. And if you’re already doing them, keep at it. Growth is green, so progress.

April 2009: Start Digging It

With the sound of melting snow, the smell of wet grass, and robins chirping into the dawn of the morning, comes the anticipation of spring.

The winter cocoon is about to open into a season that flutters past at ungraspable speed. In opening this new season our goals green and freshen. We plan to exercise more, take those summer camping trips, visit family and friends, and spend leisurely days in the sun.

Spring means growth. Naturally we are ready to jump from seeming winter stagnancy into this dynamic time of year. Henry David Thoreau said in Walden, “The first sparrow of spring! The year beginning with younger hope than ever!”

This is a time to break new ground – literally.

Whether you have a yard or not, you can indulge in the benefits of your own organic produce. But first we need to ingrain the first and only rule of gardening: There are no rules.

Having no rules keeps the growing experience easygoing, and gives us room for growth.

So here are the suggestions to get you on the path of germination.

The DIRT

Let’s start with one word-Organic. What does it mean? Simply put: Organic gardening means not using synthetic products, such as pesticides and fertilizers. Instead, you replenish the earth with natural materials. Keep in mind that what you put in the ground ends up on your plate, and then in your body.

You can use a patch of dirt in your yard, or if you don’t have a yard you can fill containers with your growing medium – soil. For example, you can use five gallon buckets, which are cheap and simple.

If you’re starting anew, the first step is to grab your shovel and start digging. The grass and grass roots will need to be separated from your little plot. You can use these organic materials to start your compost pile.

Now that you have your patch of dirt for planting, run your hands through the soil. It’s your earth.

Before you plant it’s a good idea to fortify the dirt, although not necessary. You can build your soil with leaves, grass clippings, peat moss and compost. Most of these you can get for free.

Mix one or all of these amendments into your dirt. It’s now ready to produce.

The SEEDS

What do you want to grow? Cucumbers, carrots, spinach, lettuce, beans, zucchini, basil… and the list goes on and on. It’s literally all a matter of taste. Space will play a part in what you grow. Certain plants will take more room than others: squash, potatoes, corn, and melons.

You can find seeds in gardening stores, hardware stores, or you can order them.

The PLANTS

Certain vegetables do better when you plant them as seedlings, instead of using seeds. Starting with a seedling gives the plant a jump start on the growing season. It’s a good idea to buy tomato and pepper plants, rather than sowing these seeds directly into the soil. Many herbs also work better when using seedlings over seeds.

The SOWING

This would be a good time to remember there are no rules, only suggestions. For example, when should you plant? There is no specific date. If you wanted to, you could throw seeds on the ground in March, but your yields may not be bountiful.

A rule of thumb is to plant after all danger of frost. Being the antsy creatures we are it’s fun to take your chances and sow seed a tad early. No harm done. Just be sure to save some seed to replant. If your plants get frosted, this will usually result in their premature death.

You can learn a lot on the back of a seed packet. There you can find the depth to sow the seeds, and the space in between plants. So go to it.

Once you’ve planted it’s time to water. Again we aren’t measuring out in cups the amount of water. Just remember you want the soil thoroughly watered after planting.

The WAITING

While you patiently wait to see green sprouts, you can check out a library book on organic gardening and learn more about your new craft.

The FOOD AND DRINK

Once you see these tender shoots emerging from the dirt you can be sure you are on the right track. But it is not over, this is only the beginning.

Theses plants are constantly soaking up nutrients and water from the soil. This is the reason you need to supply the soil with a constant supply of water and nutrition.

Don’t let your soil totally dry out. Keep it moist, but not sopping wet.

Hopefully you’ve started a compost pile, or have found a supplier. You will want to sprinkle the soil around the plants with compost.

The WEEDS

Weeds are simple. You don’t want them, so pull them out.

The HARVEST

When do you reap your bounty? It all depends on the type of vegetable and the speed of growth. Produce such as lettuce, radishes, spinach, peas and kale are ready rather quickly. Others need a longer growing season: tomatoes, carrots, squash, and leeks.

If it looks ready to eat, it probably is. So pick one and try it.

The BEGINNING

In her essay When Evening Comes, Ruth Stout writes, “For me almost any beginning is exhilarating, whether it is that of a day, a book, a season…”

Exhilarate yourself this spring by planting a packet or more of seeds. You will reap bountifully, when you start digging it.