In my last article, I pointed out an overall lackadaisical attitude that many people have toward conserving nature. During the time since that last article, I have thought more about my own activities towards being an activist for nature. Being fairly young in my passion, I struggle with what I should do; how my time might best be spent to help the cause. I have thought of joining numerous organizations or writing endless letters to local politicians. While both these activities contribute, and should be exercised, I feel I still fall short. Something is missing. Also, how can I blame someone else for inadequacies when I myself fall quite short of my own set marks?

That is when it struck me. I must start locally. I do not mean in my local community or town. I mean in my own home.

Then I asked myself, is our way of day-to-day living helping or hurting nature? Speaking from my own experience, I have been living my life based on convenience and I have had the attitude of, "if it makes my life better it has to be good". After all, if it is easier, faster, and cheaper, it is the American way.

I have come to the conclusion that things need to change in our daily lives. There are many major areas where we should all focus our attentions. In the next few articles, I am going to address some of what I feel are the larger issues on how we live and what we can personally do to help.

One of the larger issues that has changed over the last few decades is what we eat. For most of us, we tend to be creatures of habit and as generations pass, our habits and lifestyles become increasingly reliant on convenience. Our past generations were raised knowing what it was like to tend a garden, raise their own meat, or pull a bucket of water from a well. Today we rely on corporations to provide those items for us.

A corporation's main focus is to make larger profits, which means produce larger volumes at less expense. This is done in several different ways. Basically, these large food corporations utilize un-natural chemicals, and practice planting and harvesting techniques that harm the land and even surrounding lands. Well, who cares? We just want to go out and snap that next photo, right? Well, that next photo of a bear, elk, butterfly, dragonfly, bird or landscape is greatly affected by what we eat. "We are all tied to the earth in a vast web of life, and what happens to the lowliest of creatures eventually touches us" [Newman's Own Organics, Guide to a Good Life, Nell Newman with Joseph D'agnese]. This statement really hits home for me. Not only are these corporations putting harmful chemicals in our food which might be hurting our health; it affects our passion, our one reason for contributing to this website, and that is nature.

So, do we point our fingers at the large corporations? Do we write our letters to them asking them to go against what they have been taught in business class by spending more money to produce smaller volumes? Maybe, but that will not get very far and after all, my complaint really is not with them. My complaint is: How can we point our fingers in their direction? "Before you point your finger make sure your hands are clean" (Bob Marley, Judge Not).

We have allowed it. We allow them to spray or inject chemicals into our food so that they can grow a bigger, tastier, and more attractive product and produce higher yields at no expense to the health of our bodies and the animals that happen to be affected by this process. We also allow them to clear cut lands and add chemical rich, un-native soil to the land all for the sake of more money. So, what are we to do? How can we affect the way a large corporation practices?

We buy their product right? We are the reason they exist! My solution is this. Be aware of what you eat. Buy organic! The Organic food industry is making it easier for us with "Certified Organic" labels so we can be certain that what we eat is safe to us and to the environment. Other ways are to plant your own garden, to join CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture), and to shop at a local farmers market. If you have land, you might consider raising hens for eggs or poultry. Some of the above activities will also reduce the use of over packaged and shipped items. One of my recent switches is that I now buy shade grown, organic or "Fair-Trade Certified" coffee beans. There is no clear cutting of precious forest area to grow the beans and no chemicals are used.

These are a few simple eating changes that will speak volumes to large food corporations. These corporations seem to live by "Apre's Nous le de' luge" in my opinion. This is simply the belief that a man who is related to no order but that of his own benefit. If we stay true to our passion for nature, we should take just a little more time being aware of what we are eating.

Over the next few articles, I will be addressing some major issues of our daily lives that can help preserve Mother Nature. I will also be reviewing a book titled The Newman's Own Organics Guide to a Good Life by Nell Newman with Joseph D'Agnese. This book has been a great guide to help myself start living for nature instead of against it.

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Brent Stovall began his nature photography avocation within the past three years. His main purpose is to capture the natural beauty of the world around him and to bring awareness to the public regarding animal cruelty and destruction of their habitat. His life passions are studying the Lord's Word, being surrounded by animals and spending time in the outdoors backpacking, cycling and canoeing. He resides in Edmond, OK where he and his wife run a residential appraisal firm.