By Melody Stanford, Editor

As many Americans, I was raised to be skeptical of “hippie tree huggers.”

For many years I thought everybody who cared about the environment ran around shooting butchers and smoking dope. As a result I rolled my eyes when I heard the phrases “loving the earth” or “conserving natural resources.” Worse yet, I tuned them out. I refused to enter conversation because I thought adopting such ideals would turn me into someone I didn’t want to be.

Also, I reasoned, this is America, a free country. Who cares if I live my life the way I want to live it? I have the right to spend my money however I want.

It wasn’t until an incredible experience living in Italy that I began to deeply question these assumptions. I can only describe it as moving from “short-term thinking” to “long-term thinking.”

My host family was American. My host mom, Lisa, had her masters in public administration from a great university, and my host dad, Kurt Wenner, was an internationally-renowned artist. Both highly educated, intelligent, and for all intents and purposes, very normal people. No dope or hand grenades. We did, however, live on a nature preserve in the region of Umbria – near towns that dated back to the Etruscan era.

In this surreal and beautiful landscape, I found my defenses down. I began to see that this scene likely would not be here for me to enjoy if Italians hadn’t insisted on living simply, being resourceful, and cherishing the land the supported them. There would not be the incredible mix of different plants and species in the woods; the air would not be so clean. The landscape would not be so free from congested freeways and billboards. There would not be the incredible balance of life I was witnessing. “Loving the earth” came to have a whole new, positive meaning for me.

Italians, in my experience, buy what they need, when they need it. They don’t need huge homes, like many Europeans, they are satisfied with smaller spaces and cars, even practically living on top of each other in some cases – but totally happy about it, because those things are inconsequential to most of them. I met several families who didn’t comprehend the need to own refrigerators or dishwashers. Might I add, this didn’t make them backward people; they lived in the 21st century and have access to the Internet. They were just simply resourceful.

There was a general sense of sharing there. It reminded me of the patriotic American song, “this land is your land, this land is my land.” The people I met were careful to not impact the land negatively for their neighbors or for future generations. They understood what it meant to care for the earth, because the earth sustains and feeds all of us, together.

That lead me to understand that I do not live in a vacuum. In an increasingly global economy, what I do as an individual has ripple effects across the globe. What I buy has ripple effects.

Initially, this thought terrified me. I realized something worse than “becoming a hippie” was happening: I was becoming responsible with my knowledge. Any couple who has been married for a long time can tell you:  True love inevitably involves sacrifice. To love the earth would require sacrifice. That’s why anyone who chooses to truly live “green” has chosen the harder path.

While I know America has different assets than three-thousand-year-old histories, we do have similar incredible natural resources. In fact, I realized on my plane ride back to California that the landscape looks very similar to Italy from the air. While I don’t think its practical to get rid of refrigerators, we should live in the best possible way that we can – by respecting the earth in our own way. By loving the earth with our spending habits and our policies. And by using our voice to impact mass change wherever we can.

On this Earth Day in 2011, I applaud global forward thinking legislators who are making history by initiating the first ever bill of rights for Mother Earth. We need that sort of creativity and ingenuity – that radical love for earth – to sustain our planet for the long term.

As the green movement has made its way from Nader to supermarkets, and from far left-wing politics to chic suburban soccer moms, many people I know are growing “fans” of sustainable practices. It’s socially easier now than ever to be “green,” but is this just a fad? What happens when pop-culture moves on to something else?

If we keep the goal in mind – responsibly love our earth – then it can become a discipline, woven into the true fabric of our long-term cultural morality. Do we still have a lot of work to do? Absolutely. But that is the joyful challenge of love.

By GLP Editor Melody Stanford

At a frightening rate, the fundamental ingredient for life – water – is becoming a global scarcity.

Due in part to poor planning and development, soil depletion, strained water tables and groundwater contamination, shortages of usable water have begun to plague historically water-abundant areas. As a result, increasing numbers of people are turning to the rain for help.

In some US states like New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, rainwater harvesting is mandated or incentivized on a municipal level. In the past, states that have relied heavily on rainwater harvesting were those in which water was rare and expensive, creating a void for collecting any water available. Today, however, residents of even water-rich areas are identifying a need for this ancient practice.

Rainwater has been collected and stored for thousands of years as one of the purest sources of water on earth. Indeed, until it hits an object, it is as potable (ingestible) as any filtered source. Once it comes into contact with the ground or a container it becomes somewhat contaminated but is still fit for many uses. It can be stored indefinitely for non-potable means including bathing and washing, flushing toilets (mandatory in Australia), and widely for irrigation. If filtered, it is fit for consumption.

Rainwater is an incredible, free resource that many cultures relay heavily upon to sustain life.

Average water bills in the US can range from $50 to $200. Because an inch of rainfall on a 1000 square foot roof produces over 620 gallons of water, saving and using this water can greatly reduce costs. Most rainwater harvesting systems are so cost-effective that they pay for themselves in less than a year. Such systems are also improvements to property that can increase value.

Besides cost savings, rainwater harvesting is wonderful for the environment. Pumping water to homes from a municipal system consumes massive amounts of energy. The less demand for municipal water, the more resources saved, as well as drought likelihood reduced.

Furthermore, because rainwater harvesting puts water back into the soil gradually over time there is less topsoil runoff, which reduces storm drain contamination and keeps soil healthy.

This same, slow release recharges groundwater more efficiently, which promotes the health of local wells, streams and foliage, and ultimately helps to maintain the municipal source as a whole. For these reasons, harvesting rainwater has a “trickle down” effect for an entire community.

Another vital factor every property owner should consider is foundation safety. Diverting water away from the foundation of a building helps to control moisture, rot, pests and mold. Most home gutters empty directly near the side of the house, which can be a dangerous threat to the longevity of the structure. The preventative nature of this practice alone is desirable to many homeowners.

Rainwater harvesting can be as simple as using rain barrels (appx. 50-300 gallons) under gutter downspouts. However, many people find that they could use more water than a barrel can collect.

A well-designed rainwater harvesting system consists of the following:

• A network of gutters all connected to a central downspout
• A leaf and insect screen that is fed by the downspout
• A first flush diverter that separates the initial dirty roof runoff from the cleaner, more useful water
• A water tank. HDPE high-grade polyethylene tanks are most popular because of the low cost, ease of repair, and durability. Since rainwater can be stored indefinitely for non-potable use, it is best to get a dark colored/UV inhibited tank to reduce algae growth. Above ground tanks are less expensive than below-ground cisterns, though the trade-off of paying for excavation is a more aesthetically-pleasing system
• 1-2 outflow use points, which can be a spigot with hose threads and/or an irrigation line. If the irrigation is a drip system, it is best to install a valve so that drip can be applied during dry weather. If a pump is used, water from the tank can be connected to a sprinkler system. a filter can be attached to an outflow point for potable water. Because of this ease of use and accessibility, rainwater harvesting is very popular with avid gardeners, nurseries and landscapers.
• An overflow point is the final key element necessary to relieve pressure on the tank in the event of heavy rainfall. Most residential-sized tanks will fill up quickly in only a few inches of rain.

Warning: Before considering one of these systems for your home, consult your local and state regulations for legality and permit requirements.

For additional information about rainwater harvesting, visit www.harvestingrainwater.com and check out water guru Brad Lancaster’s book “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond” Vols. I and II.