THE FUTURE BEGINS TODAY
            A new year is approaching – a good time to think about new beginnings. Some of us make resolutions putting into words our good intentions. If you don’t believe in making resolutions, you might simply ask yourself how you can make your life, your community, and your world a little better. In either case, consider taking a step or two towards making conservation your way of life. Each step you make today is progress towards a better future for your children and grandchildren.
            Advertising continuously lures us to acquire new appliances, tools, processed food products, apparel, and a multitude of other items. Goods and services expand to meet our demand for them and the limit seems to be the amount of money we have. When conservation is your way of life, the question is more than, “Can we afford this?” It is also asking, “Is this product a wise use of resources? And will using this item have consequences for the environment? Is there a better way to do this that uses conservation principles?”
Envision yourself with conservation as your way of life. See yourself…

• focusing on using less rather than more electricity.
• supporting the development of renewable sources of energy that have minimal impact on the environment.
• using clean fresh water sparingly.
• managing waste materials to keep them from polluting land, air, and water.
• taking care not to abuse or overload water treatment systems.
• looking for ways to manage water from storm events that are safe and non-polluting.
• leaving flood plains and wetlands for times when our waterways cannot otherwise carry off all the water from the watershed.
• paying willingly for expanding and maintaining clean water supplies.
• reducing the use of gasoline by planning trips with fuel economy in mind and shopping for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
• improving your house to make it more energy efficient.
• implementing soil conservation practices on yards, gardens, and cropland.
• insisting on sediment control on construction sites.
• maintaining habitat for wildlife.
• planning development and land use that considers habitat and natural areas.
• working to restore and preserve the environment on your property.
• educating yourself about conservation and environmental issues and participating in long-range planning that addresses these concerns.

Does choosing conservation as a way of life seem overwhelming? Make it easier by focusing on changing one habit at a time. Begin today by applying just one conservation principle to your daily life. This is a move toward changing to a conservation life style and securing many happy new years for future generations.
Rewritten from an article by the author published in December 2003.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 12/23/09 for publication on 12/26/09 in the Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois) Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org