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True Green

Can it Become a Lifestyle?
 
In a world where corporations trumpet their environmental " greenship" , yet are involved in the extraction of oil, gas,coal and minerals,
it is hard  to separate truth from fiction. What does it mean to be green? Is it enough to declare that your are? How does an individual
family answer this question? Can you contribute to less energy use, curb carbon dioxide emissions, be mindful of water consumption,
shop responsibly? Is it time to come up with a personal family plan?
 
Give some thought to ways that you and your family can get close to nature, enjoy a day on the trail, perhaps on a Sunday when the
RDO naturalist is leading a nature walk. With the expenditure of only a modest amount of gas, the shared experience will bring family
members closer together.
 
Need gifts for those favorite hikers?  Perhaps the RDO Nature and History Shop may be just the place to begin.
 
A simple magnifying glass can  fit in  the pocket, ready for a close inspection of a bug or plant found on the trail. Need some indoor items?
Small books, including sticker books on bats, snakes, insects & butterflies , stencils, or larger coloring books with authentic drawings on
themes of nature, could lure your child away from the computer or TV.
 
Autumn days can be chilly. Look for sweatshirts with the Rancho del Oso signature bear. Adult sizes are still only $15.00 in soft shades of
green or grey.  They wash well, softening with use. Children are not left out. In addition to small sweat shirts, there are Tee shirts with
the famous  banana slug logo made popular as a mascot by UCSC. These are now available, by popular demand, in adult sizes, for $15.00.
 
Well written nature books are often hard to find. Ideally, a plant volume has a good index, color photos, and an easy to use format. The shop
carries Plants of the Coast Redwood Region, at a cost of $18.00. It has the advantage of showing the plant in both the flower and fruit stages,
so you can trace  it at spring or fall. It also has some tree and shrub photos, and will fit easily in your back pack. If there are bird enthusiasts
among your gift receivers,  look for authors named Peterson, Kauffman, Sibley or the National Geographic volume to add to their collections.
Birdwatchers  seem to collect each new book as it is published. The authors listed are all pros, and can be trusted.
 
In a tight budget year, consider the packets of Hulda Hoover McLean's watercolor notecards. There are six in a package, a welcome gift
when thank you notes may be in order.
 
Outdoor people would appreciate trail books. They range from a self printed volume of the Waddell trails published by Hulda McLean,
giving length of the hike and level of difficulty, to books about trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains, or Peninsula trails. Perhaps even more
useful are maps, at $8.50,  which give information about whether animals, horses, or dogs can use the trails. too. There are three of these,
covering three different sections of our Bay Area.
 
True Green. Easily seen. Families who respect  nature, live in harmony with it, and become close observers of the beauty all around
them give their children a worthy legacy. Hike with us. Shop with us. Discover that the outdoors is far more exciting than a 3 D movie.