GardeningNude

How 14 Days In The Yucatan Made Me Realize The Value of Planet Earth – Part 4 – Building Community

Sixty feet up the spectacular Mayan pyramid known as Nohoch Muul, wind buffets me and I cling to the rock desperately - trembling in the 100 degree heat – my heart pounding wildly. As I carefully climb up the steep face of one of the tallest known Mexican pyramids sweat drips down my forehead onto the ancient rocks.

Looking back the steep sixty feet of crumbling steps I have climbed, I am reminded that no safety fencing or climbing gear is there to protect me. A single rope hangs down the middle of the stairs and that’s it. Each step brings me closer to the top of the pyramid and as it does, the wind increases. Already the view is spectacular – miles of jungle stretch out before the pyramid.

Hundreds of years ago Nohoch Muul (seen in the photo above) was the center of the local Mayan Indian community. Mayan Indians from across Mexico traveled to Nohoch Muul seeking guidance and friendship. Every day a priest would climb nearly 140’ to the top of the ancient pyramid to spend time in the ancient temple at the very top to offer prayers to help his people. Nohoch Muul is a part of a much larger Mayan Indian community known as Coba which was discovered in the late 1980’s. Amazingly, only 10% of this ancient Mayan community has been uncovered.

Located in the Yucatan peninsula rain forest near the Mayan Riviera, the ruins of Coba puts me in touch with the idea that all people crave, like the Mayan Indians, existence within a community as an important part of our humanity. This craving explains our passion for social media and our desire to live a life in a neighborhood which is welcoming.

While modern day life in a community may not require a daily 140’ climb, being a part of a supportive environment helps ease life’s woes. Like the pyramid climb, it is not always easy, yet it is rewarding. Building and maintaining friendships, helping one another, particularly during trying economic times, and living life in general can present difficult challenges. Yet when you share time with other human beings, volunteering and helping improve the neighborhoods and community’s where we live, humanity is lifted up in a powerful experience of sharing.

When we take care of our neighborhoods we feel less depressed, more satisfied, and generally happier with who we are and those around us. These thoughts drift with me as I struggle to reach the top of the 140’ monolith. Several times I lose hold and think I might be blown off the pyramid. Always another climber helps me so that I am able to safely reach the top. After the last shaky step, I turn and see an ocean of green rain forest stretching for miles below me (see above photo). White clouds float through the blue sky. There are no skyscrapers, or buildings, or airplanes; just nature and the ruins. Smiling, I reach my arms up in triumph. I made it!  Grinning even wider, I realize that I did not reach the top on my own. I had help. Sometimes life is about more than our own selfishness. Achieving a personal triumph is always made easier when you have a community of caring people to help you.

Living a green lifestyle and building emotionally healthy relationships will help you when you are climbing your own personal pyramid. Family and friends will lift you up when you need help so you can live a better, less isolated, life. Perhaps building community will help you realize the true value of humanity – or perhaps it will just make you smile more. Either way – working to build a greener and healthier community will improve the quality of your living – so do it today and make a difference.

And now in the last photo you can see I had to get back down…. eeek!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

How 14 Days In The Yucatan Made Me Realize The Value of Planet Earth – Part 3

Sweating from the 90 degree heat, we silently descend into another world – a deep cavern below ground. Gripping the rope carefully, we rappel forty feet down through a narrow hole in the ground, feeling the cold cave air assault us.  Bats dip and dive as we inch our way down through the dark abyss, ropes burning our hands, until finally we drop into the cold waters of the cenote.

Water is the most precious resource in the world. In no place is this more clear than when swimming in an underground cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula. While most of the world-over humans have access to extensive lakes and rivers, people living in the Mexican Mayan Riviera region do not. There are virtually no above ground rivers in the Yucatan –  all the fresh water comes from an extensive limestone cave system deep within the peninsula.

Cenotes are often surface connections to subterranean water bodies. Cenote water is very clear and clean because the water comes from rain water infiltrating slowly through the ground. All the cenote systems in the Yucatan eventually connect together. Because it is a major source of fresh drinking water for the Mexican people, it is extremely important to keep the cenote’s free of chemicals and litter. Warnings are repeatedly given from tour guides on the importance of keeping the water clean so the Mayan locals will be able to drink from it.

As we drop into the cold, black water of the immense underground cave, I look up at the ceiling and see a very thin crust of earth which covers the top of the cavern. An achingly thin layer of ground stands between the top soil and the fresh water below. Roots hang forty feet deep before they touch the water. Our guides provide inner tubes to float with because the water is an additional forty feet deep below us. Tiny fish swim and nibble the dead skin on our toes and legs. In that intense moment of touching nature, a shiver of understanding touches my soul. It occurs to me that we in the United States should be following the more cautious mindset which the inhabitants of the Mayan Riviera exhibit about our own precious drinking water.

Whenever you use pesticides and chemicals on your lawns, you are allowing these chemicals to eventually percolate down into our water system. If you live in a home which has its own well, that well water is being exposed daily to chemicals and carcinogens which we have put in the water ourselves by peppering our lawns and gardens with poisons which have a long life. Therefore it is possible to contaminate our water system over a period of many years, not just at the time when we apply the chemicals.

Next time you reach for a lawn chemical remember the caves and cenotes of the Yucatan. It took a trip to another part of the world for me to finally understand the connection and significant importance of my personal responsibility to our earth. Imagine if the chemicals I had put on my lawn several years ago managed to get into our eco-system and another human being somehow ingested it? Even in trace amounts? Does anyone completely understand what causes leukemia – a chemical triggered cancer? Does anyone REALLY know what is safe for humanity?

If you care about your fellow man, you have to see that this is not someone else’s problem. It is YOU who are responsible for caring for the water systems in our communities – not your neighbors, not your government - YOU. It is YOU who might be poisoning the child next door. Stop. Think. Use chemicals wisely. Now is the time to make a difference.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

How 14 Days In The Yucatan Made Me Realize the Value of Planet Earth – Part 2

Visiting the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve was one of the most interesting and powerful experiences I have ever had with nature. Sian Ka’an is recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme and is considered a World Heritage Site. My eight year old daughter and I were able to truly touch this unique and beautiful reserve.

Definitively, UNESCO sees a biosphere reserve as an ecological area with three core needs and functions: conservation, sustainable development and logistic support for scientific research and education.

Natural World Heritage sites must be of outstanding universal value in accordance with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and indeed, Sian Ka’an is an absolutely amazing property.

Located on the Mayan Riviera, it is a large area - nearly 1.3 million acres. It has 23 known archeological sites with relics dating up to 2,300 years old, 103 varieties of mammals and 336 species of birds. Currently it is home to over 2,000 inhabitants who are mostly native Mayan Indians – one of which was our guide to tour the jungle and cenote lake system.

Jungles are noisy places. Birds, insects, wind, and the creaking of branches combine to make a beautiful symphony of sound. Our Mayan guide, Antonio, pointed out many medicinal plants and warned us away from treacherous ones.

Amazing canals stretched for miles through the system of mangroves and wetlands. On one side of the canal system is mangroves, and on the other side of the canal system is wetland savannah which is quite beautiful.

My daughter and I were plopped into a canal – without our guide or any protection beyond a life vest – and we floated in our bathing suits down a one mile stretch of canal. As Antonio dropped us in the water, I was concerned about crocodiles and predators – it left both of our hearts pounding with excitement. However, there was no need to be worried; the sound of the wind blowing the mangroves and savannah grasses was quite amazing. Touching mangrove roots while we floated and really feeling a part of this special environment was powerful for both of us.

Having all your senses tantalized by nature is something everyone should experience, particularly children. Understanding that the jungle helps provide earth’s inhabitants with oxygen, the mangroves help protect the coastline from eroding, and that key medicine’s and antibiotics needed for mankind’s survival are found in this diverse world is enough to humble even the most confident human.

By introducing your family to nature you are educating them on the world’s needs and therefore helping them to understand the value of our eco-system as well as the value of our humanity. It is the green thing to do – the right thing to do.

What are you doing to introduce your family to nature? Whatever it is – do it today.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

How 14 Days In the Yucatan Made Me Realize the Value of Planet Earth – Part 1

 

Summer is here and most of us are looking forward to a respite from our life.  The summertime getaway. Might I suggest a green solution? Take an eco-trip. You will see beauty, have an adventure, and learn about our world.

My family and I took the eco-journey of a lifetime this year into the jungles, caves, and ocean of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Above you see me getting ready to zipline across a jungle – note the giant grin – it was a blast! I wrote and posted a blog every day for fourteen days about our journey using greening and eco-nature information as a tool to educate readers about environmental concerns in the world.

Understanding the fact that we impact all of the world, not just our little corner is so important. For example, areas of coral are dying out in the Yucatan from our fertilizer run-off. If the chemicals do not go down into our water aquifer, they are whooshed out through the storm water system. All those chemicals then react with ocean life – ultimately causing green blooms and death where ever the chemicals settle. This is disastrous for coral.

Who taught me that? An amazing man in Akumal, Mexico named Paul Sanchez- Navarro who is the Director of Centro Ecological Akumal (Photo to the right). He explained how nearly one quarter of all marine species are believed to depend on coral at some stage of their development. Many fish live their entire lives on reefs, while others use them as nurseries; if the coral dies out it is assumed the fish will too. The economic impact of losing coral is also significant – in the billions of dollars worldwide.

There were so many questions I wanted answered when I returned from the trip. What will happen if we are unable to provide fish for the world to eat? Will people starve? Without the coral and fish, millions of people will lose their jobs and be unable to support themselves. Without smaller fish which inhabit the coral reefs will all the larger fish die such as tuna and shark – the very same fish we use to feed our nation?

We went to jungles, beaches, caves, and protected eco-parks throughout the Yucatan Peninsula area and experienced some incredible things in nature, but one of the most powerful messages I saw everywhere we went is that you have an impact on planet earth. What we do here in the U.S. directly touches the rest of the world.

Make a difference for planet earth – start paying attention to the chemicals, fertilizers, and products you use at home that might be making a difference half-way around the world.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – What I Learned in the Yucatan Peninsula

An eco-experience in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico teaches you far more about life than just touching jungles, oceans, and cenote ecosystems.

There are lots of questions I learned how to answer while on this amazing eco-journey in Mexico. Answers I never thought I would understand. How will a greener world come about when there are battling drug cartels practicing beheadings as a common answer to controlling its members? How will a greener world come about when over half the globe is living in poverty? How will a greener world come about when death, war, poverty, and disease cover much of the earth?

There is an answer and I see it clearly: education and community.

Common teaching mentality related to green issues seems to dictate a “from the top down” mindset. First educating the leaders, then the governments, then the corporations, then the people of the world. Perhaps this is a good idea, however, there is a better possibility; educating from the ground up.

At the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, an over 1 million acre world heritage site featuring jungles, ocean reefs, and mangroves, our Mayan guide, Antonio, taught us basic information via word of mouth just as his father had taught him.

As children, we did not learn how to brush our teeth from a mysterious government entity – we learned how to brush our teeth at home by watching the example set by our parents and grandparents.

When we learn the very basics of water conservation, we learn to turn off the water when we are brushing our teeth and to not let the water run down the drain wasted. Our parents teach us that skill - not the leaders of our country, not the politicians or corporate entities – just our family. While in Mexico I watched the wonderful Mexican locals trying very hard – by example – to make a difference for their families and communities.

While visiting Mexico I did not see a single crime and we met lots of wonderful friends and people. I was a guest in a country which is heritage rich as well as environmentally rich. Most every person I spoke with or spent time with was helpful, friendly, and giving. Each person was concerned about the environment in their own way and worked towards helping their world and community. I was surprised by this; expecting a far different attitude.

Similar to the United States, being “green” in Mexico means living a lifestyle that is considerate of others. It is about community and caring for the world. Largely, it is about educating children from the ground up. Here in Mexico, children live in homes like you and me. Sometimes the children live in poverty. All the time they are being taught by their families what is right and what is wrong.

My experience these fourteen days in Mexico has taught me that perhaps when the people, the REAL every day people of the world, work together to build a greener and more eco-aware community it defies all negativity, crime, and hate. It becomes possible because people working together can make a difference.

Enormous thanks go, again, to the Mexican community, the Mexican Tourism Board, the Cancun Visitors Bureau, and the Riviera Maya Tourism Bureau for gifting my family and I with the joy of spending time learning and living an authentic eco-experience in Mexico. Our experiences with the Mexican people have been safe, healthy, and fun – in other words; wonderful!

Perhaps the single largest thing I learned on this journey is that life is so very short – it is time we all worked to unite and help communities the world over with the common goal of being “green” and understanding more about nature and each other.

Simply put by President Obama, “Yes we can.”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – A Cenote Swim and a Thank You to Mexico!

Without a doubt, spending 14 days in the Yucatan Peninsula learning about the Mexican eco-environment as well as creative and new ways to stay green has been a significant experience for both my family and me.

One of our favorite trips was a short excursion to a cenote called the Jardin de  Eden (the garden of eden). Our guide from the Riviera Maya tourism group, the very beautiful Itzel Olvera, went on many adventures with us, and this is one of the most memorable. Here you see she and my daughter getting ready to jump off a 20 foot cliff into the cenote.

We spent several hours jumping off cliffs and snorkeling about the cenote, which is a completely fresh water cenote filled with small fish, ducks, and other local wildlife. It was a very hot day, so the cenote was absolutely amazing and refreshing – a fantastic experience. Below you see a photo of my daughter mid-flight, jumping off the cliffs at Jardin de Eden.

Being a part of nature and totally immersing oneself in a different natural eco-system than the one you are used to is quite an education.

To help you understand more about the feel of the cenote at Jardin de Eden, I made a short video for you. Please follow it below so you can see for yourself what a beautiful place the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico really is:

Our local guides for all the excursions were wonderful and we owe them a huge thank you for their kindness, generosity, and knowledge while we have been in Mexico on this fabulous eco-environmental trip.

Roger Sauri was our first Mayan guide. His family comes from the region of Mexico we visited and was immensely knowledgeable and helpful. Here is a photo of him at the Mayan ruins of El Rey in Cancun, Mexico.

Our fantastic and good looking guide from Rio Secreto, Moises, was tremendously informed on the scientific basics of caves and spelunking. His tour of the secret river several miles deep into the Yucatan jungle was fascinating and informed. Rio Secreto was simply marvelous because of his help.

There were many other helpers and guides along the way in our journey, but one of the most memorable was Henry from Punta Venado who gave us many tours in one – we rode horseback, drove ATV’s, swam in a cenote, visited the jungle, and explored a cave. Here you see from left to right, Juan Carlos, Itzel’s driver; Henry from Punta Venado; and Luis, my husband, all swimming together in the cenote at the Punta Venado jungle site.

Xel-Ha was one of the most fantastic experiences ever. An eco-park set along the Riviera Maya coast, Xel-Ha was like swimming in an aquarium. Below is a great photo of the whole crew at dinner. From left to right it is Delio (Xel-Ha), Juan Carlos, Itzel (Riviera Maya), Daniela (Xel-Ha), Shawna and Luis. And yes, I did have a margarita!

There were so many people we met along the way – many guides, helpers, and wonderful people from Mexico who were warm and wonderful. Our visit to the Yucatan Peninsula was simply incredible – I have so much more to write about than I ever imagined. I LEARNED so much more than I ever imagined. It was amazing. Thank you Mexico for allowing us to have this experience – special thanks to the Mexican community, the Mexican Tourism Board, the Cancun Visitors Bureau, and the Riviera Maya Tourism Bureau for helping make the journey possible.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Mexican Mangroves

This is the view from the side of the resort we are staying at in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Beautiful isn’t it? What you’re looking at is a Mangrove jungle which was originally targeted to be destroyed and was gratefully saved by the Mexican government.

You see, Mangroves are really “rainforests by the sea” that grow in tropical and subtropical tidelands all over the world. Mangrove forests are comprised of  diverse, salt-tolerant tree and other plant species which thrive in salt water or a mix of fresh and salt water, specifically inter-tidal zones of estuaries, sheltered tropical shores, and small over-wash islands. While other plant life dies with the over-exposure to salt water, Mangrove trees have amazingly adapted unique aerial and salt-filtering roots and salt-excreting leaves that enable them to occupy the saline wetlands. The result is the Mangrove forest.

Mangrove forests are vital for healthy coastal ecosystems, in fact, this is why the Mexican government put a halt to additional building on this property. The forest detritus, consisting mainly of fallen leaves and branches from the mangroves, provides marine environment nutrients and supports baby “fish hatcheries” as well as immense varieties of sea life in intricate food chains.

During my time visiting the over 1 million acres of internationally protected environment at Sian Ka’an Biosphere this week, I was able to swim among the mangroves (see below). Touching their roots, seeing an incredible array of plant life, and feeling an amazing and unique connection to this special jungle life.

The shallow inter-tidal reaches that distinguish the mangrove wetlands offer refuge and nursery grounds for juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps, and mollusks. They are also prime nesting and migratory sites for hundreds of bird species. Many other animals occupy or temporarily utilize mangroves, including sea turtles, manatees, crab-eating monkeys, fishing cats, monitor lizards, plus dozens of other varieties of fish use the mangroves as protected nurseries.

As you get closer you can see this amazing forest of gnarled, jagged trees protruding up from the sands. At times these roots are anchored in deep, black,  mud, or are in the cenote canals in the wetlands of the Sian Ka’an. At other times the ocean cleanses the roots and brings in millions of fish and ocean life in abundance. Green fingers stretch to the hot sun and birds sing a cacophony of music every morning; fighting for their position in the world. This is where land and ocean intertwine and life is reborn along the Mexican coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

And imagine; this has been my view every day for a week – oh yeah, I am as close to heaven as any nature lover could possibly be.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Mayan Encounter

After our morning adventure of climbing the ruins at Coba, Mexico, it was now time to venture on to an eco-encounter with a community of Mayan Indians. Alex, our ever present and dependable guide from Alltournative tours, served a traditional Mayan lunch  that a wonderful group of Mayan ladies prepared for us. Above you see a photo of my daughter with a Mayan girl close to her same age.

While the Mayan community here has some electricity, there are very few other amenities. Food is cooked over a flame and the toilets are raised outhouses – it is far different than the way we live back home. All the Mayan people are generous and helpful in all their efforts. It is a cooperative community of people who are doing the best they can to whittle out a living in very uncompromising natural surroundings.

Our first adventure with Alex was to canoe on a lake which was set within the community. As you look at the photo to the left you will see my family in a canoe. You will also see three little huts along the banks of the lake. These huts are the toilets. All the other thatched buildings are public areas for eating and living.

It was a beautiful day to canoe – sunshine and calm. All the lake banks are grassy and filled with turtles and other native wildlife. After we finished the canoe adventure, we hiked through the jungle. It was quite challenging as you can see by the photo below. Much of the Yucatan Peninsula is filled with limestone outcroppings and is very rocky with very little soil. Hiking through the jungle also means climbing over rock as much as it means working your way through vegetation.

Ziplining was our next adventure - we were able to ride a zipline over a large open cenote which resembled a lake. Quite frankly, I do not have a photo of this experience because I was holding on for dear life. Sometimes safety comes first.

As the afternoon progressed, the Mayan people had even more exciting adventures for us to participate in. My favorite experience was repelling 40 feet down into a cenote hole. By all appearances, it was simply a hole in the ground, but once you repelled down through the hole, you could see a huge cavern filled with water at the bottom. Here you see my daughter repelling down the hole with the special climbing equipment provided for all of us. As you descended into the cenote cavern, it was very dark. Holding the rope tightly, I was able to lower myself with the repelling equipment into the cold water. After the 90 degree heat, it felt wonderful.

In the photo below you see how we descended into the dark abyss of the cenote cavern. There were bats squeaking all around, collecting insects which fly through the holes to the outside world high above us. Small fish, some blind, swam around our feet and stalactites dripped from overhead. This all happened while we sat in inner tubes and floated in lazy circles watching the fun. It was simply amazing.

Going down was quick and easy, but getting out of the cavern was far more complex. Alex, our guide, and the Mayan guides pulled us out of the cenote by brute force. Several Mayans set up a pulley system above the cenote hole then cinched the climbing equipment carefully. Bouncing with each pull from Alex and his team, we were hefted up, up, up back into the daylight. Below is a video of my ascent from the cenote abyss into daylight. It is a very bumpy ride in a wet bathing suit, which surprised me, I laughed the whole way up. Lots of fun -

It was easy for a few men to pull me up, but it took a lot more man power to hoist my husband up. Six Mayan men and Alex, our guide, pulled Luis up on the pulley system. Below is a photo of Luis almost reaching the top to get a hand from one of the Mayan Encounter staff.

 

Living the Mayan Encounter was truly an awesome experience. Visiting both the Coba ruins in the morning and having the eco-adventure in the afternoon were really fantastic and brought us closer to nature. Jungle, cenotes, and lakes in the Yucatan peninsula are filled with many types of eco-systems and it was a gift to be able to touch them so closely.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Coba Ruins

Climbing Nohoch Muul, the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan peninsula was more exciting than I imagined, it was very steep and windy, and hundreds of feet above the jungle. Arriving at the top with the other tourists, breathing heavily, I imagined what it would be like to be a priest who climbed the tower every day: exhausting!

Here’s a video of the climb I made to the top of the pyramid. Note the heavy breathing and lovely wind which almost blew me off the top -

Our guide for this journey was Alex from Alltournative tours. He kindly showed us many of the ancient ruins at Coba, then set us free to climb the pyramid for a view of the jungle. Instead of walking the 15 minute walk, we hired a Mayan taxi for a quick trip, which turned out to be a bicycle-driven two-wheeled carriage pedaled by a Mayan taxi-driver. He turned down our offers of water, and gave us a smile-filled ride to Nohoch Muul.

What makes this site rather special is that it was only recently unearthed in the 1980’s. According to our knowledgeable guide, Nohoch Muul has 120 steps and is just short of 140 ft high. When you get to the top, the view is absolutely spectacular and gives a wide picture of the jungle which extends for miles in every direction. When you stand at the top of Nohoch Muul you can really get a sense of how important nature is to this community.

Climbing down from Nohoch Muul was as dangerous as climbing up. Below is a photo of my foot as I am trying to find purchase. See how steep the stairs are at this point. This adventure is definitely built for the brave-at-heart.

Touching, climbing, and living the Mayan ruin trip was an important experience for my family. It taught us a bit about the Mayan heritage, particularly since my husband and daughter share in that heritage. It allowed us to learn more about the human condition. It was a wonderful view of Mexican heritage as well as a view of the jungles of Mexico.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

It all started with butterflies. When our tour van pulled up to the beach in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve there were thousands of migratory butterflies flying near the Muyil lake. My daughter and I walked into the flying butterflies and stood dumbfounded for minutes while they flew around us. They were drinking ground water in a mass and you can see them above next to me in the photo on the ground. Less than one foot from where I was crouching was a deep area of quick sand the guide warned me about.

In 1986 Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve was established as a part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program and became a World Heritage Site for the United Nations. Visiting the 1.3 million acres of Sian Ka’an, the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean, was an absolutely amazing experience.

There are over 100 known mammal species, 336 known bird species, and is the nesting site for two endangered sea turtle species. It has an amazing annual rainfall of over 44 inches and comprises almost one third of the Riviera Maya  coast. "Sian Ka’an" is translated from Mayan as "where the sky is born" or "gift from the sky". The reserve is thought to have been inhabited in the pre-Classic and Classic periods as part of the chieftanships of Cohuah and Uaymil.

Our Mayan guide, Antonio, took us on a wonderful adventure through the reserve. Here you see him standing on a limestone outcropping in the jungle. He was a wonderful source of information and knew much about all of the plants we passed by, particularly their healing properties. Less than 20 years ago, the Mayan community who lived here only spoke Mayan. Now, because of the influx of tourists and the need to protect the biosphere, the Mayan’s have adapted. Antonio learned the additional languages required to be a guide in the last five years and now speaks English, Spanish, and Mayan fluently. In fact, the Mayan people are very resourceful and learn quickly. I found Antonio to be quite an inspiration. He says the knowledge he has about the jungle plants and area were passed down to him from his father and is extensive.

First our tour began with the Muyil archeological site. There are 23 known archeological sites with relics dating up to 2,300 years old on the property. To the left you see my eight year old daughter standing in front of the tallest of these ruins. 

We had an incredible journey through the deep jungle. A jungle is cool and dark, but also deadly. All the plants and animals have special defense mechanisms they use to protect themselves from predators. Here you see a tree which defends itself with large spikes. This tree holds a large amount of water on its interior and must protect itself from thirsty animals.

Both my daughter and I were fascinated by the diversity of flora in the jungle – it was so thick once you stepped past the path, you would have to have a machete to cut your way through.

Sian Ka’an Bioreserve also has a lake system which was formed from cenotes. Although quite large, the lakes, Muyil and Chunyaxche, are linked to the ocean by ancient canals that were hand dredged and used as trade routes over 800 years ago by Mayan mariners. Antonio let us know we were going to cross these lakes with a motor boat, then swim on the canals. What an adventure.

As the boat pulled away from the wharf, I was shocked at how large the cenote lakes were. Up to 20 meters in the deepest part of the lakes, most areas were one meter or less – very shallow. Both lakes were quite large as you can see in the below photo of our boat trek.

Amazing canals stretch for miles and miles through the system of mangroves and wetlands. On one side of the canal system is mangroves, and on the other side of the canal system is wetland savannah which is quite beautiful. Mangroves are particularly important for the Yucatan Peninsula ecosystem as it protects the area from eroding during hurricanes and also serves as a nursery for many ocean fish and wildlife.

Floating down these canals was more amazing than I can possibly describe. If you were quiet while you floated, you could listen to the grasses on the savannah rustling and hear the birds in the mangroves hopping from branch to branch. There were hundreds of bromeliads and other flora growing all over the mangroves. While you could see small fish in the water, there were no signs of crocodiles or other predators as we floated. It was relaxing and wonderful and the experience of a lifetime. Below I made a short video of our float down the canal.

When it was time to climb out, both my daughter and I took our time as we so completely and totally enjoyed the experience. Here you see her holding a mangrove tree root during our floating journey.

It was soon time to journey back across the lakes and our guide zipped through the curvy canals quickly. One of the more exciting motor boat rides I have had as we flew through the canals to get to our destination on the other side of the lakes. Our guide ended the journey when we returned to the mainland with a traditional Mayan lunch. We had meat cooked in banana leaves. Delicious!

Although we just touched the surface of the gorgeous un-touched vistas of Sian Ka’an, I felt our experience at the Bioreserve was one of the more natural connections I have ever felt with nature. We were able to feel a mangrove jungle in a way I never expected – swimming through it – and it was truly beautiful.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Diving and Coral Reefs

Visiting Centro Ecological Akumal was a fantastic educational experience. Scuba-diving and snorkeling is the only way to truly immerse one-self in the coral eco-system, and learning more about how to protect this rich environment is important. According to Paul Sanchez-Navarro, Director of Centro Ecological Akumal, coral reefs have declined worldwide due to many factors from fertilizer run-off to temperature rises to pollution of all sorts. This makes coral reefs perhaps the most endangered marine ecosystem on Earth.

Having the distinct privilege of visiting this fragile ecosystem is an experience of a lifetime for our family. While visiting the coral reefs we are very careful to not touch the coral itself. We view from a distance, floating in the ocean and watching the amazing diversity of life.

 

Paul Sanchez-Navarro (pictured with me above) told me that where we are visiting on the Yucatan Peninsula is the most extensive reef development in the country of Mexico. Here the continental shelf is very narrow, in many places less than two kilometers wide. There are partly submerged fringing reefs along much of this coastline. Sadly, the world's second largest coral reef is having difficulty  surviving many pollution issues, especially those related to cruise ships full of tourists anchoring off Mexico's coast.

While we sat and ate lunch on a beautiful Akumal beach, my eight year old and I noticed the beach had less sand and tons of broken and bleached coral. It made for interesting beachcombing and a lot of discussion about what life would be like without coral reefs. About one quarter of all marine species are believed to  depend on coral at some stage of their development. Many fish live their entire lives on reefs, while others use them as nurseries; if the coral dies out it is assumed the fish will too. The economic impact of losing coral is also significant – in the billions of dollars worldwide.

What will happen if we are unable to provide fish for the world to eat? Will people starve? Without the coral and fish, millions of people will lose their jobs and be unable to support themselves. Without smaller fish which inhabit the coral reefs will all the larger fish die such as tuna and shark?

These questions are questions we should all be asking. Why? Because WE are contributing to the death of these coral ecosystems by adding fertilizer run off and increasing carbon dioxide levels to the earth. It is not all happening because of tourists – our activities touch the coral reefs just like our activities touch our own neighborhood. WE need to be better stewards of the earth or we might cause our own destruction.

Right now – today – you should be asking this: “What can I do to make a difference for the world?” And you should be doing whatever you can. Damage to coral reefs and ocean fish is not only done by irresponsible divers or snorkelers, it is also done by all of us. Asking this question is important not just because it’s good for the earth, but also because it touches you DIRECTLY. Take responsibility, use chemicals only when you absolutely have to. Reduce your carbon footprint. Get started helping our ecosystems today.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Xel-Ha Eco-Park

 

Set in middle of the Yucatan jungle, Xel-Ha (pronounced “shell-ha”) is a protected inlet set near Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It is touted as being a natural aquarium park, and is indeed quite beautiful.

Talk about an up-close and personal view of ocean life! Snorkeling in the crystal  clear ocean waters at Xel-Ha is very much like swimming in an aquarium. It is free of walls and glass panes, has no man-made lights or feeding mechanisms, and has over 70 species of colorful fish. Luis, being the strongest swimmer in the family, swam across the inlet and back to view some of the fish in the inlet which were as large as he is – bigger even. Absolutely amazing.

All the staff at Xel-Ha are extraordinarily helpful and kind. Our guides from Xel-Ha, Daniela and Delio, showed me a behind the scenes view of Xel-Ha which was r eally a tour of a lifetime for a greening expert. Their kitchen system feeds up to 11,000 people per day and features a fantastic organic recycling program whereby all the food waste is recycled and composted, even the meats and bones. You can see this demonstrated in the giant compost bin shown on the left. All paper, plastic, and metal is recycled on the property and I got to visit the recycling and compost system. Saitra Perez Cabrera is a biologist who runs the recycling and compost program. She gave me a marvelous tour of her facility and we bonded over our mutual love for composting. It was marvelous – here is a photo of us together in front of her compost area.

Xel-Ha also uses no drinking straws on the facility, which injure animals, and prints no visitor maps. If you are interested in finding your position within the park, you are encouraged to look at the large maps which are hung at regular intervals instead of using a printed sheet which must be thrown away. Below, you can see how large the eco-park facility is and get a view of the inlet.

More importantly, Xel-Ha works to promote community by educating both its employees and the surrounding cities on greening concepts. This has brought benefits beyond any expectations to the people who live here.  Xel-Ha Natural  Wonder Park carries out some awesome “green” programs and is the first park in Mexico to apply for the Green Globe 21 certification process, which aims to face environmental challenges, social and cultural aspects, and make the benefits of tourism reach local communities. The sustainability upon which Green Globe is founded resides in a simple concept: To preserve resources for future generations. Xel-Ha is truly working to make this happen.

While I was toured around the “behind the scenes” facility, Luis and my daughter swam in the inlet. Both enjoyed large salt water fish experiences and got to feed the fish by hand as well. We later went to visit and tour the plant nursery and  a Mayan bee apiary, which is where a special stingless bee lives. The apiary features a Mayan style of caring for the bees. They hollow out logs and drill a hole for the bees to come and go like the photo to the left. We met a very dangerous ant which lives in the Yucutan peninsula called the “Tiger Ant”. Above you see a photo of the ant army. Their bite is quite painful, so we stayed well away from them.

There was nature all around us and at one point Daniela and Delio surprised us  with a special dive underwater called “Sea Trek” – wow – it was absolutely unforgettable. We wore special diving helmets on our shoulders and were able to walk on the bottom of the ocean while breathing normally. It was a great way to touch nature. We were able to see hundreds of fish this way. According to the guides, my daughter was the youngest person to ever go on the Sea Trek adventure at age eight. She LOVED it and did just fine.

All of the family was very thrilled when we had the great privilege of swimming with and feeding large sting rays during this experience. Sting rays feel surprisingly soft when you touch them and are graceful – it’s like watching a dance when they swim together.

What a wonderful and amazing ocean adventure for my family to experience – you can see us all together in front of the inlet in the photo below. Watching the people of Xel-Ha care for the land, the ocean, and their community was both exciting and inspirational. They believe in leaving a legacy for all the world to see.

What are you doing in your community to make a green difference?

 

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Jungle ATV, Caves, and Cenotes at Punta Venado

Punta Venado turned out to be quite the adventure. After horseback riding in the morning, we went on another excursion through the jungle using All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) in the afternoon. Above you see my daughter and I ready to take off for the fun.

Although we did participate, my concern about ATV riding is it is not a very green activity. Typically, it can damage the native terrain and the vehicles also put off noise and exhaust. Having said that, the Punta Venado team and Henry Rosales, our guide, had some very specific rules to follow. These rules allowed us to go deep into an inaccessible jungle where cars were not typically allowed, and also helped protect the flora and fauna. First and most important rule – we were only to drive on the created ATV paths and were not to go anywhere else through the jungle with the ATV’s. This way we were able to go in the jungle to see some of the available natural sites without causing more extreme damage to the jungle.

If we ventured off the path, it must be with our guide assisting us and he constantly emphasized the need to protect the eco-system by following careful procedures. We stopped several times along the ride to see natural cenote formations – here’s a photo of one such stop. You can see how clear the water is – there were small fish and brightly colored dragon flies here too. Luis and I were able to see a small crocodile on one of those stops, but the little guy would not pose for a photo.

All through the jungle we were able to see natural limestone formations on our journey. Most of the Yucutan peninsula was under the sea at one time, so the area is rife with limestone which shows sea creatures embedded deep within. This limestone outcropping is an entrance to a cave. It is also the home of a Toh Bird which is named after it’s sound. It calls, “Toh! Toh! Toh!” and is shown in the photo to the left which I took as we entered the cave. Note the males gorgeous blue tail – he is very attractive for the lady birds who are rather drab in color.

Henry, our guide, gave us a tour of a cave at this location. It is not an “active” cave with lots of dripping moisture and cenotes trapped within. It is known as a “dead” cave and was very dry and filled with a few bats. Interesting to see and experience. After we finished touring the cave, it was time for a rough ride through the jungle to the next location we could explore – a remote cenote.

From an ATV riding perspective the next stretch of traveling was quite rough and bumpy. While I was doing my best to wrestle my ATV beast, my daughter was hanging on for dear life shouting “Go faster! Go faster!” This is what happens when you go through a very bumpy jungle trail and try to let go of one handle to videotape – please do not attempt this at home -

Once we got to the cenote, it could best be described as paradise. ATV riding in the jungle is definitely a hot experience and it was near 90 F degrees in the late afternoon. We all jumped into the water after our very hot and bumpy ride for an amazing swim. Cenote’s are fed from fresh water, so you could feel the currents pulling you if you floated.

Although most cenote’s are completely fresh water, this cenote had more  salinity in it and even a few sea fish because it was connected through an underground river system to the ocean. In the photo to the left Luis floats while my daughter is playing with a striped yellow ocean fish which is about six inches long and is swimming around her toes.

After the cenote swim it was time to head towards the ocean by driving through more jungle on the ATV’s. Eventually the path became sandy and parted to show the beach.

We ate a traditional lunch of rice, beans, and chicken fajita meat under a large palapa. Dessert was fresh sliced oranges – we were all hungry after wrestling in the heat with the ATV’s and ate as if we were starving. To the right you see the absolutely magnificent view we had at lunch while chowing down on the delicious food.

After our late lunch, and a very long adventure day it was time to go back to our hotel and collapse in a heap. As adventures go, this was a really fantastic one. It was very difficult to eliminate all the photos down from hundreds to just a few to show you in this write up.

My daughter had so much fun she told us on the ride home, “that was AWESOME times 2 – WOO WOO!” Indeed it was. I leave you after this adventure with one last short video of the ATV ride while we were going back to the ATV corral. Enjoy, and I’ll see you in the morning for another adventure!

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Adventure – Horseback Riding in the Ocean With Punta Venado

Today was an incredible morning on the Mexican eco-adventure riding horses. Punta Venado is an eco-destination located directly on the Riviera Maya. Our guide, Henry Rosales, was wonderful in every way and truly made us all feel comfortable and safe.

Initially we were sized up for the horses, given a brief lesson on riding, and within a short while we were riding with Henry as our guide. You can imagine my concern when I found out my horse was named Katrina, like the hurricane. She turned out to be an easy horse to ride. Our first view of the trail (seen to the right) was a long road leading into the jungle.

It was hot – at least 90 degrees – and I was worried about the horses and how they would hold up on a few hour ride into the jungle. Surprisingly, as soon as we were past the main road and into the jungle it became cooler.

Native and tropical plants of every sort surrounded us as we ambled slowly through the jungle. It was an amazing and close up view of the Yucatan Peninsula environment. As we walked, we heard sounds of animals and birds around us. Wind sifted through the branches high over head and dappled our horse’s path.

When I was a kid I remember riding horses with my cousins back home in Indiana. Even then, I felt that horses have a unique ability to connect you with nature because both the horse and you are touching the world together in a special way. This trip with the Punta Venado guide through the Mexican jungle was no exception to that rule. My daughter was all smiles from the minute she climbed on the horse until she stepped off – I felt the same way.

As we made our way on the path there was jungle on either side of us and sometimes arching over the top of our heads. When the flora suddenly parted to reveal the ocean beyond, it was one of the most stunning and beautiful views of the ocean I have ever seen in my life. Truly gorgeous.

As soon as we stepped onto the sand with the horses all my concern about the heat was completely gone. Horses seem to love the water and most of them liked to walk with their hooves in the wet ocean. They reveled in the cool breezes too. It was wonderful in every way.

Below is a brief video I made while riding -

Experiencing both the jungle and ocean in one morning on horseback was beyond amazing and if you have the opportunity to touch nature while on horseback, I recommend you try it.

Unique and beautiful to say the least. A privilege to see the natural world of the Yucatan Peninsula up close in a way I never thought possible.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - Electricity

Everywhere we have gone in Mexico there has been a lot of electricity consumed – from our dinner last night (above) to souvenir shopping (below). Hotels and resorts are the largest consumers of electricity in a resort area as it takes a lot of electricity to support restaurants and hotel rooms. Many vacationers leave the lights on when they leave the room as well.

Why is it important to save electricity?

It saves the planet.

Here’s why – when you turn on a light or plug something into the wall it seems clean because you do not see or smell any pollution. The pollution is there, however, it just happens back at the power plant. 

Coal is used to generate almost half of all electricity produced in the United States. Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons and it is the most abundant fossil fuel produced in the United States. Besides electric utility companies, other industries and businesses with their own power plants use coal to generate electricity. Power plants burn coal to make steam. The steam turns turbines which generate electricity.

When coal is burned as fuel, it gives off carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that is linked with global warming. Burning coal also produces emissions, such as sulfur, nitrogen oxide (NOx), and mercury, that can pollute the air and water. Sulfur mixes with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO2), a chemical that can affect trees and water when it combines with moisture to produce acid rain.

Nuclear power plants, which produce a devastating radiated by-product, are the other primary source of electricity for the United States. Restaurants and resorts in vacation zones in Mexico are now alerting people to the concept that too much electricity is being used. A simple sign tells the whole story -

So you see… every time you leave the lights on or utilize non CFL light bulbs or do ANYTHING related to utilizing energy it creates just a little bit more pollution for our planet to deal with. If you are on vacation, turn the lights off – they are not for free – there is a price to our environment.

The bottom line is the best and quickest way to reduce coal emissions by 50% is to reduce our consumption of electricity by 50%.

What ideas do you have for making a difference and cutting back your electricity use? Here’s my idea – a little video on saving electricity:

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Iguana Tails and What Happens When You Touch Them – AAAAGHHH!

Here we are at the Mayan ruins of El Rey in Cancun, Mexico. It is a very bright and very windy day, and much to my daughters delight there are Iguana’s everywhere including in a hole right beneath our feet. You can see in the video below, I have the camera in my hand and have bent down to touch the tail of an Iguana which is sticking out of a hole. Uh… you’ll never guess what happens.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Community

My expedition to visit an ancient Mayan-Toltec temple turned out to be a learning experience I never expected. While my guide, Roger Sauri (pictured below), spoke of many things while we were touring the Mayan ruins of El Rey (The King), he rarely spoke of the ruins directly. Instead, he spoke of the importance of community to the Mayan people. Roger’s ancestors are Mayan Indian, so Roger’s connection to the area is tightly knit with history. His focus on this tour was unique, and I felt pulled in by his passion and love for the people he shares his ancestry with.

El Rey is a small ruins located within the hotel zone of Cancun, Mexico. It is nestled between a high cliff which blocks the ocean on one side and a lagoon surrounded by Mangrove forests on the other side. It is a protected area, and a place where the Mayan people could find plentiful food, sun, and water. In other words; paradise.

My visit was punctuated with story after story from Roger about his ancestors and the life they lived at the El Rey site. One particular tale was about the priest who every day must enter a holy building. The building was built with a tiny doorway, therefore making he who entered bow down and pay respect to the Gods when he entered. Roger demonstrates in the photo to the left.

El Rey is a post-Classic Period archaeological site named after a skeleton unearthed on a dig believed to be a Mayan King. Experts believe that el Rey was inhabited from the 10th century AD until the beginning of the 16th century AD, its remains include plazas surrounded by buildings and several platforms that are connected by a long pathway. At one time the buildings and structures were painted bold colors – there are still some interiors with bright blue paint remaining. Now, however, the sun has bleached the remains of the limestone, and most surfaces are white or gray. As Roger tells it, the post classic period is also known as the “Mayan-Toltec” period because remains of both Mayan and Aztec cultures were found at this site.

For me, this was very interesting as it really tells the tale of two cultures molding into one very special society. It was an intelligent community – the buildings are placed according to the sun and stars. More importantly, it was a community built by a people who cared about and embraced their neighbors. 

What is even more interesting for me on a personal basis is that my husband is of partial Mayan decent. Although indirect, it is a connection nonetheless, so I brought the family back a few days after my visit with Roger so my youngest daughter could experience it also. Using my Olympus camera, I video taped our climb to the top of one of the holy structures. Please keep in mind the wind was crazy. It is also very sunny at the top of this structure so the camera caught both wind and sun, and I am squinting to see – but still a lot of fun. If interested, please turn the volume up so you can hear well  - -

What I learned on this expedition was not so much about a ruins as it was about a culture - that a community is not about buildings or monetary things – it is the sum of its people and the sum of the humanistic experience. Working together and building community is perhaps the most important thing we can do for humanity.

What are you doing today to help your community?

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Sand

What makes up sand? In the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico it is mostly crushed limestone mixed with coral, shell fragments, and minerals of various kinds. The limestone gives the sand its bright white appearance.

Walking through the sand is an experience – soft nature wrapping around your toes as you take each step. If it is mid-day, the sand is hot and baking like your stove top and you must run willy-nilly across the surface or have your feet burnt red from its hot surface.

I have a deep and lasting relationship with sand. When I am not with it, I wish I were; craving it as someone would an old friend. When I am with it, I lay and luxuriate in its warm grasp.

Sand has only one unfortunate negative. Without a doubt it insists on creeping into every crevice of your body. The most irritating crevices shall go nameless here on this blog, you can use your imagination.

I am sure you will agree with me when I say it is uncomfortable to be hit by a wave, knocked down, dragged ten feet through the waves only to find out when you stand up, panting and exhausted from the experience, that your bathing suit is heavy with your dear old friend – sand.

Many use sand as a very valuable natural resource. It is used as an ingredient for industrial applications like “sand-blasting” and cement making. In Mexico, particularly in the upper Yucatan Peninsula near Cancun, it is a valuable tourist attractant. Recent hurricanes have created reflective energy along the coast which causes turbulence that pulls sands out in the currents and there has been some beach erosion because of this.

When I visited Cancun, I met with the Director of Tourism, C. Felix Enrique Zarate Nunez, to discuss the regional efforts for greening and sustainability. He and I discussed soil erosion efforts as well. After many scientific studies have been done, there is now a significant project laid out for prevention of soil erosion through the Cancun region.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink

This eco-blogging adventure in Mexico has been wonderful for my family – we have had a lot of fun in water – oceans, swimming pools, and cenotes. Here you see my youngest in the ocean next to our hotel.

Water is by-far the most important resource on earth. Without it we would not be able to survive. Oceans cover almost 70 percent of the planet and contain about 98 percent of the water. Yet, due to its salinity, it is not possible to drink the ocean water. There is only about 2 percent of water on the planet which is fresh water. About 1.6 percent of that water is locked in the polar ice caps and glaciers. Another 0.36 percent is in reachable underground aquifers and wells, with 0.036 percent found in rivers and lakes. You can see that compared to all the water that is available on earth, the entire human race exists on only a few percent.

Below is a little video I did on the importance of conserving water. The wind was strong during the making of this video and I was really blown all over the beach. Wind has a strong influence on the ocean water and has caused large waves along the beach front behind me - -

Shawna Coronado of www.gardeningnude.com talks about water conservation.

Mexico, like the United States and many areas around the world, is under an increasing level of water stress. In 1944 the United States and Mexico signed an International Treaty over water called the “Treaty of Washington.” This treaty allows for the sharing and protection of the Colorado River, the Tijuana River, and the Rio Bravo/Rio Grande.

In the Yucatan Peninsula region of Mexico there is a strong concern for water conservation. Due to increased tourism, water usage is high. Therefore, hotels and centers around this region ask that patrons do not use excessive water as a consideration for the environment. A wonderful way to help the local community and keep this region alive for continued tourism.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Spelunking in the Yucatan Peninsula’s Underground Caves and Secret Rivers

Cave spelunking in the jungle – not exactly what the ordinary traveler thinks they will find on a visit to the Playa Del Carmen region, which is known for its night life and beaches. This was, however, one of the singularly most wonderful experiences at touching nature I have ever had in my life. I loved it!

Just south of Playa Del Carmen, Rio Secreto is indeed a well kept secret. Our group pulled into a rather unassuming parking lot. Little did we know, the real adventure would begin as soon as we stepped into the Rio Secreto tour van.

My daughter and I climbed into the very back of the van, and our tour group immediately started off. We turned onto a paved road that strongly resembled a dirt road laid delicately on top of a roller coaster. Here is a photo out the back van window of the jungle-edged road. It took several miles of twisting, turning, up, down, and tilting at all angles driving into the jungle to reach our destination.

You can imagine that being an eight year old and riding in the back of a van over an extremely bumpy road is adventure enough, but watching your Mom crack her forehead on the window pane while laughing so hard she was crying is almost too much fun for any eight year old to take. Here she is laughing so hard she cannot even lift her head off the seat.

She and I were both being bounced around the back at that van and laughing so hysterically we were squealing. The rest of the passengers had a much milder ride, had no idea why were laughing, and were dead silent the entire trip while my daughter and I loudly giggled and guffawed until tears were running down our cheeks. My advice if you go to Rio Secreto – sit at the front of the tour van if you get car sick, sit at the back of the van if you are under the age of eleven.

What struck me as powerful was seeing, as we drove into the jungle on this bumpy man-made road, what an impenetrable thicket a jungle is. Without a guide, in less than twenty feet of walking into the thick green of it all you would be swallowed whole and be unable to find your way out if you became disoriented. 

Soon the jungle parted to reveal an entrance to the Cenote and caves. A Cenote (pronounced “se no teh”) is a sinkhole with exposed rocky edges containing fresh ground water, like the photo on the right. The Yucatan Peninsula is the primary location of most of the cenotes in the world. Cenotes are surface connections to subterranean fresh water bodies and are formed when rock is eroded. This erosion creates a subsurface hole, which might be linked to an active cave system, and then the rock ceiling collapses creating an open hole.

My earliest cave memory was from Silver Dollar City’s Marvel Cave in Branson, Missouri when I was 11 years old. That cave had hand rails, dramatic up-lighting, and a cheesy miner-49er tour guide – thankfully not a single miner-49er was in sight as we began our spelunking adventure. Instead we had Moises – a fantastic cave-guide who so thoroughly and completely detailed the life of a cave, that I came away with a wealth of knowledge.

Rio Secreto is an incredible labyrinth of underground natural passageways. Moises, pictured in the photo here with me, helped us suit up and we walked and swam about 600 meters through the underground system. Without a doubt this look at the natural world of the Yucatan peninsula was not one we ever expected to see and the experience was a powerful one.

Thousands of calcified stalactites and stalagmites displayed.in soaring caverns emphasized the quiet and solitude of a cenote system. Drips of water sifting through the natural sieve of jungle, then sandy soil, then limestone to land underground in a silent cenote is a natural process that has happened for millions of years, and is quite amazing to behold.

At one point Moises had all of us sit in a pool of water. He asked us to turn off all our headlamps and flashlights so we could sit silently in the complete dark and listen to the caves themselves. As I write, remembering that moment brings a tear to my eye. It was very moving to sit there and be silent. To stop thinking about all the business in the world and listen to my own heart and to the dripping of the mineral-filled water. It left me considering nature in a unique and immersive way which I had never done before. Describing it is difficult, but I can say I felt something touch me in that moment of silence and darkness - it can only be described as “touching nature”.

Even the smallest child in our small group, who was only seven years old, sat quietly in the dark and touched nature. I am absolutely sure that I will never forget that moment and am even more certain that my family will also remember it forever.

Rio Secreto’s water is quite warm for an underwater system, with a year round temperature close to 70 F degrees. Our diving suits helped keep us warm and  the diving shoes helped protect our feet from injury on the jagged calcifications as we navigated through the underground system of caves. Most of the time we walked, but several times the water was above our heads and we swam. Towards the end of our adventure we had to crawl through the caves and water as the ceiling was so very low.

Crystal clear fresh water runs through the cave which has been filtered down from ground level. It does not smell like mold, in fact, it smells clean. No slime or fungus or greenery of any kind grows in these caves because there is absolutely no light. We saw a family of tiny bats high up in one cavern, there were also many small catfish and are quite unafraid of humans, so they swim right up to our feet to say hello.

While I expected the caves to be the color of limestone, I was quite surprised at  the dozens of different colors which covered the walls and ceilings of the caves. Mineral drips of varying sorts create different colors on the walls. Roots from trees and plants above ground can be seen forcing their way into the cenote system, breaking limestone and dipping their roots twenty feet down into the water so they are able to sip while plants in the jungle around them might be suffering a drought.

I carefully touched one of these roots and they are so thin, so delicate; it astounds me that the power of a single plant can rip apart rock just so it is able to drink water. Sparkling crystals, soaring caves, and ceilings filled with thousands of tiny formations were only the beginning of our adventure at Rio Secreto. It was truly an impressive experience to touch nature in this special way and I hope you can visit this natural wonder in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico to see it for yourself.

Seeing the world from underground is an interesting experience because it gives you a better view of the process that water really goes through. If locals were spraying herbicides and other chemicals on the jungle above this cave, the waters in Rio Secreto would soon be ruined from the chemicals. Many people who live in the jungle tap into cenote waters to live, so it is important to keep them clean and fresh.

Poisoning of aquifers and other sources of water is happening the world over.  Perhaps in your own neighborhood. Now, thanks to Rio Secreto, my family has seen how the system really works.

Having experienced this, I can say how important it is to protect our water systems. Please do not use chemicals on your lawns or gardens unless you absolutely have to. These chemicals percolate through the soil and goes to a cave or underground aquifer and can be poisoned by your careless use of chemicals.

Help save our underground water systems. Each of us can make a difference and now that I understand it is a global concern, I will certainly do my part as well. It is as simple as trying not to use non-organic chemicals on your property. Please try an alternative treatment first before using chemicals – you could be saving the life of fresh water you might need to survive in the future.

*All photos above which are not labeled are credited to the fabulous Rio Secreto photography staff*

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Flora and Fauna

Everywhere you look in the Yucatan Peninsula, from the native jungle to the gardens in the hotel district of Cancun, you see a diverse view of flora and fauna. It amazes me that in an area which has a very shallow and sandy soil area that so many plants thrive.

Palm trees, cactus, ground cover, vining plants, jungle trees – all beautiful – and all a part of this interesting community.

Even the sidewalks are filled with fauna – native wildlife which you see regularly in the city. Here you can view some of the new and interesting friends we met today on a local sidewalk. These iquanas were eating the little pink flowers on the plants along the walking path and sunning themselves.

 

While there are still a lot of gardens and water features which are not protected from drought, many of the gardens here are being converted to the drought-tolerant variety which require very little water in the desert-like conditions of this near-the-equator community.

It is also a wonder to see the locals creative approaches to recycling items which might be broken. For instance, below is a broken water fountain which was preserved and has found a new life as a planter. This innovative creativity is “green” – utilizing a reduce, reuse, and recycle mindset helps save items from the landfill here in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. It is a lesson we can learn from and should learn from. Adopting creative ideas to ease conservation concerns is a great way to start.

Below is one last photo of some gorgeous gardens. The plants in this garden are all planted in sand – I dug down in the soil and found virtually no soil additives. Look at the gorgeous color – simply amazing that so much can survive in such conditions.

Today our eco-adventure includes cave-spelunking and visiting an underground river. I will do my best to post tonight so you can see all the action – woot!

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Recycling Surprises

One of the single most important things you can do while traveling is recycle, particularly paper. According to www.treehuggerusa.com, Americans alone generate over eighty-three million tons of paper product waste every year.

While my family and I are out on adventures, we keep all the recyclables we can and carry them with us until we can find a recycling bin. This doesn’t always work, of course, but we try our best. Doing a little bit every day – even while on vacation - is important.

Here you can see recycling bins at the Royal Resorts Sands where we are staying. I was surprised to see them because just one year ago these recycling bins were not here. Life has changed for many in Mexico as they, like we in the United States, learn that taking care of the planet is important to all of us.

What are you doing to make a recycling difference?

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Ziplining In A Jungle

Today is zipline day! Our trip included a zipline tour of the jungle, a cenote zipline swim, and a fajita and black bean lunch that was out of this world. That’s right – I flew across the jungle on a “cable,” that’s a technical term for a little, delicate, wire-thingy suspended 100 feet into the air which looks like it could barely hold Harry the Pug, let alone a full grown woman. We wore protective gloves, helmets, and were always attached to a special line which prevented a fall so it was relatively safe and absolutely marvelous to experience.

Why oh why am I flying 100 feet in the air with nothing between me and the  ground except a strap and a bit of floss??? To get a monkey’s-eye view of the

jungle, of course, or perhaps I should say a Tarzan-like view. I, feeling like the proverbial Jane of the jungle, flew through the trees and experienced nature on a level I never knew existed. Above is a photo of me zipping over the jungle.

 Without a doubt it was one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had. The Selvatica Canopy Adventure introduces participants to the jungle in an adrenaline rush that’s hard to surpass. The guide’s are all fantastic and even helped me videotape what it feels like to zipline. I have no idea how fast we were really going, but it felt like 40 miles per hour. Luis, our daughter, and I zipped across eleven zip lines and truly got to see an amazing view of the jungle from 30 feet up.

Luckily my daughter fell within the age range for going independently across the  bits of floss, because quite frankly, Jane of the Jungle doesn’t have the muscle mass of Tarzan and I was nervous about supporting her and being able to man-handle the floss like wire. The tour guides helped her at first, but soon she was flying across the lines like an old pro.

We saw lots of butterflies, plants, trees, and even a hummingbird while we zipped. It was a birds-eye view and a heart-thumping experience. We all loved it. We then went on to swim in a cenote, which is a type of sink-hole that’s prevalent in the Yucatan Peninsula region. Our guides hooked Luis and the kiddo up to a zipline and sent them flying out at least 20 feet above the water so they could let go and plunge into the water. Both of them shocked me by doing this many times; definitely brave souls. Here you see my daughter after she has let go of the line – note the zipline is about 10 feet over her head. Luis is down below to help her if she needed it as the water is very deep.

Finally, we were treated to a fantastic lunch and margaritas by the Selvatica staff before we left to head back to the resort. Here you see us enjoying the lunch and below the zip boys pose with Luis – they  were an awesome staff!

For me, this has been a day of living in the jungle I never thought my family and I could ever experience – today I touched the top of the jungle – beautiful!

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Greening Adventure – We Have Arrived!

WOOT! We have finally arrived in Mexico having traveled all day yesterday. Here’s my view of my family most of the day. Yep. There’s the kiddo and a loudly snoring Luis. Of course, the immediate disaster was the airlines lost one very important piece of luggage – MINE! Yep, that would be the one packed with all the suntan lotion, shampoo, make up and other vital details every woman MUST have. Cancun Airport was fantastic – the Mexican people are wonderful and efficient. I was happy to get through customs, car rental and head to our resort in Cancun, which will be the base of operations for this first week. However, it was so late by the time we arrived I only found one store open to buy an emergency outfit for today.

The one saving grace? I packed the computer and swimsuit in the carry-on luggage. Woo hoo! If a woman has her swimsuit and computer, what else does she need? Maybe a Margarita, and that’s about it!

Although our adventures will be focused on greening and eco-adventure, our resort is not an eco-centered attraction. It is a four-star beauty which we have been coming to for years and love. Royal Resorts Sands (http://bit.ly/X1e1P) is set in Cancun and has a world-class spa. You can see the view from our room of the pool and ocean – just gorgeous! Part of the reason for our passion over this place is the fact that you often see the same people on the same dates returning year after year – we have built a wonderful group of great friends because of this – it is a nice community and lots of fun to be a part of. What makes this trip different for us is that we will be searching out green and eco-adventure at every turn so we can bring the story to you.

First green thing I noticed upon arrival is a sign in our villa bathroom encouraging people to hang the towels on the towel rack to save washing water. Love it! A great green tip – why have your towels and bedding changed every day when it’s unnecessary? If you are traveling, ask your hotel to keep your bedding and towels so you can reuse them and save water in the process.

We are off today to go on a ziplining adventure at Selvatica – I have no idea what to expect because I have never been to the top of a jungle, nor swimming in a cenote, nor ziplining. Tune in later today for photos and details. Wish us luck – I hope I don’t fall out of a tree!

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – Goodbye Chicago! Hello Mexico!

Before dawn I awake with an exuberance and energy hereby only recognized by Elmo of Sesame Street fame – today’s the big day – my family and I are off on our journey to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Along the way I will be reporting on green lifestyle concerns and eco-adventures like jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, cave spelunking, and so much more – and you get to come along with on this 14 day straight blogging adventure. Woo woo!

First stop? O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois. My family and I will be traveling all day with a transfer in Miami – here’s a picture of of my husband, Luis and our youngest daughter. Sadly, we had to leave our teen and our pug, Harry, behind this year. We will miss our other half. Lots of traveling today - it will be a late night tonight when we arrive at the  Cancun airport!

When I think of O’Hare, I do not think of flying – I think of people. Yearly, there is over 881,566 aircraft operations with an average of 2,409 per day. Close to 70 million people per year travel through the airport. 70 MILLION!?!?! Imagine how many toilet flushes that is. Imagine how much paper, cans, and plastic bottles are used and thrown away there. The good news? As we walked through O’Hare, we saw lots of recycle bins. O’Hare’s recycling program is substantial, with a focus on paper, plastic, and metals. Susan Goyette of the HMS Host food services said that 264 tons of cardboard is recycled annually at O’Hare. Grease from fryers is also recycled with 125,000 pounds gathered yearly.

You can imagine that doing something simple to be “green” has a huge impact with so many people flowing through O’Hare annually, and Susan said one simple plan is to introduce a new “to go bag” for all food services. This bag is degradable and the program will be launched this year. Way to go O’Hare!!

The bigger question regarding airport recycling is what happens to all the food waste at the airport? I contacted the public relations department at O’Hare and the representative I spoke with promised to get back to me with information regarding what all happens with the food waste at O’Hare. However, she never returned her promised call. I called many times and left messages after I spoke with the representative the first time, but mysteriously never got a response to this question. Frustrating, as I wanted to see if I could find a way to make a difference.

You see, with 70 million people coming through the system yearly, food waste must be in the tons. At the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 8,000 tons of food waste produced yearly is converted to methane gas which is then recycled and turned into electricity. Hong Kong airport gardeners recycle 60 tons of food waste annually to produce compost for the airport landscaping. Amazing! Why isn’t this happening at O’Hare?

I challenge O’Hare Airport and the people of Chicago to come up with a workable solution to the food waste issue – maybe if we all work together we can find a solution to help management at O’Hare do something awesome to help reduce landfill waste and help benefit our community.

If we all work together we can make a difference! Can anyone or any company help me with a good solution? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think and if you feel there is an easily reached solution to help the City of Chicago.

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - THE BIG GREEN PACK

Tomorrow is the big day – the family and I will be flying out of O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to have an eco-adventure in Mexico. Woot! It’s an afternoon flight and we are ready to roll.

Packing green is part of our eco-adventure. Eco-conscious vacationing you say? Is that really possible?

According to the green team’s “25 Days To Green Travel Index” at Go Green Travel Green (http://gogreentravelgreen.com), it is easy to be eco-conscious when you travel. I agree. To prove this point, I have created my tried and true top three easy tips for traveling a bit greener -

#1 - While there are dozens of ways to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling, the single largest tip is to travel lighter. Less weight means less load the airplane, bus, or car you are taking to the vacation location will have to pull. Most airlines have a weight limit for luggage of 50 pounds. While we are allowed two bags each through our airline, we have decided to each carry one carry-on and check only one large bag, keeping it well under the 50 pound limit.

#2 - Often when traveling, my family and I will be in areas where water-cleanliness is questionable, however having been out all day on an adventure, we need to be able to clean up. Having a first-aid kit and fresh soap as part of the carry-on luggage has become a necessity. We take it everywhere with us on vacation and customize it to our family’s specific concerns and requirements. Make your own kit instead of carrying a heavier one, and cut a hunk of your favorite soap instead of hauling around a full-sized one. Light weight and  convenient.

#3 - Leave the winter coat at home if you are traveling somewhere warm. Coats are extremely heavy and add a lot of bulk to your bags as well. Yes, I know you will be cold when you come back, but only for the time it takes you to be transported home from the airport. Bring a light weight sweater or jacket instead.

Do your part and make a difference when you travel – better for the environment and better for you.

See you tomorrow at the airport!

Remember to enter these three contests which are going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

TWITTER CONTEST –

“WIN A $299 Olympus Tough-6000 Waterproof Camera Contest!!!”

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – TWITTER ME Olympus Waterproof Camera Give-Away

Win a WAY COOL Olympus STYLUS TOUGH-6000 Camera valued at $299.99 by re-tweeting the below message on Twitter. The more times you retweet, the more chances you have at winning.

My family and I are going to Mexico on an exciting green eco-adventure and I’m taking you with me to experience all the fun. I will be using an Olympus STYLUS TOUGH-6000 Camera on the adventure so you can see how well the camera works as I post photos on the blog site. Follow along daily on www.gardeningnude.com.

I am very excited about the itinerary which includes eco-adventures like jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, cave spelunking, and visiting a mangrove jungle. I will also be searching out green lifestyle stories all along the way to share with you.

About the Prize:

The STYLUS TOUGH-6000 is one of the most durable point-and-shoot cameras on the market, bar none. There’s really only one word to describe the new shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and now shakeproof camera from Olympus: TOUGH!

• Waterproof to 10ft
• Drop-proof to 5ft
• Freezeproof to 14 degrees F
• Employs tap control technology—take and review pictures by taping the top, bottom, front, back and sides of the camera
• 10 megapixels
• 3X optical zoom
• 2.5” LCD screen
• Colors: orange, yellow, white, blue
• More details on the camera

CONTEST RULES:

1. To qualify, you must be a Twitter user. (If you don’t know what Twitter is, you should go sign up first at www.twitter.com.)
2. To qualify, subscribe to my blog email. You can do that by placing your email addy in the box at the top right of this page.
3. To qualify, “follow” me at www.twitter.com/shawnacoronado, and
4. To qualify, you must tweet this message – the more you tweet, the more chances you have at winning – copy and paste the exact message below in a tweet and get started:

Follow @ShawnaCoronado on her Mexican Eco-Adventure - http://bit.ly/RX8nj - win a $299 Olympus Water Proof Digital Camera #MEX8

This is a beautiful Mexican sunrise on the shores of Cancun. I hope this is just the beginning of the gorgeous photography for our environmental adventure – remember the contest only runs from March 19 to April 5, 2009 so start Twittering NOW!

MORE CONTESTS:

Remember to enter these other two blog contests which are also going on only as long as the 14 day Gardening Nude 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - - link through below and follow the blog to win BIG -

“WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper” Contest!!!

“WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com” Contest!!!

*NOTE* – As you can see in my Site Disclaimer – I would never, ever, ever allow another company to decide what I should or should not say on this blog site. All product reviews, and indeed, all discussion and experiences about any product or sponsor will receive my honest opinion. The give-away above is proof of this as I will be testing the sponsors product as well as giving away a product and will inform my readers HONESTLY about my opinions. All sponsors agree to this in advance as well. I am not now, nor will I ever, be paid specifically to say something I do not believe in.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure - Boston Proper Gift Certificate CONTEST

AND THE WINNER OF THE $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM BOSTON PROPER IS - -  (drum roll please…)

ALLISON LYON FROM ALLISON LYON PHOTOGRAPHY ONLINE

The Contest - -

WIN A $100 Gift Certificate from Boston Proper!!!

Boston Proper is an online retailer of distinctive women's apparel (www.bostonproper.com) They are sponsoring a contest right here on the Gardening Nude Blog.

Here’s how the contest works:

My family and I will be going to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico for 14 days from March 20th through April 5th, 2009.

Every day I will be reporting on green lifestyle concerns and eco-adventures like jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, cave spelunking, and visiting a mangrove jungle.

Often I will be wearing one of two fantastic Boston Proper bathing suits shown in the photo below. Whenever you see one of these bathing suits in a photograph – whether I am wearing it, or it is hidden in the background photo somewhere – leave a comment on that days blog. No other bathing suits qualify for the contest. Just these two:

You may leave one comment per blog – entering whenever you see either of the bathing suits. To make it easier for you to follow, feel free to sign up to receive the Gardening Nude Blog via email on the top right hand corner of this blog page.

When I return from the fourteen day adventure, I will assign your comment a sequential number, than use an online random number generator to select a winner. Boston Proper will send the winner a $100 Gift Certificate for use on their online store.

Ready to win? Get started commenting on March 20th!

*NOTE* – As you can see in my Site Disclaimer – I would never, ever, ever allow another company to decide what I should or should not say on this blog site. All product reviews, and indeed, all discussion and experiences about any product or sponsor will receive my honest opinion. The give-away above is proof of this as I will be testing the sponsors product as well as giving away a product and will inform my readers HONESTLY about my opinions. All sponsors agree to this in advance as well. I am not now, nor will I ever, be paid specifically to say something I do not believe in.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure – H20x2.com $50 Water Bottle Contest

AND THE WINNER OF THE $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM H20x2.COM IS - - (drum roll please)

Naomi from Superdumb Supervillain Blogspot

Congratulations!!!

WIN A $50 Gift Certificate from H20x2.com!!

H20x2.com is sponsoring a contest right here on the Gardening Nude Blog during the 2009 Mexican Eco-Blogging Green Adventure.

Last week many of you will remember the horrible incident I had with SubZero Water Bottles (here’s the story) and the disgusting stuff I discovered my daughter was drinking. YUCK!

H20x2.com came to my rescue. They sent me five of their best water bottles to try out during the Mexican trip and promised a $50 gift certificate to one of my lucky followers. WOW! Thank you H20x2.com! Here are photos of the regular sized Klean Canteen, Sigg, and Guyot water bottles we will take on the trip:

How cool are they, right? My husband loves the Sigg skull bottle and we cannot wait to try them out.

Meanwhile, H20x2.com packed a little surprise for me; the Mercedes of water bottles! It is a Sigg Vintage Bottle 0.41 and I swear that the clouds parted, choirs sang, and mysterious light shown down on it when I opened this baby. I am sure that lots of uh… water (really… water…) will be put in this gorgeous bottle. I love it! 

What I like about H20x2.com is that this awesome little company was conceived with the notion of replacing disposables because of their nuisance factor. “The Sierra Club reports that we are discarding over 30 million plastic bottles each day. That's over 10 billion per year! In addition, we're using 17 million barrels of oil each year to manufacture enough water bottles to satisfy the demand in the U.S. alone. That's enough to fuel more than 1 million cars for a year!”

Drinking from reusable bottles is a very small change that we can all make to take long term responsibility for our planet's health.

Here’s how the contest works:

My family and I will be going to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico for 14 days from March 20th through April 5th, 2009. I will be reporting every day on green lifestyle concerns and eco-adventures like jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, cave spelunking, and visiting a mangrove jungle.

Whenever you see one of the cool water bottles from the photographs above – whether one or our family is wearing it, or if it is hidden in the background photo somewhere – leave a comment on that days blog. No other water bottles qualify for the contest. Just the bottles you see in the photos above.

You may leave one comment per blog – entering whenever you see any of the water bottles. To make it easier for you to follow, feel free to sign up to receive the Gardening Nude Blog via email on the top right hand corner of this blog page.

When I return from the fourteen day adventure, I will assign your comment a sequential number, than use an online random number generator to select a winner. H20x2.com will send a $50 Gift Certificate for use on their online store to the winner!

Ready to win? Get started commenting on March 20th!

*NOTE* – As you can see in my Site Disclaimer – I would never, ever, ever allow another company to decide what I should or should not say on this blog site. All product reviews, and indeed, all discussion and experiences about any product or sponsor will receive my honest opinion. The give-away above is proof of this as I will be testing the sponsors product as well as giving away a product and will inform my readers HONESTLY about my opinions. All sponsors agree to this in advance as well. I am not now, nor will I ever, be paid specifically to say something I do not believe in.

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

The Gardening Nude 2009 Eco-Blogging Green Adventure in Mexico

Fantastic news readers – I am going to Mexico on a cool green eco-adventure  and I’m taking you with me to experience all the fun! WOOT!

In just a few days my family and I will be taking the eco-journey of a lifetime into the jungles, caves, and ocean of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. I will be blogging every day for fourteen days (sometimes more than once per day) all about the trip using greening and eco-nature information as a tool to educate readers about environmental concerns in the world.

Here is a photo of me with a monkey I met in Mexico last year – say hello to my little friend! When I discovered the incredible natural environment of the Yucatan Peninsula, just North of Belize in Mexico, I wanted to bring the story to my readers.

We will be going to jungles, beaches, and protected eco-parks throughout the Yucatan Peninsula area to experience some really incredible things in nature. As you can see by the map below, the Yucatan Peninsula is located on the far right-hand side of Mexico. It juts up into the Gulf of Mexico and is favored with tropical

oceans and exotic jungle. The red “pushpin” marks the general area near where we will be staying – our travels will stretch from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen.

I am very excited about the itinerary which includes eco-adventures like jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, cave spelunking, and visiting a mangrove jungle. I will also be searching out green lifestyle stories all along the way to share with you. Maybe I can inspire you to live greener while experiencing the natural world – I can not wait to report on all the action. We are going to have an adventure!

There will be big reader contests too – I will announce all the details for the contests tomorrow and Thursday - so follow along from March 20 to April 5, 2009 for your chance to win some cool prizes on the Gardening Nude Blog! 

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com