GardeningNude

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Rachel Edson of La Familia International – An International Mission To Make a Difference

On most Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person or organization for the day. This person or org is the "Naked Winner of the Week." All people featured in this category are winners for doing great things for the community and trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 03-13-09 is ::drum roll please::

Rachel Edson, a member of La Familia International “The Family International” is doing her best to educate and bring community together to help each other. Here you see her in Guatemala at a party the group organized for one of the orphanages they visit and care for weekly.

Rachel Edson is an interesting woman. I met her on the street – literally – while she was visiting the United States. Dressed in a ball cap and a ponytail, she was standing on a street corner in Warrenville, Illinois and I drove up to the intersection. She was passing out flyers from a church on how people can make a difference in the world and for their community. As soon as she said hello, I immediately recognized in Rachel a quality which very few people in the world truly possess – a genuine passion for caring and giving.

In that one minute meeting we exchanged cards, bonded as friends, and as I drove off I shouted out the window, “I want to share your story – call me!” Amazingly, she did and over lunch one day she revealed her story.

From the time she was a small child, Rachel has lived around the world with her missionary parents. They taught her that giving to others and helping those in need can make a difference for humanity. She has grown up with that wonderful inspiration and is now returning this education to the world by giving to as many as she can. Her efforts have led her to a missionary group based in Guatemala called La Familia International.  Rachel and her friends at La Familia International dedicate their time and efforts to helping orphaned children and families within the community who need food, clean water, and an education. 

In the above photo you see the mission group putting on a meal for "Dia del Carino" (Valentine's Day). They distributed approximately 1,000 plates of food and gave out clothes, shoes, and toys. This event was held at "Parque San Francisco de Assis" in Guatemala.

If you would like to help Rachel and her wonderful La Familia International team, please contact them via email at lafamilia.guate@gmail.com.

Thank you, Rachel Edson and the entire La Familia International team for making a difference for humans all over the world who need help and love. You win a pat on the back and big cheer from the Gardening Nude blog – thank you for showing the community how important it is to help others.

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

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Austin Green Art – An Organization That Is Truly Making A Difference For the Environment and Their Community

On most Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person or organization for the day. This person or org is the "Naked Winner of the Week." All people featured in this category are winners for doing great things for the community and trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 03-06-09 is ::drum roll please::

Austin Green Art (AGA) and it’s founder, Randy Jewart. AGA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about important environmental issues via hands-on, creative, community-based programming and events – with creative art as its focus. Incredible idea – “Gardening Nude” loves it!

AGA is bringing a new and unique environmental awareness to the American community. Most importantly, in the process of creating environmental awareness, AGA is also breaking down a lot of the negative cultural form that has led to environmental problems to begin with.

According to the AGA website, www.austingreenart.org, “AGA was launched in November 2004 by Randy Jewart initially to produce a temporary, outdoor sculpture show during the June 2005 Public Art Network. Prior to AGA,  Randy developed a program in Washington, D.C. called It’s Sculpture!, for which he raised over $100,000 in two years to fund public art.”

Thankfully Randy and his cool team of creative artists have been moving forward with exciting projects ever since. From the awesome blue “Plastic Bag Awareness Sculpture” at the Step It Up Rally. To the very cool installation at the REI store in Pittsburgh, PA; a 35-foot waterfall made from 3500 plastic bottles from Mars Area High School students. AGA sees it’s mission in life as creating and partnering with organizations to build focus on education, advocacy and community building.

AGA says it “believes in each individual’s creativity and presents a structure for community members to express themselves throughout the art making process while learning about important issues relating to the environment and their role in its future health.” What an incredible way to help teach the world that there is a healthier way to live.

When AGA takes important community and environmental issues and brings them to the public in a creative and collaborative way, it truly makes a difference for the world. Here are some of their awesome accomplishments since their inception:

• Raised over $250,000 via grants, sponsorships and individual donations
• Conducted 44 programs in 3 years
• Engaged 1,300+ residents and artists as volunteers
• Engaged more than 3,300 individuals as project participants
• Programs have been viewed or attended by more than 200,000 people
• Partnered with more than 160 organizations
• Broad and consistent media coverage including a cover story in the Austin Chronicle

Thank you, Randey Jewart and Austin Green Art for bringing a level of knowledge to the public which is not often considered. Your environmental efforts and positive community actions are truly making a difference. You win a back flip and an old-fashioned Texas, “Yee Ha” from the Gardening Nude blog – thank you for showing the community how important working together to help solve environmental concerns is.

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

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Organic Farmers – Janet Brown and Marty Jacobson – Co-founders of All Star Organic Farm

On most Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person or organization for the day. This person or org is the "Naked Winner of the Week." All people featured in this category are winners for doing great things for the community and trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 02-27-09 is ::drum roll please::

Janet Brown and Marty Jacobson and their entire family for living the life they believe in. Allstar Organic Farm is making a difference in their community of Marin County, California and doing it’s part to change the environmental world in a positive way. Inspiration for us all!

Janet Brown and Marty Jacobson live the organic life they advocate. They have built Allstar Organics, it includes a two acre farm filled with aromatic plants and antique roses in Lagunitas, California and ten acres of over one hundred and fifty varieties of certified organic, specialty and heirloom crops grown in Nicasio, in Marin County, California.

Their efforts to create and live a greener lifestyle benefits both the environmental and neighborhood community in wonderful ways. Allstar Organics brings locally grown product to Californians – fresh vegetables, herbs, spices, herbal salts, body sugars, and artisnal botanical essences. Janet and Marty bring their “green” products and family-oriented mindset to their local efforts, and in doing so have made a true difference for their neighbors and their world.

They understand that the freshest chemical free products will help families grow healthier. Setting an ecologically sound example is important to their family, Janet says, "In the 16 years Allstar Organics has been in operation, we are proud to have been a part of a growing network of organic and sustainable farms that practice ecologically sound, socially integrated, and economically viable renewable agriculture. We manage our farming system to improve soil fertility, encourage biological diversity, and create year-round food production for local consumption. The result is that we are able to produce an annual, diverse harvest of wholesome, nutritious, and delicious fresh foods."

Below is a short but interesting video featuring Janet discussing the importance of locally grown foods and organic farming to the large scale problem of climate change. Small scale solutions can really make a difference.

Thank you, Allstar Organics, for educating the public and bringing and organic lifestyle to your community. Your efforts are making a difference so more people understand the importance of buying local and buying organic. You win a big pat on the back and lots of applause from the Gardening Nude blog – thank you for your continued efforts to make a difference in the world!

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

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Joe Lamp'l

On Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person for the day. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 02-06-09 is ::drum roll please::

Joe Lamp'l for writing a fantastic book called The Green Gardener's Guide. This greening and gardening guide teaches readers how to take "simple, significant actions to protect and preserve our planet." It is a must-read guide for the homeowners around the world who want to live a greener lifestyle.

 

Life for homeowners has become complicated. It seems it is so much easier for most of us to do things the way we always have instead of performing simple acts of greening for the planet. Yet Joe Lamp'l, host of the PBS series GardenSmart and DIY Network's Fresh from the Garden, proves with his book, The Green Gardener's Guide, that performing simple acts to help keep our planet clean and healthy are easy to do.

While the book focuses on greening most specifically in the garden, I find it a  must for every homeowner who has even the smallest of properties. Millions of people own homes and all should know the basics of maintaining their property. Joe discusses easy ways homeowners can conserve water, recycle plastic, reuse products, compost food material, reduce chemical usage, and build a  greener community.

Joe's awesome guide points out ways for the consumer to save money as well. These tips include ideas to increase your home's cool factor in the summer and how to increase your home's warmth factor in the winter simply by planting trees and shrubs appropriately on your property. From grasscycling to rain gardening to planting drought tolerant plants; Joe has it all down to a simple and easy to understand science.

Greening your landscape can go a long way towards making a difference for our larger environment. Joe understands that it takes small steps to get there and is setting a remarkable example himself by showing the world how easy it is to do. Find The Green Gardener's Guide on Amazon.com and make a difference in your community today.

Thank you, Joe, for writing this book and teaching people how to live a greener and healthier lifestyle from the ground up. Your concern and caring are making a difference. You win a pat on the back and a big "Hurrah!" from GardeningNude.com - thank you for working so diligently to bring good things to the world!

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

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Michael Edwards, Living Life Organic and Making A Difference

On Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person for the day. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 01-23-09 is ::drum roll please::

Michael Edwards, for trying to make a difference in the world by helping people facilitate better organic consumption practices. His efforts are changing mindsets so people can live a healthier and greener lifestyle.

Active tree-hugger and earth lover, Michael Edwards is determined to make a difference for the world. Founding and Editing Organic Lifestyle Magazine (www.organiclifestylemagazine.com) is his effort to share and educate the online community on a more nutritious and healthful way of life.

At one point in his life, Michael weighed over 350 pounds and had numerous allergy and health issues. His switch to a healthier lifestyle, and specifically organic eating, helped him melt the pounds away and in the process became educated on the better values of an organic lifestyle. According to Michael, "Organic Lifestyle Magazine is a free online magazine about organic food, natural (more commonly known as alternative) health, sustainable everything, eco friendly choices, and the green movement. We also cater to the vegans, raw food enthusiasts, and minimalists of all sorts."

When I asked Michael the reason he founded the magazine, he said, "There are some pretty decent environmental magazines available and some great websites, but I am yet to come across a good alternative health or organic lifestyle publication of any value [which focuses on the issues instead of advertising]. Organic Lifestyle Magazine is a free magazine about a healthy lifestyle – healthy for our bodies, our minds, and our environment. I believe our magazine has useful information."

Michael's choice for a digital format was an easy one to make, "One thing that sets us apart from other online ezines is that Organic Lifestyle Magazine is made for the web. Other publications are either trying to look like print magazines, or they are print magazines slapped onto the web via a PDF. They are hard to read, and you constantly need to zoom in and out. Our digital magazine is built to be digital, so the look and feel is easy to navigate. We want people to get to the information they need quickly."

Thank you Michael Edwards for founding Organic Lifestyle Magazine and making a difference in how the world perceives a green lifestyle. Living healthy is important! Michael receives a pat on the back and a giant "YEEHAA" for working hard to inspire others to be healthy.

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

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Naomi Sachs, Nature and Garden Healing Therapy Expert

On Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person for the day. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 01-16-09 is ::drum roll please::

Naomi Sachs, for teaching the world how to facilitate health and wellness by experiencing healing therapy gardens and nature. She is the founder of the Therapeutic Landscapes Resource Center and is truly making a difference by helping people recover more quickly from illnesses on both an emotional and physical level. 

Naomi Sachs, ASLA, is the Founder and Executive Director for the not-for-profit organization, Therapeutic Landscapes Resource Center and Database (TLDB). This resource can be found at www.healinglandscapes.org. When Naomi founded the organization, she knew the healing benefits of being out in nature and wanted the world to practice better habits for helping the public heal both emotionally and physically from illnesses.

With the recent addition of the Therapeutic Landscapes Database Blog - http://tldb.blogspot.com - Naomi has been able to bring her inspirational message to more and more people across the globe. Living an outdoor experience, particularly in gardens, can heal the mind and body. 

I was so inspired by Naomi Sachs and her healing designs and group of healing  gardeners, that I wrote a feature about her and her organization in my latest book, Gardening Nude.You will find the full excerpt from the book at the end of this Friday Naked Person of the week with photo excerpts of several of her beautiful nature designs.

TLDB needs help and funding to get the message of experiencing nature for healing out to gardeners and non-gardeners alike - they have an Amazon Associates link on the blog which, if you order books through Amazon via this link, will allow TLDB to earn funding based on your orders. Here's the link - TLDB Amazon Associates Funding Link.

Thank you Naomi Sachs for founding TLDB and truly making a difference for the world. We need more love, generosity, and healing - and healing mentally and physically ill individuals is a beautiful thing to accomplish. Naomi wins a wave and a cheer from all the Gardening Nude readers for making a true difference in the world.

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

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Click the link below to continue reading more about Naomi Sachs and how she's healing the world. The write-up below is the full feature excerpt from “Gardening Nude.”

A Garden Can Be Therapy

Therapeutic Landscaping is a relatively new term that is changing the face of traditional landscaping. The term refers to fostering the mental, physical, and spiritual restoration of the human condition in a garden. Therapeutic gardens can be small or large, but all of them encourage total immersion in nature so a person can escape from illness, pain, and depression.

A therapeutic garden can be designed to enhance medical treatments, assist medical staff in giving care, provide relief for a particular medical condition, reduce stress and aggression, or simply provide a place where a busy family can go to heal and relax. A good therapeutic garden is also a green-centered garden, taking advantage of positive environmental practices.

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Greg Christian, The Green Catering Super Hero

On Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person for the day. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 01-09-09 is ::drum roll please::

Greg Christian, for changing the face of American public school lunch and spreading the message of greener living. Greg is teaching the world how to eat and live healthier!

As one of the most inspiring and energetic green people I have ever met, Greg Christian, a Chicago-based caterer is revolutionizing American catering. Greg Christian Catering thrives on his concepts of buying local, composting silverware and dishes, and educating the public on how to live a green lifestyle is changing the way the world sees food and catering. Greg is making a difference in other ways as well; he believes he can revolutionize the way school systems feed children; building a healthier community in the process through his not-for-profit organization, the Organic School Project.

I was so inspired by Greg that I wrote about him in my recently published greening and better health book, Gardening Nude. You will find the full excerpt from the book at the end of this special Friday Naked Person of the week.

Working with children to educate them on better nutrition has been particularly rewarding for Greg. The kids often say the darndest things and I recently asked Greg what some of the things the kids said when working with him.

Below are the top five cute responses said by youth enjoying breakfast, lunch or snack in one of Organic School Project’s programs:

5. Eww…the peas are green!

4. This cheese tastes like cheese!

3. The fruit is crunchy!

2. This milk tastes like it came from a cow!

1. It actually smells good in here!

It is awesome to see children recognizing the value of nutritious foods! Thank you Greg – for being an incredible green example for the world to follow - you win a pat on the back and a big shout-out for being a fantastic green lifestyle example. You are changing mindsets one vegetable at a time - way to go!

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

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Click the link below to continue reading more about Greg Christian and how he's doing his best to make a difference for the world. The write-up below is the full feature excerpt from the greening and better health book I wrote, “Gardening Nude.” Enjoy!

Greg Christian is making American meals healthier and greener

When I think of Greg Christian, I think of a passionate man who puts children first—his own as well as all youth, as they are the future of human kind. He is a man who cares about the environment and his neighborhood community with an equal fervor. Christian believes in doing what is right for the global population, and starting with the neighborhood community has been the best place to begin.

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week; Stephanie Elliot, Manic Mommy Blogger, and all around wonderful Community Builder

On Friday's, Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person for the day. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and for trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The first naked winner of the week for 2009 is ::drum roll please::

Stephanie Elliot, for running an online blood drive. She is saving lives and bringing her community together via the Internet. Stephanie is helping make a difference in the world by teaching others that donating blood is the right thing to do. The "Manic Mommy's Virtual Blood Drive Contest" even features a grand prize of six day, five night vacation at a resort in Florida!

Stephanie Elliot is a woman with ambition and drive; a blood drive. She dreams of getting hundreds of people to donate a pint of blood to make a difference for those in need.

Last year Stephanie, also known as the infamous Manic Mommy blogger and all around fun-gal (www.manicmommy.blogspot.com), decided to hold one of the first ever online blood drives. She convinced thirty-five blog readers to give blood; saving nearly 100 lives. As a reward to her readers, she donated prizes of encouragement and cheered them on every step of the way.

This year she is holding another contest with even more fabulous prizes for those readers who give blood - including a grand prize of a vacation in Florida.

On the Manic Mommy website, Stephanie says, "Last year I mentioned that ONE PINT OF BLOOD SAVES up to THREE LIVES and one pint can save up to FIVE BABIES, but my mother, WHO DONATED YESTERDAY AS WELL (Thanks MOM!), reminded me that donating blood doesn't equal 1 pint saving three lives. Donating blood saves FAMILIES."

PLEASE go to the Manic Mommy website, read about the contest and get started giving blood - it is easy, it is important, it is saving lives - www.manicmommy.blogspot.com.

CONTEST DETAILS:

Here are the Manic Mommy's Virtual Blood Drive Contest Details according to the Manic Mommy site -"This year, Manic Mommy’s Virtual Blood Drive will run from January 1 through February 28, 2009. And it gets even better for those donating in 2009. Aside from additional other fun prizes which will be announced throughout the contest, one grand prize RANDOM winner will receive luxury accommodations for six days, five nights at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort* (www.sandestin.com). To enter, simply go to your local blood bank and donate blood between January 1 - February 28, 2009. Have your photo taken IN THE CHAIR while you are donating blood and send your photo to manicmommy@comcast.net. Include your name, city, state and email address, and what inspired you to donate. Photos/inspirational stories will be posted every Sunday during the contest."

Stephanie Elliot wins a "Your World Talking Photo Ball" from Brookstone and a whole lotta love from all the people who need and appreciate her help. Way to go Stephanie! Taking the time to educate people and care for your community really makes a difference!

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

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week; Elizabeth Davis

On Friday's Gardening Nude The Blog features a special person for the day. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 12-19-08 is ::drum roll please::

Elizabeth Davis, for supporting hundreds of green blog sites and spreading the message of better living through her professional career. Elizabeth is being green to the extreme and helping others to live well!

Elizabeth Davis works as an editor for LOUD3R.COM. The LOUD3R organization is a network of websites that are centered around specific topics which are of community interest. They use a combination of technology and human editorial content to find the most relevant content on the web and then to build a helpful family community around each topic.

Elizabeth edits and works with several of these websites, including my personal favorites; COMPOST3R.COM (green living), GARDEN3R.COM (gardening), GLACI3R.COM (environment), and HIK3R.COM (hiking).

After graduating college, Elizabeth decided editing and teaching are her long term targets, with the idea that making a difference for the environment and community can do good for the world. Her feeling, after editing hundreds of blogs on greening and positive environmental activity, is that it is easy to live green. The "simple things are the easiest and most common [way to live green], like keeping the lights off when not in the room, not running water more than necessary, reusing cloth grocery bags, using CFL bulbs, etc. We're lucky to have recycling services provided by the city, and we don't have or use central heating or air conditioning in the house."

Elizabeth says, "Even if someone can change just one thing about their lifestyle, it's a start!" Bravo Elizabeth - that's the truth of how easy it is to have a greener mindset and bring the world to a healthier place.

Liz wins an online high-five and a whole lot of gratitude from all the people who are now able to learn more about green living, gardening, and the environment because of the work she does every day! Good job!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com or The Blog www.gardeningnude.com

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week: Ebay Inc. for Global Citizenship

Most Fridays I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog, this week I am featuring a corporation as the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person or corporation featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and for trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 11-21-08 is ::drum roll please::

Ebay Inc.- YES EBAY! For saving millions of otherwise useless and unwanted items from the landfill and redefining the expression, "one man's trash is another man's treasure!"

EBay has single handedly revitalized garage sale shopping, teaching grandmothers, children, and even computer illiterates to shop used items online. The benefit of this? Every third grader in the United States has heard of eBay and understands implicitly that they can resale items on eBay which might otherwise be thrown in the trash. This means that without specifically creating an educational program in our national school system, eBay has taught millions of children what reduce, reuse, and recycle means through popular media. How brilliant is that?

On eBay's global citizenship website the below information expanded on their policies:

"The eBay Marketplace has facilitated the reuse of an estimated $100 billion in goods since 1998, extending the useful life of products, keeping unwanted items out of landfills and reducing the need for the raw materials necessary to manufacture new items. ... We are also taking steps to address the environmental impact of our operations. This includes evaluating our environmental impact, reducing our footprint, investing in alternative energy, balancing our carbon impact, engaging our employees, empowering customers, and working with other external stakeholders."

BRAVO EBAY! This is the mindset environmentalists want to see all corporations use. The surprising benefit, however, is that eBay is helping educate people about the possibilities of rescuing items from the landfill. Because this is being done at the grassroots level means we all benefit as a nation from Ebay's actions.

Keep up the good work eBay - reduce, reuse, and recycle!

EBay wins a free pat on the back and lots of naked applause from all my readers for continuing to build a green company with sustainable ideas being at the forefront of their goal!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com or The Blog www.gardeningnude.com

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week - Chana Bernstein

Every Friday I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 10-24-08 is ::drum roll please::

Chana Bernstein, Founder and President of Saret Charitable Fund, for dedicating herself to the betterment of humanity by assisting those in need within her community who are facing economic hardship.

(Photo of Chana Bernstein thanks to SARET Charitable Fund website)

Over 20 years ago, a beautiful two year old Cambodian child named Saret Yann died because of the economic plight of her family while the child was fighting a deadly disease in Wheaton, Illinois. This child became Chana Bernstein's inspiration to found SARET, a philanthropic organization built to assist DuPage County, Illinois residents facing economic hardship. The SARET team provides assistance on many different levels including rent assistance, utilities, car repair, car donations, as well as food and clothing vouchers.

SARET's Mission Statement is "To prevent homelessness and hunger in the western suburbs, to provide hope when hope seems impossible and to restore dignity to individuals or families facing a current economic and life crisis."

Please visit the SARET Charitable Fund shop at 878 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL to find beautiful hand made crafts, jewelry, and books - monies from the retail store go to the not-for-profit SARET Charitable Fund organization. Go to the SARET website at www.saretcharitablefund.org to learn more.

Chana wins a free burrito and a pat on the back - thanks for being a caring person and an awesome team leader for the SARET Charitable Fund! You are making a difference!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com or The Blog www.gardeningnude.com

Technorati Tags: Philanthropic,helping others,economic hardship,community assistance,community,jewelry,hand made craft

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week - Kay McKeen

Every Friday I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 10-17-08 is ::drum roll please::

Kay McKeen, Manager of S.C.A.R.C.E., for being green to the extreme and rescuing over 3 million books from the landfill while providing less-fortunate children with an educational opportunity!

Kay McKeen at the SCARCE warehouse in DuPage County, Illinois. Note the books are piled all the way to the ceiling and would have been thrown in the landfill if Kay and her team had not rescued them.

SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education) is  a not-for-profit environmentally-centered community outreach program in DuPage County, Illinois. Kay McKeen, the inspiring manager of SCARCE, is working with her team to truly stimulate positive environmental change.

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week - Laverne Fogt

Every Friday I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 10-10-08 is ::drum roll please::

Laverne Fogt, Crossing Guard, for going the extra mile to take care of the children in her community!

 

For the last fifteen years Laverne Fogt has been caring for all the children in her neighborhood. She has been a crossing guard for the children who attend Clifford Johnson Elementary School in Warrenville, IL. She always has a kind word for, "high-fives", and shepherds each walking child across her traffic-laden intersection. Laverne can be seen outside in weather most would never go out in - rain storms, blizzards, fog, sleet - Laverne endures it all so the children of her community can feel safe.

She sees her duty as far more than a job, it is a special contribution to the world and her neighbors. I agree with Laverne - life can move quickly for us all and sometimes it is harsh to children and adults alike. Having a wonderful, reliable, and caring person like Laverne watching out for our children makes a difference in all of our lives.

Laverne wins a bottle of Avon Creamy Vanilla Dry Skin Bubble Bath. Thank you Laverne Fogt - for the loving attention you give to your community. It is appreciated by all of the children at Clifford Johnson Elementary School and their parents!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com or The Blog www.gardeningnude.com

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week

Every Friday I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 10-03-08 is ::drum roll please::

Roger Quackenbush, owner of TulipsNMore Bulb Company for donating profits from his small business to better the world!

One of my initiatives is to encourage corporations of all sizes to give more to environmental organizations so that our children will have a greener earth. Roger Quackenbush is making that happen by donating all the profits from Illinois orders from his small business, www.tulipsnmore.com (an Illinois flower and bulb company) through October 5, 2008 to his local America In Bloom organization.

America in Bloom is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that helps communities nationwide build beautification and environmental enhancement programs through personal and community involvement. Roger volunteers with his local America In Bloom organization and has contributed in the past by hand-digging butterfly and native plant gardens, donating thousands of bulbs to the city, and now by donating the profits from his company as well.

Roger won a case of Mountain Dew - the nectar of the Gods.

Way to go Roger! Thanks for making a difference for your local community and the world!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com and The Blog - www.gardeningnude.com

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week - Frank Novakowski

Every Friday I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person is the "Naked Winner of the Week." Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing great things for the community and is trying to make a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The naked winner of the week for 09-25-08 is ::drum roll please::

Teacher and environmentalist Frank Novakowski for recycling trash into treasure!

Wheaton Warrenville South High School has a great Science teacher in Frank Novakowski. One of his favorite classes that he teaches is Environmental Science. His concern over making a difference for the planet is seen when he teaches this class. It represents an opportunity to educate children who might not be exposed to positive environmental ideas.

I believe "Mr. Nova" should have the Naked Winner of the Week award for truly living the life he teaches his students every day.

He and Mrs. Novakowski recycle, compost, and do many other good things for the environment. However, his special recycling achievement was in recently turning trash into treasure. He got a call from a relative telling him about a giant water barrel in an apartment building dumpster. It had a broken spigot, but was otherwise undamaged. They pulled the water barrel out of the trash, and after purchasing a new spigot for less than ten dollars, Mr. Nova attached the water barrel on to his house and now recycles the rain water which comes off his roof. He's saving a valuable resource and saving his family money as well.

Good job Mr. Nova - YOU ROCK!!

Mr. Nova won a special River Birch tree which I've been growing since Arbor Day. It is special because I braided three birch trees together and the braided form will stay for the life of the tree.

Congrats and thanks for being a great "every-day" environmentalist Mr. Nova!

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com and The Blog - www.gardeningnude.com

Gardening Nude Naked Winner Of The Week

Every Friday I feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person will be the “Naked Winner of the Week.” Every person featured in this category is a winner for doing good things for the community and making a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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The Naked Winner of the Week for 09-19-08 award goes to ::drumroll please:: - - -

Dale Simpson, Jr. – for Caring For The World and Being An Extraordinary Educator

 

Dale Simpson Jr., M.A.Archaeology, dreams of a world that is one giant family working together to better the earth; he believes this dream is built on community and education.

As an archaeologist, Dale’s specialty has been studying Rapa Nui, also known as “Easter Island.” This island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and is a territory of Chile. Rapa Nui is a World Heritage site and is famous for its enormous statues called moai and megalithic platforms called ahu. Rapa Nui has over 50,000 tourists per year, along with dozens of research teams from colleges and universities. One of the problems the Rapa Nui people face is that these tourists and research teams give very little assistance to the native people even though the people who live on this island provide the “opportunity of a lifetime” for the teams to study and learn from their land. It is an unfair exchange.

Photo of Moai's in Rano Raraku Crater credited to PhotoVolcanica.com.

Because of the concern for the islanders, a program was built for the youth of the island called the “’A pó Program” or the Rapa Nui Youth Involvement Program. A pó means "tomorrow" in the Rapa Nui language. This program was built so that archaeology can become a foundation from which the locals can better educate themselves. It will allow them to learn how to conserve and promote the Rapa Nui Island discoveries and therefore build a stronger local ownership and understanding of the island and their cultural history.

Dale lived for over two years on Rapa Nui as an active educator within this high school youth program as well as an archaeological expert studying the islands many sites. This has been a truly special way to give back to a community that really needs assistance. High School students volunteer to meet two nights a week and one full day each weekend to learn about archaeology, computers, field research techniques, and issues of cultural conservation. The teens are learning to make a difference and protect their community.

This photo ( courtesy of Museo Antropologico Sebastian Englert - 2008) shows Dale with the teens at a dig site. As an archaeologist, Dale has had ample time to travel and live all over the world, receiving his undergraduate B.A. (Advanced) from the University of Manitoba, in Winnepeg Manitoba, Canada and his Masters Degree (Honors) from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Recently, Dale interned at The Field Museum in Chicago with the Pacific & Island southeast Asia Anthropology Team assisting to get the Pacific Anthropology Web Page updated.

Dale grew up in Warrenville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and is a proud Wheaton Warrenville South High School Alumni (1996). His feeling is that the foundation he got as a young man growing up in this American community has laid the path – by example – for him to give back to the global community. The people of Rapa Nui will forever be grateful for this positive, community-centered mindset, and the rest of the world will too. Yesterday, September 18, 2008, Dale returned to Chile to continue the research and live his dream. He will be returning to Rapa Nui this Fall to continue on with the very special youth program. Thanks to Dale for being a person of action building communities that make a difference and a great “Gardening Nude” example for the rest of the world!

To learn more about The Rapa Nui Youth Involvement Program – www.terevaka.net/rn/apo/directory.htm

To learn more about Dale Simpson, Jr’s recent work at The Field Museum in Chicago - http://sites.google.com/a/fieldmuseum.org/pacific-web/Home to learn more about Rapa Nui / Easter Island - www.islandheritage.org

Dale won a lunch at Potbelly’s which I awarded him before he left to fly to Chile!

Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com or The Blog -  www.gardeningnude.com

Gardening Nude Naked Winner of the Week

Every Friday I will feature a special person on the Gardening Nude Blog. This person will be the “Naked Winner of the Week” and every person featured in this category is a winner for doing good things for the community and making a difference for the world. You can make a difference too.

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And the first Naked Winner of the Week award goes to ::drumroll please::

BOB LOOTENS

Bob manages the roads and grounds at the 6,800 acre Department of Energy facility, Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory. He’s on the Board of Directors for Fermilab Natural Areas as well, and has been working at the Fermilab facility for over 37 years to make a real difference for the environment. Bob has given his heart and soul to this incredible stretch of natural beauty.

Fermilab’s property has been described as “an island of nature” surrounded by city and developed land. It is open to the public and is frequented by environmentalists and bicyclists alike. Bob has been working to focus on wildlife restoration and other natural management practices to increase the habitats for animal and plant species. Included on the property are open fields, deciduous forests, restored prairie, wetlands, and lakes. This makes the Fermilab site an effective refuge for many species of wildlife including many mammals, butterflies, and birds.

Thanks to the immense thoughtfulness and intensive hard labor of Bob and his roads and grounds team, the American people have a treasure to enjoy.

Bob – keep up the good work and thanks for putting such special love and concern for the world into every little thing you do.

This week’s winner wins - - a pat on the back and a Coca-Cola!

Here is a photo of a prairie flower on the Fermilab property I took just last week - isn't it gorgeous?

Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community!

www.thecasualgardener.com The Blog - www.gardeningnude.com