A conscious choice

Here we are at what I consider the most beautiful time of the year.  Easter and Passover, both lovely celebrations of life and love, sacrifice and redemption.  From a secular perspective, this time of year, we honor our planet's annual rebirth and renewal.  Earth Day, April 22nd, is a day to bring our attention to this fragile planet, our island home.

Like so many problems facing humans today, the destruction of the environment is overwhelming.  I always think, "I'm just one person, what can I do? What difference do I make?"  But we're all capable of small changes with significant impact.  Like tiny drops of water etching out huge rocks over time, our consistent, collective efforts can really add up.  It can be as simple as being environmentally conscious in our everyday purchasing decisions. 

As a knitters, we can be really careful about what fibers we purchase, choosing yarns made in countries with strong environmental policies.  Italy, and other members of the EU are held to strict environmental standards for industrial waste.  Japan is as well, and you know, I've already talked about how careful Noro is about environmental protection. 

Another example of a green purchasing decision is Peruvian alpaca.  In dry, rocky Peru, alpaca is an environmentally friendly fiber because unlike cattle, alpaca are not a drain on Peru's already limited water supply.  Fair prices for Peruvian alpaca help ensure that an environmentally well-suited industry thrives without an undue stress on natural resources. 

The Fibre Co., based here in the United States, is actively committed to protecting the environment, and sees sustainability as a primary goal.  The