North Coast Winds by Robin Joy Wellman - April 2019

We all make a difference in this beautiful world we live in with all the choices we make in our daily lives. With Earth Day around the corner, a day that offers us a friendly reminder to think, talk, and take care of this Planet, we get to share ideas of how to be a role model for all our friends and family. These ideas and thoughts are called Planet Earth Consciousness or Planetary Consciousness. Planetary consciousness is the idea that human beings are members of a planetary society of Earth as much as they are members of their nations, provinces, districts, islands, cities or villages. Here is the web to learn more

I will take every opportunity to mention Blue Mind to you all. If you live on the coast, and we all do either part time or full time, and/or you love to visit the coast, this is super important. Blue Mind is a strong and growing movement to bring awareness to our oceans and why and how our ocean changes our mood and our behaviors, and the science behind it. From Wallace he states the Blue Mind is a ‘mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peace, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment”. Please check this out - http://www.wallacejnichols.org/122/bluemind.html.

Every plastic bag, every paper bag, every straw, every paper plate, every Styrofoam product (the worst) has an impact on our planet and oceans. Thus even the little changes we can make are important. But you know all this. It is time to speak out about this every chance you get. Tell the deli or restaurant that you would prefer paper products in the take home containers, not Styrofoam. This makes a difference. My new favorite saying when I eat out is ‘no ice, no straw’. Now my grandkids are saying it too! The Planet Earth continues to amaze me with Earth Day being every day and we as the caretakers.

I always like to highlight our garden centers that are ecofriendly on our coast. April is a good month to get out in the yard and garden to brighten and spruce up your place. These businesses have a Planet Earth Consciousness. In Gualala we have the Gualala Nursery and Trading Post with a wide variety of plants and fun gifts too. They are super helpful, have everything you need to plant a veggie or flower garden. Visit their web athttps://www.facebook.com/GualalaNurseyCA/ Sea Ranch Supply located in The Sea Ranch has a large selection of plants and starts. For the landscape jobs most of what they carry is Sea Ranch approved however everyone loves the natives. The website is not too complete but it does offer directions and contact info. http://searanchsupply.com/. In Point Arena we have Outback Garden and Feed. They are open Tuesday to Saturday and carry all kinds of veggie and flower starts and other garden needs. Here is their phone number 882-3333. You can also start some seeds and share starts with family and friends.

Speaking of April let’s not forget April Fool’s Day, it’s fun but be nice. April first is also the start of National Poetry Month. April 4 is National Peace Day. April 5 plant a tree for National Arbor day. Easter is April 21. Here is the list of fun and weird holidays http://www.holidayscalendar.com/months/april/ For our local events visit the many websites I have listed here. April is the beginning of the Whale and Jazz Festival which is a highlight along our coast. Many art exhibits as well as Chowder Tasting are great to attend. http://gualalaarts.org/category/events/ Point Arena Lighthouse always has fabulous events with full moon tours, lecture series, and they too will be celebrating our Whale Festival with Wind and Whale Celebration and kite flying. It is the perfect place to go fly a kite. http://pointarenalighthouse.com/visit/calendar-2/ . At the Arena Theater some terrific blues with be shared by Joe Louis Walker on April 13. This is a ‘do not miss performance’.https://www.arenatheater.org/home/calendar/ . Timber Cove continues to host Local’s Night every Tuesday and Wednesday. Please check out their web for all the details.https://www.timbercoveresort.com/

Enjoy the warmth that April can bring, the urge to get into the garden, the strolls that get you outside and closer to our Planet Earth. Blessings.