TreeHuggingLunatic.com

We all know that a good Tree Hugging Lunatic is going to choose Earth-friendly options whenever possible, right? Well, today I’m going to tell my little story about my lovely bathtub drain. (Hint: It didn’t used to be so lovely.)

Yes, I admit it. We had a slow drain. In the past, I might have been tempted to use those harsh drain chemicals to clear the clog, but not anymore! Like any good Tree Hugging Lunatic, I knew I needed to at least research my green options. Turns out there’s no need for that nasty stuff after all. Here’s the simple technique that worked for me.

STEP ONE: First of all, pull out the gunk that you can get to. I’m not telling you go rent a drain snake from your local hardware store; just take the cover off the drain and use some long needle nose pliers and/or a wire coat hanger to pull out the gunk that’s in reach. If you don’t know how to take the cover off, it’s worth it to learn. Some drain covers use a simple screw in system; others may require you remove the overflow plate. If you’re not sure, you may want to Google and/or ask for help with this step. I admit that I needed help learning how to remove our drain’s cover; but now that I know how to do it, it’s very easy! Also, I admit that I tried the remaining steps without removing the drain cover first, and I didn’t get the results I wanted, so don’t skip this step!

STEP TWO: Put some baking soda in the drain. I used about a half cup. You want a generous amount, but not so much that you have to pack it into the drain.

STEP THREE: Add about a half cup of vinegar to the drain next. It will start to bubble as the vinegar reacts to the baking soda.

STEP FOUR: Let the baking soda mixture set for about ten minutes while you boil a pot of water. Then slowly add the boiling water to the drain.

Once I followed all the steps in order, my drain worked perfectly! A tubful of water completely drained before I could finish drying off! Ah, happiness is a clean drain!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

I think this is a pretty obvious lesson, but it’s still worth mentioning. In order to be an authentic “Tree Hugging Lunatic,” today’s lesson is to make sure you take time to appreciate nature. The awe that’s inspired by a beautiful, natural setting can be used to connect more closely to your spiritual roots, or just to keep in mind what all the Tree Hugging is for.

I’m also going to share this design with you. It includes beautiful artwork by Christina Savino and the following quote by Robert Louis Stevenson: “It is not much for its beauty that makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”

I love this design. I’ve shown it here in a pillow, but it’s also available on canvas bags, t-shirts, mugs, etc. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

I’m the chairperson of an Animal Care & Control Advisory Board for my local government. We meet regularly and discuss and/or research animal control ordinances and steps to improve the way animals are cared for in our county. It’s not like we’re the great and powerful Oz or anything, but we’ve made a few improvements for animals and it feels good.

We just had a meeting tonight, and I was reflecting on how the board came into existence. It all started with my big mouth speaking up, and speaking up, and speaking up.

I’d had an idea for an animal control ordinance, so I went to my local commissioners’ meeting and gave a little five minute speech during the “Public Comment” section of their meeting. They said they would consider my input… (Tick-Tock… Tick-Tock…) Time went by and no action was taken.

I happened to run into one of my commissioners at another function, and I asked him what he thought my best approach would be to make this improvement happen. He said, “Keep the issue in front of us.”

And so I did.

Meeting after meeting I would get up and speak for five minutes, and I would give more facts and statistics, more ideas and details. While I‘d gained lots of other citizens’ support for my recommendations, at one point, some others spoke out against my proposal, and the commissioners didn’t seem inclined to support anything with this controversy attached. Yet I didn’t go away. Instead I recommended they create an advisory board to review this and all other local animal issues. They agreed unanimously.

Now, I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid. I realize there’s a distinct possibility that they agreed to create this advisory board just so I’d stop talking during all their meetings! However, the fact remains that our advisory board has been able to make some good recommendations, and the commissioners have unanimously approved several of our ideas. It may not be the world peace we’d all ultimately like to achieve, but it’s progress, and that’s a good thing.

We all know that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. So go ahead and speak up for what’s right. And if that doesn’t work, squeak louder!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

There’s a certain pride in being a Tree Hugging Lunatic. I know I’m a little crazy (okay—sometimes more than a little), but I also know I’m making a difference in the world, one ethical decision at a time. So, I may be crazy, but fortunately for you, I’m not selfish. I’m happy to give lessons in how you, too, can become a Tree Hugging Lunatic.

Naturally, we have to begin with lesson number one: Hug a Tree!

I remember hugging my first tree when I was about nine years old. (There may have been other tree hugging episodes first, but this is the first public display of arbor affection that I recall.) We lived in Florida at the time, and there was a beautiful palm tree directly outside my bedroom window. Ah, how I loved that tree! I imagined that, had there ever been a fire that prevented me from using the stairs, I could escape my bedroom by climbing out the window and shimmying down its smooth, straight trunk. Fortunately, there were no fires. However, on at least one occasion, I did, in fact, hug that tree.

There’s something soothing about hugging a tree. It actually does have a life force and a sense of density and purpose to it. Although tree hugging has become the archetypal image of an extreme liberal who wants to protect the earth (and possibly everything on it), there’s still a simple pleasure there in the actual physical act of hugging a tree.

I might point out that it’s best to examine the tree before the big embrace lest you accidentally show your affection for an ant bed or later discover you’ve acquired a large sap stain as a souvenir. I have also found that chiggers love tree hugging as much as I do, so first exercise caution, then go for the trunk!

Yes, lesson number one is a fairly simple lesson. (I don’t want to overwhelm you at first!) But you can still take great pride in this achievement as it is the one sure-fire way to begin the journey of a Tree Hugging Lunatic. So, congratulations! You’re now officially a tree hugger.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier