Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. There's nothing like a good camping trip to get back in touch with nature --especially during the hot summer months when a trip to the mountains can provide a breath of much needed fresh air! I can picture it now –setting up camp in the shade of the trees, going for a refreshing swim in the local lake or river, taking a canoe or kayak out for a spin, or sitting around the campfire.

Of course camping these days looks a lot different than it did when I was a child! When you spend time in the splendor of majestic Redwood or Sequoia trees like the kind you find in the California mountains, it's hard to imagine hauling in all the stuff that was a necessary part of the camping experience back then. Sometimes you want to camp in a designated campground with facilities and hook ups, which obviously makes it easier for a family style vacation. But sometimes you want to go deeper into the woods, get away from it all and "rough it" a little so you can experience a true communion with Mother Nature.

Whichever way your pleasure tends, there are a number ways that you can do this without altering or harming the ecological landscape of wherever you choose to camp. Whether it involves using the latest, coolest gadgets and gear, or just some old fashioned common sense, we are all stewards of the environment and have a responsibility to enjoy it and share it with others without spoiling it.

In this week's article, I share four simple ways you can green your camping to enjoy a camping trip while minimizing your footprint and believe it or not, it all starts right at home. If you find the information useful or have anything more to add or share, please be sure to leave a comment at the end of it. And don't forget to take advantage of this month's summer subscriber specials!

Yours in health and prosperity,

Donya

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Green Camping Essentials: 4 Simple Ways to Enjoy Nature and Minimize Your Footprint

As busy as our lives are these days, even something as simple as planning a vacation in the great outdoors can become a source of stress. This goes double if you're trying to incorporate the green living techniques you use at home while you're miles away from civilization. Here are four simple ways to minimize your footprint and keep it green any time you go camping.

1. Plug the Energy Drains at Home

One of the easiest things to overlook when preparing to go on any type of vacation is the state your home will be in while you're away. This is especially important during the summer months when you tend to use air-conditioning and/or watering systems to feed your lawns and gardens on a consistent basis.

Start by unplugging all electronics and appliances that won't be in use or needed while you're away. Plugged-in electronics can continue to use energy even when turned off so the only way to stop these energy vampires is to unplug them completely. Ideally, the only things that you should keep powered on are lights to deter burglars, but instead of running them 24/7, put them on a timer so that they only run at night.

Turn your air conditioner off and set your thermostat to 80 or 85 F. This sounds a little hot but you would be amazed how much energy is saved with every 3-5 degrees you turn up the thermostat in the summer. Check the extended forecast to see if there will be any rain or cooling trends and adjust or reduce your timed lawn or garden sprinklers accordingly, to save water.

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Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:

• Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
• Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
• Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
• Hand-made locally in northern California

Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.

Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics - which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.