I got a book at the library that I really like.  It’s “Go Gently” by Bonnie Wright and provides a wealth of information on small manageable lifestyle shifts that can build into impactful sustainability habits.  Her philosophy is similar to mine: start small with actions and changes that work for you and build from there.  Her suggestions include lists of sustainability actions and lifestyle changes, and also how to nurture yourself as you help care for the planet.  The book includes educational information on climate change and plastic recycling, and earth-friendly recipes.  It’s a great all-around sustainability information resource.     

Per Encyclopedia Brittanica, an ecosystem is “the complex of living organisms, their physical environment, and all their interrelationships in a particular unit of space”.   I have done several blog posts on the importance of native plants to provide habitat for native critters.  Ecosystem is a broader view of native habitats.  As an ecosystem develops, the plants and animals that live there not only adapt to the environment, but also participate in developing and maintaining that habitat.  In a healthy ecosystem, the plants, insects, reptiles, birds, animals, microbes, earth, and water systems contribute to a beneficial habitat for the particular organisms that live there.  Healthy ecosystems benefit the earth overall as well.  The attached article illustrates how introduction of an outside species significantly changed an ecosystem, and then shows how the ecosystem is beginning to change back as the disrupting forces were removed. 

https://www.popsci.com/environment/galapagos-giant-tortoises-ecosystem-conservation/

Paper towels have always been a weakness for me because they are incredibly convenient, but I have significantly reduced the number I use and am working on cutting back even more.  Paper towels are bad for the environment in many ways.  Unless you use 100% recycled paper towels, trees are cut to manufacture the towels.  Bleach and other chemicals are used to process and whiten the paper towels.  Paper towels create a significant volume of waste when discarded, and then degrade to form methane, a powerful green house gas, in the landfills.  Some of my information sources say that using recycled paper towels is only slightly better, but other sources point out recycled paper uses significantly less water and doesn’t result in additional deforestation.  So, how do we remove paper towels from our lives?  The attached article gives some good ideas for reducing paper towel use at home.  Here are some additional thoughts:

• When I do use a paper towel, I generally tear off a small piece, just enough to do the job, and save the rest of the sheet for another use.  I can frequently use a single towel for several tasks. 
• Old T-shirts and towels are very useful for replacing paper towels.  Almost any absorbent rag will work. 
• Paper towels are useful for absorbing greasy or oily substances and you may want to continue using them sometimes.  If you use a rag, be aware that a rag soaked in grease should not be dried in a clothes dryer after laundering.  It’s a fire safety concern.
• Public restrooms frequently offer paper towels as the only hand drying option.  Several years ago, I saw a video that showed how to dry your hands using only one paper towel.  The secret is shaking the excess water off your hands into the sink before you grab the towel.  Start with one paper towel and only take a second one if your hands are not dry. 

https://earth911.com/home-garden/stop-using-paper-towels/