Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and we've had a great time giving My Clay Sun its 'verdigris' for the holiday. An abbreviated version of this blog will appear in Saturday's issue, but I want to give you all the full list and the sneak preview - aren't you lucky! ;)

Here's to a safe weekend,
Chanel Martin
Page designer/copy editor

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'Green' ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Most people will commemorate St. Patrick’s Day by imbibing green beer and dressing in emerald tones. Why not do a double service to yourself and your community by celebrating March 17 in one of these easy, earth-friendly ways?:

Make like a tree and branch out: You can go about this in a variety of ways. There are plenty of nurseries and hardware stores that carry ready-to-plant trees for your landscape. If your thumb is less than green, consider a Give-a-Tree card from the National Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org). With each $5 donation, a tree will be planted in a national forest that has been damaged by fire, insects or disease. If the present of a pine just won’t cut it, they also offer eco-friendly coffee, shirts, caps, and more. If you can spare the $15 annual membership fee, you’ll receive 10 trees for your yard for free that are just right for your area - choices include flowering, fruit and oak trees.  Our country’s environment gets a little greener, and you get a little peace of mind without a lot of work.

Finally, flowers that won’t die: Speaking of those luscious greens, cut down on card waste and save yourself the rising cost of postage by sending an e-card or virtual bouquet from Virtual Florist (www.virtualflorist.com). Categories range from animated shamrocks for St. Patty’s day to romantic greetings and ‘just because’ cards with beautiful flowers and photography. These witty cards won’t arrive a week late if you send them today, and won’t you look thoughtful when those green carnations show up in that special someone’s inbox?

Know where your greenbacks are going: Make your money go twice as far by shopping with groups that support a sustainable environment. Furniture giant IKEA partnered with non-profit group American Forests and asked customers to donate $1 to plant a tree in 2006; IKEA matched donations for the first 100,000 trees. By last December, over 300,000 trees had been planted — “enough to offset 100,000 tons of CO2 pollution over the next 40 years,” according to American Forest’s Web site. The National Resources Council of American honored the joint initiative last year with an award for their admirable work. And you thought you were just getting some affordable new cabinets!

Get off your gas: We’ve all heard the ‘share a ride’ lecture, but have you ever thought about the actual cash you’ll save? The Federal Highway Administration estimates that frequent idling and stop-and-go traffic costs motorist 753 million gallons of gasoline each year. That’s $1,194 per driver in fuel and time down the tubes. By sharing your commute each day, you can save up to $3000 a year on gas, insurance, parking and general automobile wear. Better yet, resolve to use mass transit this year: you’ll keep an average of 9.1 pounds of hydrocarbons and 62.5 pounds of carbon monoxide out of our air, reports the National Safety Council (www.nsc.org/ehc/mobile/mse_fs.htm). More car-conscious tips and facts are available at FHA’s It All Adds Up site (www.italladdsup.gov).

YouTube can wait: Reputable ‘free click’ sites, such as The Rainforest Site (www.therainforestsite.com) preserve acres of land by counting daily visits and relying on business sponsors who donate money to preserve rainforests. They also provide quick links to charity-minded shops and sister sites, such as the well-known Hunger Site, Animal Rescue Site and Breast Cancer Site, which raises money for mammograms for underprivileged women. That viral video will still be there in two minutes while you click for a cause.

This land is your land: Florida’s Adopt-a-Highway program provides willing volunteer groups with clean-up and safety materials, litter pick-up and public recognition for keeping state designated stretches of our roadways clear of trash. This not only keeps animals and motorists safe, but reduces the amount of state funding (read: costs you less) needed to keep Florida beautiful. It also frees up DOT crew time so they can focus on, say, filling that monstrous pothole that threatens to swallow small vehicles on the daily commute. Civic-minded folks can download an application for the two-year volunteer program at www.dot.state.fl.us.

Some sparkle never hurt anybody: If bling is your thing, consider ‘recycled’ jewelry next time you’re shopping. Don’t let the name fool you: companies like GreenKarat (www.greenkarat.com) sell gorgeous “ecologically responsible jewelry,” meaning that they use already mined gold, silver, platinum and precious gems, as well as spectacular synthetic gems, in all their jewelry. This cuts down on the extensive scarring that mining causes to land, reduces the release of toxins, fuel waste and mercury, and can help provide relief for those in other countries forced into unsafe mining conditions to make a living. Trust me — GreenKarat’s innovative designs and noble cause will win you major points. Have to see it in person? Buy jewelry from antique stores or estate sales as opposed to brand new; you’ll get a classic piece with a backstory and a social conscience, and can even reduce the final price of your ring or necklace.

Think global, act local: Remember that everything you do — from throwing that beer can in the trash to tossing old napkins out the car window — has a ripple effect, meaning that these things build up and have far-reaching consequences. So do all the good actions: your children will take your social-minded cues, friends will click on that donation site, and so on. It all adds up to a better place to live, for you and future generations. Now that’s something to celebrate.