Well, as my last blog was just after Thanksgiving, I guess I missed my Christmas blog window (but check out editor-in-chief Robyn Griggs Lawrence's great presentation on buying green). So it's straight on to New Year's! Many of us might be making New Year's resolutions that concern the environment or our contributions to it: Reduce my energy bills; eat at least 50...80...100 percent organic; start a neighborhood recycling program.

I think my New Year's resolution this year will involve the idea of service that was so vital to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, an idea that is equally vital to his (and my) vision of a thriving nation. I believe in capitalism, but I also believe that in a land where the dollar reigns supreme, creating healthy, efficient and effective social programs is often left in the hands of the individual—in many cases, private endeavors, not public ones, can go farthest toward reducing or eliminating some of our nation's social problems.

Working for Natural Home is pretty great in the inspiration department. The January/February issue included the fantastic Dan Phillips and his awesome building program, The Phoenix Commotion, which builds no-debt, salvaged homes for low-income individuals. Our upcoming issue has an amazing story about a Boulder, Colorado, man who started a neighborhood CSA (community-supported agriculture) system in individual yards that now produces enough food to supply all volunteers, sell at a farmer's market and donate to the local food bank.

But the biggest lesson here is that helping out doesn't take much...and there are so many ways to give. I already participate (along with several of my coworkers) in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters "Everybody Wins" reading program, wherein adults are paired with kids who might have learning disabilities or social problems or simply need a bit more attention. Once a week, I visit my "little's" elementary school and spend my lunch hour reading with him. It's easy and fun and a great way to guarantee yourself at least one lunch hour spent outside the office each week. I've been doing the program for about four years now, and it was my first venture into volunteerism. It's become a regular and enjoyable part of my week—I don't even think of it as a chore. I did some additional volunteering during the presidential election and was amazed how great it could feel to dedicate a few extra hours a week to a cause I believe in. I didn't think there was room in my schedule for one more thing...until I just started doing it and realized I could make the time.

With the election over, I need to start researching new places and ways to dedicate some time and energy. I'll be researching to find something both fun and fulfilling, but give me your ideas! What programs do you all volunteer for, work with, etc.?? Please let me know!

Hello again, everyone! This post finds me (and you) just back from the Thanksgiving holiday, a great time to spend with family and friends and to think about all of the bounty we enjoy here in America. Regardless of our level of material wealth, we all have a lot to be thankful for, and this year maybe more than ever. Unlike many of the world's people, we don't live in a war-torn country, and we don't have to live in constant fear for our safety and the safety of our family members. Most of us have access to equal rights, education, quality health care (even if the system needs reforming). We have electricity, running water, food to eat and people to eat it with. This year I was thankful that we may have a political team that prioritizes protecting our environment. I was thankful for having a job that provides me with much more than an income—one that's also a place I love to go to, where I do something I care about and am surrounded by people I enjoy being with.

But getting back to work this week, I got a reminder that sometimes giving thanks for our bounty is made more significant when we realize we don't need so much. Our editor-in-chief Robyn e-mailed me about an awesome program called Hannah's Lunchbox that a friend of hers is working on with his family in Atlanta. Essentially, this family is selling their beautiful and luxurious Atlanta home and buying one half its size so they can donate the money to The Hunger Project, which works to help starving people in Africa. This was a 16-year-old's idea! She didn't think it was fair that some people in the world starve while others (like her and her family) have so much. She wanted to find a way to give, and the whole family got involved. Now they are making what many would consider a huge sacrifice. But take a look at their website—this family is thrilled! They talk about how much doing this has made them grow as individuals and a family, how much the kids have learned, how wonderful it feels to make a difference... 

I realize that not everyone is in the position to make this kind of a contribution. But it really makes you think about what you could do without and how it might help others. I think one of the truest ways to give thanks for what we have is by giving to others, and this family has certainly got the true meaning of Thanksgiving in the bag!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Let us know what you like to do to give back. I'm off to Chicago this week for a photo shoot, then on to Santa Monica next week for the Eco Gift Festival (where Robyn will be speaking and our publisher, Bryan Welch, will act as emcee), but I'll be checking in and I'd love to see your comments!

-Jessica

This is the Salwens' Atlanta home. Visit the Salwens' website for more photos or information, to contact them or to place a bid.