Top o’ the day to ya, lovers of all things GREEN! Tomorrow, March 17 is a wonderful day for people all over the world, because EVERYONE gets to be Irish. Yes, St. Patrick’s Day is here and what goes better with green beer than a green planet. So today welcome to O’Clay’s GREEN Corner. As a person of Irish descent at the University of O’Rochester there are plenty of Irish-blooded folks around our fair city. Chances are they are in your town, too. There will be parades and traditional Irish feasts and we’re hoping for great weather to put us in an even better mood (as if the Irish need a reason). And if you happen to be one or two of the country’s population that don’t give a hoot (don’t pollute) about St. Paddy’s Day, well the official start of spring is a few days away. If that doesn’t make you happy, call me and we’ll chat over some corned beef and pint of Black and Tan. You may still not celebrate, but I promise you won’t care.
Other than green for the planet and green for the holiday, what does sustainability and St. Patrick chasing the snakes from Ireland have in common? Nothing really. Except every day can be St. Patrick’s Day if you purchase GREEN products, GREEN energy, live a GREEN life. There’s a reason the plush, lush, rolling hills of Ireland bring out the love of nature in the Irish. Green is life. Green is fertile. Green is good! From outer space we may be The Big Blue Marble; but right here on Terra Ferma, green is the color freshness and being alive.
The next time you go shopping, make a commitment to replace one product you use with its “green” equivalent. Read labels carefully. Don’t fall for Green Washing (there are businesses around that advertise as “green” but aren’t really. Be an educated consumer). You’ll feel better. You’ll feel like an Irishman.
If you are celebrating tomorrow and need last minute tips on being ‘green’ here is a helpful web site I found (as always, The Green Corner makes no endorsements).
http://blissfullydomestic.com/food-bliss/recipes-food-bliss/shamrock-fudge-for-st-patricks-day/119343/ and if nothing there shakes your shamrock (yes, I am going for the award for the most awful puns in one post. There is an award for that, isn’t there?) Google, etc. ’til you’re green in the face.
Enjoy the holiday everyone. The Corner does not have to remind you of drinking and driving. That’s never a joke around here. Have a grand time. Get a designated driver. Keep an eye on your friends and take their keys if you must. They will thank you later.
I do believe there is a frosty, cold mug filled with green beer that’s calling my name. Until next time……………………………………
