Love is in the (Fresh) Air


the greenie patch (#2)

by Jeneen R. Garcia

published on February 12, 2006

 

 

Just a few days more and it will be Valentine’s Day! Flowers of all colors and shapes in gardens everywhere will be swept up in lovely bouquets.

 

Sure, flowers make the air smell sweet, but what if you could give cool, fresh air to your parents and beloved friends instead?

 

In the United Kingdom, people can “buy” or adopt an acre of tropical forest for £30 (about P2,800 or roughly 50 one-piece chicken meals!) through the World Land Trust, a British organization, and offer it as a Valentine gift to their special someone.

 

The trees in the piece of forest they buy will be protected from loggers. Then the trees can keep producing fresh air for everyone on the planet for a long, long time. Now isn’t that a cool way of saying “I Love You”?

 

Good news, kids! Even if you don’t have enough money to buy an acre of forest, you can still give fresh air as a gift to your loved ones. Instead of giving flowers that will wilt after a few days, why not give a living, breathing plant that will last for years?

 

Scientists in Australia say that having a potted plant inside your house will not only give you more oxygen, but also remove the toxic substances hanging in your air like benzene and hexane. These invisible poisons can come from the cars passing by your house, or even from the paint on your walls.

 

You can buy a potted plant from a sidewalk vendor for as low as P10--or try planting one yourself! So that starting on Valentine’s, your mommy and daddy can breathe in your love every single day.

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