The old Native American proverb that states: “We do not inherit the land of our ancestors; we borrow it from our children” really makes me think about my lifestyle and the benefits it brings to the Earth. Being sustainable means not only taking care of the planet for my generation but also for future generations. It is my duty to take care of the planet as best I can and help pass on these good habits to my children. The best ways to help my environment are to compost uneaten food and old vegetables, donate or reuse old clothing, and recycle plastic and paper products. My family already has a compost pile in the yard and I never really noticed its value. I always considered it a pile of trash and was reluctant to recycle the leftovers when my parents asked me to. It would have been so much easier to throw everything in the trash. In “Waste Not Want Not,” Bill McKibben states that “we throw away 14 percent of the food we buy at the store” (304). This represents a large amount of food that can be put to better use instead of being wasted. Old food scraps will eventually turn into rich soil that can be used to grow an organic garden. The products I buy at the grocery store are not as healthy as I think because most are full of chemicals that can be harmful to humans. There is a “displacement of almost the entire agricultural population and the replacement of their labor and good agricultural practices with machines and toxic chemicals” (Berry 401). By using compost to plant my own food, I don't have to live in fear of what I feed my family. Composting is not only a good source for keeping food out of landfills, but it promotes a healthy, natural lifestyle. Another way I like to help the environment is by throwing away paper......y I stuck with me here is one I saw during my visit to the Blue Marsh exhibit. In the words of Dean Snyder: “It wasn’t just the buildings and farms that were being destroyed; there were also places of natural beauty” (Blue Marsh exhibition). I want to be able to share local beauty with future generations and this will only be possible if I contribute to the conservation of the environment. Works Cited Berry, Wendell. “Agriculture and the global economy.” The Longman Reader (10th ed.). Judith Nadell et al. Boson: Pearson, 2012. 400-403. Print.Fox, Marilyn, co-curator. “Blue Swamp: Lost Landscape”. Reading: Penn State Berks, Freyberger Gallery. October 9, 2013. Jordan, Chris. Halfway: Message from the Gyre. Vimeo: video on the Internet. October 11, 2013.McKibben, Bill. “I don’t want any waste. » America Now (9th ed.). Robert Atwan, ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin 2011. 301-308. Print.