I don’t necessarily consider myself to be an environmentalist by nature.

I’m not a tree hugger in the strictest sense. I’ve never been a member of Green Peace.

Once I did vote for a Green Party candidate, but that was more of a vote against the other two candidates than for the Green Party and its platform. However, that’s been my only affiliation with none before or since that time.

While I may not necessarily be the biggest advocate for our environment, I still believe it’s important for us to do our part to keep our environment as clean and green as possible.

Living in Hartselle, this hasn’t been something that’s been too difficult.

Hartselle already does a lot to help the environment. The city has a long-standing recycling program, something other communities I’ve lived in never had.

There is a big emphasis on the environment placed in our local education. Local schools have outdoor classrooms for students to learn about their environment and also to learn about cultivating plants.

We also have the Water Works facility, which is teaching kids about our environment. It’s kind of interesting that this was converted into this kind of an environmental education station from the old Hartselle water treatment plant.

We also have E.A.R.T.H. Park. The initials stand for Environmental Awareness Reaching Out To Hartselle. It’s a virtual outdoor classroom where local schoolchildren and others can learn and enjoy the environment.

It’s not uncommon to see a class out at the park taking water samples to test to see if the water is healthy.

In general, Hartselle is a very environmentally friendly place. We love to be outside and enjoy the outdoors.

We want to help preserve the natural beauty around us so that everyone can continue to enjoy it now and for generations to come.

Let’s continue to do our part to keep Hartselle the beautiful place that it is.

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.