From the Garden to the Kitchen Sink: A Greener Journey, One Small Change at a Time

Earth Day has always felt a little special to me. It could be because I spent my entire life working with plants, surrounded by the colors, textures, and nature. Being in the garden and the greenhouses taught me patience and that the earth will always give back if we take care of it.

Whether it was the years of growing plants at my husband’s and my wholesale nursery, helping customers pick the right plants at Behnke’s, or watching my grandchildren enjoy being outside and seeing the flowers, I’ve always felt the best when my hands were in the soil.

But recently, I’ve been thinking more about the inside of my home. For so long, I was so focused on what was growing outside my door that I didn’t pay much attention to what I was putting on my counters or tossing into my laundry. I never thought to question the cleaners I grabbed at the store. If they smelled like “lemon or bleach” and said they killed germs, that was good enough for me.

It wasn’t until I came across Norwex that something clicked. I didn’t join the company for business reasons. It started with curiosity and a mop. Then came the research. Then came the little moments of surprise, like realizing how often we unknowingly bring harmful chemicals into our homes and how easy it can be to make better choices.

The Norwex mission is simple: to radically reduce the use of chemicals in our homes. And now, that mission feels like mine, too.

At first, I thought, “I’ve been cleaning this way for years—does it really matter?” But the more I learned, the more I understood that it does. It matters for my health, my grandkids, and this planet I’ve always loved. The idea that those counter wipes we all use and send to schools are actually a pesticide, and really, who has time to leave our surfaces visibly wet for up to four minutes?

So this Earth Day, while I’ll still be breathing in the scent of spring and adding this or that to our garden, I’m also excited about the changes I’ve made inside my home.

These changes didn’t happen overnight when choosing reusable cloths over paper towels, replacing harsh sprays with water and high-quality microfiber, saying no to synthetic toxic fragrances, and yes to safer air. But they’re real, lasting, and the kind of impact I hope I’m making.

Maybe this Earth Day, besides planting something new, we take a moment to rethink how we care for what we already have—our health, homes, and the earth. Because when you know better, you can do better. And it all starts with one small change. 🌿