Carson said she believes the idea of merging health and eco ethics is still new in the United States, though a trend in "green gym" or eco-friendly workouts is taking off in England. She wants to get the movement into the mainstream here. She suggests some small changes: Walk instead of drive, carry reusable water bottles and canvas shopping bags, pick up trash as you walk, recycle athletic shoes, and turn off the television and computer and go outside for fun.
"It was a natural progression from one to the other," said Carson of her commitment to health and the environment. "It's a matter of stewardship. We are supposed to take care of our body and our community."
At the forefront of the movement these days is food, she and others say.
Buying locally grown, seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables that didn't burn a ton of fossil fuels to get to the consumer is a step, said Beth McGee, a senior water-quality scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
She'll even choose local foods over organic ones if they are shipped long distances. But local organic foods are preferable since they don't use pesticides that might harm consumers and area waterways - which, in turn, can harm consumers further.
McGee said that sometimes those with personal fitness goals notice the connection to the environment before others because they may be outside in the elements more. But everyone can make changes, which, she said, can begin at home.
In the yard, for example, using a push mower instead of a gas-powered one offers a workout and is emissions-free. Pulling weeds instead of using poisons and planting native greens is a day's work, and requires no chemicals and less water.
"I think the ethics go hand in hand," she said. "I think we've reached a turning point where people are getting engaged."
Groups are lining up citizens to push for such things as better access to bike paths and public transportation. Advocates at One Less Car asked the state for bike racks on public buses through postcards from 400 supporters, and the racks are expected by fall. The group also pushed Baltimore for the bike lanes that are now painted on roads including University Parkway and Charles Street. More are planned.
The Maryland Department of Transportation will also add more hybrid buses and triple the MARC commuter train capacity in the next 20 years, said agency Secretary John D. Porcari.
