I always write an article for Earth Day, and I didn’t want this year to be an exception, but…I’ve been super busy!
This month, I’ve been volunteering at the theater where my son is in a play. I’ve been helping paint the set, sorting fabric for costuming, and over the coming weekend, I’ll be ushering at all four shows. This week, I attended an out-of-town work conference. I’ve also taken my mother to the eye doctor, my dogs to the vet for their annual vaccines and exams, and attended 3 other plays (my son is a theater geek). I also work full-time!
Regardless, I couldn’t let Earth Day pass without writing something, even if it’s short and sweet. I would’ve made my Earth Day cookies, too, if I’d had time – but at least I wore my Earth earrings today and wished people a Happy Earth Day!
How You Can Celebrate Earth Day/Earth Month
The most important thing you can do is to make every day Earth Day. Your daily actions count! They may be small and seemingly insignificant, but please understand that they are neither.
Here is a quick list of things you can do right now! (Though not exhaustive…)
Find ways to reduce plastic waste in your life and around food. If you’ve been using plastic less, then increase your efforts.
Meal plan. This reduces food waste and saves you money!
Compost food scraps and waste. This is approximately 20-40% of your garbage.
Keep recycling, and learn how to recycle better.
Avoid purchasing fast fashion clothing.
Plant a tree – Arbor Day is just two days away, April 24th!
Plant a garden; April is the perfect time to start one. Bonus: Mix your compost into your garden soil.
Borrow items you don’t need often or only use once – ask a friend, neighbor, or visit the library.
Buy secondhand whenever you can. Reuse is the best recycling!
Volunteer with a local organization to help with trash clean-ups, tree planting, helping the unhoused, or assisting local wildlife organizations or animal shelters. Any environmental or humanitarian effort is going to make a difference! Just pick a cause and don’t second-guess yourself.
Don’t waste water; conserve when you can. This means reducing shower time, washing clothes on full or large loads, and avoiding watering the grass. Long term, you can consider installing a rain barrel for watering the garden and/or purchasing water-conserving/ENERGY STAR appliances when the time comes to replace them.
Learn all you can from my resources and the work of many others!
One Planet
Remember, even though some dream of colonizing Mars, this is our only planet, our home, our precious and beautiful Earth.
The best thing you can do is protect what we already have.
Happy Earth Day!