Simple ways to give back to Mother Nature on Earth Day
Simple ways to give back to Mother Nature on Earth Day
by Miranda Cain
Physician and well-known author Lewis Thomas wrote, “We owe our lives to the sun…How is it, then, that we feel no gratitude?” Earth Day, April 22nd, is fast approaching and a perfect time to give back to Mother Nature by starting a new Earth-friendly habit. You can make a big difference, even if you don’t do anything big—it’s the little things that count the most. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Inside your house:
1. Purchase a stainless steel water bottle and refill it instead of buying disposable water bottles. Even if you recycle all those plastic bottles, a reusable bottle is much more Earth-friendly—think of all the manufacturing energy, shipping of finished product, and money from your pocket that goes into each disposable bottle of water!
2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. It’s simple and easy, but difficult to remember, so put a note on the mirror as a reminder.
3. Make your toilet low-flow with a convenient and easy-to-use converter, like this one sold here at Amazon.com. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to buy a convertor to make this upgrade. Make it a DIY project—click here to learn more.
4. Time your showers and keep them under ten minutes. Wanna be a superstar? Keep your shower under five minutes.
5. Turn off lights when you leave a room, and especially when you leave your home.
6. Unplug appliances when they aren’t in use. Appliances such as a toaster, coffee maker, phone charger, laptop charger, and others shouldn’t be plugged in all the time.
7. Hang your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. We don’t need to use electricity for something that a little air and time can do.
8. Bring a bit of the outside in by keeping plotted plants in your house. The plants filter the air in your house naturally!
9. Look for green furniture. Not the color green, but the stuff made from natural, local materials. Items made to last awhile are just as green. Out-of-the-box, ready-to-assemble pieces that break easily and are regularly added to the landfill should be avoided.
10. And last, but certainly not least, RECYCLE! It’s easy and quick and it makes a huge difference in how much trash goes into your local landfill. Recycling is the easiest green thing you can do and it’s a breeze to get started.
Outside of the home:
1. Use a push lawn mower instead of an electric or gas one. Push mowers use human power instead of fuel. They are good for the environment and the human providing the power gets a little exercise as well. One bird, two stones.
2. Start composting! It’s a great way to get rid of fruit, vegetable and yard scraps and fertilize your garden! Not sure how and where to start your compost, then click here for details on where to begin.
3. Speaking of gardens—create one and grow veggies that you use frequently—think tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers. Don’t have a green thumb? No worries, there’s help out there. If you’re just starting out then this is for you. If you have experience and just need help keeping your garden green, then read this.
4. Use rain barrels to collect rain, and then conserve water by using your collected rain to water the garden and lawn.
5. Keep the landscape around your house natural to your location’s environment. For example: Don’t plant grass in the desert—you will waste a lot of water trying to keep the grass alive.
6. Eat locally grown food. Not only do fruits and veggies from the farmer’s market taste better than those from the supermarket, but they are also more fresh and their carbon footprint is much smaller.
7. Forgo the car and walk or bike whenever possible. Traveling under your own power will reduce your carbon footprint and boost your health and fitness!
8. Stop using outdoor cleaning supplies and chemical fertilizers. Go natural! Use a little bit more elbow grease on your grill and use manure to keep your lawn happy.
9. Look into putting solar panels on your roof. Depending on your location and house size, they could be a great investment to help lower your energy bill. Learn more about solar energy here.
10. Take a hint from the Dr. Seuss classic, The Lorax, and plant a new tree in your yard. Why? Trees provide great shade in the summer that can help reduce your home’s cooling costs. Trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, cleaning the atmosphere. And what neighborhood couldn’t stand a little more green?
Simple ways to give back to Mother Nature on Earth Day