Ten Simple Ways To Go Green This Earth Day
You don’t have to write the new Silent Spring or compete with Elon Musk to affect our environment in positive ways. Indeed, sometimes the smallest decisions make the most significant impact on good old Gaia. In this post, we’ll explain ten easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint without lifting a finger.
Develop Your Green Thumb With Basic Gardening
Earth Day is always a fantastic opportunity to get into gardening. Even if you’re new to gardening, there are plenty of plants out there that require minimal effort. As a bonus, you could eat many of these tasty greens.
For example, consider planting hardy herbs like basil, mint, or parsley in front of your home. Another simple plant to start with is green onions. You’ll be amazed how fast green onion stems shoot up after a few days in jars of water.
If you’re extra ambitious, consider planting a tree on your property. Not only will trees shelter you from the sun, but they could significantly increase your home’s value. Recent statistics suggest one healthy tree could add between $1,000 – $10,000 to your home’s value.
Bike, Hike, Or Camp In A National Park
Spring is the perfect season for exploring stunning scenery in America’s many natural parks. Whether you’re into hiking, biking, or camping under the stars, you should find a park nearby that offers a plethora of outdoor activities.
Be sure to look up any special events planned at nearby parks in honor of Earth Day. For more detailed info on camping in the USA, be sure to visit this page on the National Park Service’s website.
Saving Green & Saving Green: Check For Common Plumbing Problems
Here’s a scary statistic: most American households waste 90 gallons of water per day due to plumbing leaks. That translates to roughly 10,000 wasted gallons of water per household per year. So, to stay “in the green,” please inspect all of your pipes this Earth Day.
It’s also a good idea to perform the “food color test” to check for common leaks in your toilet. First, grab a bottle of food coloring from the pantry. Next, take off the cover on your toilet’s flapper and put in a few drops of food coloring. Wait at least 30 seconds and take a look in your toilet bowl. If you notice any color entering the bowl, then you should get in touch with a plumber.
For The Love Of Pete, Ditch The Plastic!
While we’re on the subject of leaky water, we might recommend ditching those plastic water bottles. Yes, Dasani bottles are so convenient, but they are making environmentalists dizzy.
It’s now estimated Americans buy about 50 billion water bottles every year, but only about 20 percent are recycled. By switching to a reusable water bottle, you could save over 150 plastic bottles from oceans every year.
Feel The Power Of Participatory Democracy – Protest What You’re Passionate About
The main point behind Earth Day in the 1970s was to increase public engagement around environmental issues. There’s no better way to honor this legacy than by emailing local legislators with your top ecological concerns.
Look up any current legislative issues at the state and national level that you feel passionate about. Perhaps there’s a petition or protest in your state over an environmental issue.
However you feel comfortable expressing yourself, be sure to take part in Earth Day’s participatory spirit.
Shop For Seasonal Goodies At A Farmer’s Market
One beautiful trend throughout the USA has been the growth in local Farmer’s Markets. Not only are these markets fantastic ways to support local farmers, they’re also great for foodies who crave in-season fruits and veggies.
If you’re looking for info on your local farmer’s market, it’s worth checking this page by the USDA.
Save Trees – Pay Bills In The Cloud
We all have to pay bills, but that doesn’t mean we all have to contribute to deforestation. If you still receive your financial statements in paper format, consider swapping to e-bills this Earth Day. Most companies nowadays offer convenient online payment options.
Although it might not seem like much, consider how many reams of paper you’re saving each year by going digital!
Give Meatless Meatballs A Try
Don’t worry; we’re not trying to make you a vegan. We’re only suggesting you consider adding a few vegetarian days to your weekly routine, especially on occasions like Earth Day. By going veggie for a few days, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint—and your waistline!
Amazingly, many carnivores have already successfully experimented with “Meatless Mondays.” No matter how much you love your steak & potatoes, we’re sure you’d enjoy changing up your routine with a “cauliflower steak” (at least once in a while).
For more info on the Meatless Monday campaign, be sure to click this link.
Spit Out Your Gum…For Good
Sorry to spoil your minty mastication, but chewing gum is a sticky subject for environmentalists. Get this: about 100,000 tons of chewing gum are thrown away each year. As you could imagine, this puts a severe crimp in Gaia’s hair. So, on this Earth Day, consider going “gum free.”
There are plenty of more eco-friendly ways to satisfy your chewing habit. For instance, many former gum chewers switch to organic licorice root. Alternatively, you could eat healthful nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds or walnuts.
Of course, if you ever notice your breath getting sour, it won’t kill you to brush your teeth in the middle of the day!
Connect With Eco-Friendly Friends
Ever since 1970, Earth Day has stressed the importance of community engagement. Now that we all have the power of the Internet, it has never been easier to connect with people who share your environmental ambitions.
We suggest taking a few minutes to search all of the conservation organizations and events in your area. We bet you’ll feel a big boost of serotonin after helping eco-conscious volunteers clean up your community.
A great place to begin your search for environmentalist groups is on the Earth Day Network’s official website.