Earth Day 2013

   April 22 is the 43^rd annual Earth Day.  According to earthday.org, more than one billion people take part in Earth Day – individuals, communities, organizations and governments from around the world.  This year, earthday.org is collecting and displaying images of people, animals and places directly affected by climate change as well as those helping to do something about it.

I hope you will participate too!  There are lots of easy and meaningful things you can do.  You can:

• It’s spring – plant a tree
• Sow some seeds for your garden
• Visit a local farm
• Change a conventional light bulb to an energy-saving compact fluorescent or LED one
• Pick up litter on the beach
• Take part in a trash pick-up
• Use a travel mug rather than a paper cup for your coffee-to-go
• Drink from a reusable water bottle rather than a plastic one
• Recycle newspapers, bottles and cans
• Start a compost bin in your backyard for kitchen waste
• Make a commitment to drive less and carpool or walk more
• Take public transportation
• Shorten your shower by one minute
• Shut down your computer for one hour
• Attend an Earth Day event in your area or volunteer
• Include your kids and grandkids and teach them about the importance of protecting our beautiful earth

End the day with an Earth Day Dinner Celebration with foods that are grown locally if possible and are gentler to the earth – organic vegetables and fruits, grass-fed, grass finished beef, free-range chicken or sustainably harvested fish and raise awareness about the origins of our food at the same time. You could host a potluck dinner with regional specialties, plan an earth dinner fundraiser for your favorite local organization, and have an earth day party for kids or a simple supper with your family or friends.  If the weather is warm, try an earth day picnic.  Use real cutlery, not plastic, real plates, not paper and cloth napkins.  Seed packets make great place cards.  For a more festive dinner, eat by candlelight and save energy;  wash the dishes with non-toxic detergent.

Check your local newspaper or go online for Earth Day events in your town.  Make Earth Day and Earth Dinner celebrations your new tradition.  Never forget that simple steps really do make a difference!

 

Earth Month Quote

The Earth seen from Apollo 17. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The earth is what we all have in common.

Wendell Berry – novelist, poet, farmer and social activist

Whatever your race, religion, nationality, background, political affiliation or sexual orientation, we all inhabit the same earth and we must all take care of it. It’s simple really – what’s good for the earth is good for you and what’s good for you is good for the earth.

April is Earth Month and April 22 is Earth Day – think about the green things you do everyday and add one more.  Read through my blog for ideas:

CATEGORIES

• Everyday Tips
• Garden Tips
• Green Tip Quotes
• Health Tips
• Holidays
• Household Tips
• Kitchen Tips
• Make It At Home
• Pets

Simple steps make a difference………….

POSITIVE GREEN CHANGES WE HAVE MADE

It’s easy to feel doom and gloom about the future of the earth.  But, as Earth Day approaches on April 22, we should be proud of the changes we have adopted and the progress we have made.

Image by ax2groin Flickr.com

One of the biggest changes is that people are aware and talking about the state of the environment – the harmful effects of toxic chemicals, the price of cheap, the declining wildlife and rising sea levels, the state of the oceans, air and water pollution, carbon emissions, climate change and alternative energy.  Awareness is a huge first step and one that propels action.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” has become the norm.  Depending on the area of the country, most people recycle at least their newspapers and often plastic, glass, metal and more.  Many communities even take garbage for composting.  It is not uncommon to see recycling bins in towns along main commercial streets and in malls.  Restaurants recycle bottles and more and more use biocompostable take out containers.

Organic food abounds.  According to the Organic Trade Association’s 2010 Organic Industry Survey, U.S. sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $24.8 billion in 2009.  The Organic Monitor estimates global organic sales reached $50.9 billion in 2008, double the $25 billion recorded in 2003.  Farmer’s markets as a source of healthy, fresh, local food and a place for community are catching on.

Finding personal care products and cosmetics without unnecessary additives and toxic chemicals is also easier.  The same goes for non-toxic household cleaners.  Environmentally friendly dry cleaners and organic lawn care companies now exist.

Alternative health care – acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, chiropractics – and emphasis on disease prevention with food and exercise are much more mainstream (though unfortunately not usually covered by insurance). You can now find homeopathic cold and flu remedies even at CVS!

Awareness about saving energy and fuel has risen and more people are making a concerted effort to drive less, carpool more, use public transportation, switch to CFL light bulbs, watch out for vampire energy, etc., all of which lessen our carbon emissions and help with climate change.

These changes benefit the air, the water, the soil and our health.  It’s easier to lead a greener lifestyle today; in fact, it’s almost a fad.  But we still have a long way to go.  On Earth Day, add one more change to your lifestyle that benefits the earth – simple steps really do make a difference.

Some information compiled from the Organic Trade Association, http://www.ota.com.