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!

 

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY ON APRIL 22!

“Eating Is An Environmental Act.”

—Alice Waters, Restaurateur/Environmental Activist

April 22 is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, a milestone worth celebrating!  There are lots of fun ways to participate.  You can plant a tree, sow some seeds for your garden, change a conventional light bulb to an energy-saving compact fluorescent one, pick up litter on the beach, recycle newspapers, bottles and cans, visit a zoo or aquarium or have an Earth Dinner.  The concept of Earth Dinner to celebrate Earth Day was founded by Theresa Marquez and revolves around the philosophies of supporting local, sustainable and organic foods that will help keep our planet’s land, air, water and inhabitants healthy for generations to come. 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.  If the weather is warm, try an earth day picnic.  The main idea is to serve foods that are grown locally if possible and are gentle 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.  Use real cutlery, not plastic, real plates, not paper and cloth napkins.  Seed packets make great place cards.  Eat by candlelight to save energy and wash the dishes with non-toxic detergent.  Earth dinner can be celebrated anytime – make it your new tradition!  For ideas go to earthdinner.org.