Happy Earth Day! It’s been 51 years since the start of this national holiday that gives a voice to the environment. It encourages us all to take steps to help protect and conserve our planet’s natural resources.
There are a variety of ways you can celebrate Earth Day at home and outside with these eight ideas:
1. Plant a garden.
It’s the time of year to get your garden going! Get close to nature by heading outside and digging in the dirt. Even if you don’t think you can grow vegetables, plant your favorite flowers. You will enjoy them all spring and summer long.
2. Go on a hike and pick up trash.
Help to clean up your favorite trail or neighborhood sidewalks while you enjoy the outdoors. Be sure to wear gloves and reuse a disposable plastic bag. Remember to wash your hands when you get home and disinfect your gloves.
3. Use fewer chemicals in your home.
Did you know that chemicals in commercial products are not rigidly regulated in the United States? That’s why it’s important to be smart about what you are bringing into your home. Some of the chemicals used in cleaners, detergents, and air fresheners are bad for the environment. Using a diffuser with all-natural essential oils instead of air fresheners can help to eliminate air pollutants in your home. That’s why here at Airomé, we strive to bring you the purest essential oils possible. Find the perfect diffuser and essential oils for your home at airome.com.
4. Use recycle bins in your home.
Recycling at home doesn’t require much effort at all. Creating a system that works is easy. First, find out the types of materials your city can recycle and use a bin to collect these items. Place the bin in a convenient place, like next to the kitchen trash can. Then teach your family the types of things that can be placed in the recycling bin.
5. Change to reusable straws and cutlery.
Did you know that plastic absorbs pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals? Then it carries pathogens and small invasive species to new homes. It contaminates soil and water, plus, ocean animals mistake it for food. By reducing the plastic you and your family use, you will help reduce litter, protect the quality of food sources, and protect the environment.
6. Participate in citizen science.
Citizen science is voluntary participation in scientific research that offers the opportunity to collaborate with professional scientists by collecting data from the natural world. This is a great way to get involved in your local environment and contribute to a greater cause. You can document plants and wildlife using the iNaturalist app, survey monarch butterfly populations, and measure night-sky brightness. You can explore more options at citizenscience.gov.
7. Be an influencer for the earth.
If you feel passionate about a certain environmental cause, share about it on your social media channels. You can volunteer to help out and document what you are doing and why you are doing it to help spread awareness. Some of the causes you might want to learn more about are Sunrise Movement, Zero Hour, and Fridays for Future. You can also start or sign a petition for something you’d like to see changed. Go to change.org to get started.
8. Buy reusable bags.
Almost 100 billion plastic bags a year are used by Americans. It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce those bags. They take up lots of space in landfills and cause a lot of problems for wildlife. Using reusable bags while shopping can greatly reduce the amount of plastic bags being used and discarded by us. There are so many different styles and types of reusable bags. Find some that fit your style and shop til you drop!
Earth Day is such a great reminder of how beautiful our planet is and how lucky we are to have it. Spend some time outdoors today, and every day and think about what you are doing to make the earth a better place.