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As we celebrate Earth Day on Thursday, April 22nd the connection that we have to nature, plants, and the land is even more important as most of us celebrate from home. Celebrate this year by appreciating and respecting the natural world around you. The Earth Day Network (EDN), the organizing body for Earth Day worldwide, has announced that the theme of Earth Day 2021 is “Restore Our Earth.” Here are some ideas to inspire you!
1. For families quarantining together, take a morning to scour the neighborhood for discarded plastics, cans, and bottles for a personal cleanup project that will help the entire community.
Learn more at:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/article/clean-it-up
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2. Perform a household energy audit. Focus on things like electronic devices that are left on 24/7 (which accounts for 5-10% of residential energy use per year!) Turn these devices off when not in use and you can save up to $100 on your electric bill annually. Learn more at:
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-energy-audits/do-it-yourself-home-energy-audits
https://www.doityourself.com/scat/homeprep
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3. If you have a backyard, scope out a good location for a compost pile. Start composting coffee grounds, eggshells, and scraps of food to decompose and enrich your garden for the upcoming growing season.
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Learn more at:
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
4. Plant native wildflowers! Plant wildflowers in your garden for the local bees. Be sure to check what is native to your area to avoid introducing invasive species. Learn more at: https://patch.com/california/san-francisco/here-are-best-native-plants-san-francisco-gardens
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5. Bring nature into your house - Fill your home with house plants, both herbs and decorative plants to bring beauty and oxygen into your home. Add nature print pillows, drapes, or shower curtains to your décor. Learn more at:
https://pebblemag.com/magazine/living/plant-power-9-easy-ways-to-fill-your-house-with-plants
6. Shrink your “Foodprint” - A foodprint measures the environmental impacts associated with growing, producing, transporting, and storing our food — from the natural resources consumed to the pollution produced to the greenhouse gases emitted. Learn how to shrink yours and help others do the same at: https://www.earthday.org/campaign/foodprints-for-future/
7. Get kids involved! Pass down a love of nature and plants with kids. See ideas at: “6 simple kids’ planting activities from the Kids Almanac”.
Photo credit: Rawpixel; iStock.com
https://www.almanac.com/kids/6-simple-garden-projects-kids
This is just a few things you can do, but honestly whatever you choose to do, future generations will thank you.
Article compiled by Barbara Kelsey, Chapter Coordinator, Loma Prieta Chapter