Celebrating Earth Day

Each year celebrating Earth Day seems to gather a bit more momentum. Frankly, I'd like to see every day declared Earth Day but hey, you take what you can get.

The unfortunate aspect of declaring one day a special day for honoring the earth is that people get all excited about it and then they forget. What if we made a few small changes throughout the year that added up to big changes? Now that would be something to celebrate!

I have been thinking about easy and quick changes we could make. Some may be more challenging than others for some people but it should give us all something to think about...

1. Use detergents and soaps that are non-toxic and don't add to the nitrogen loading that is so common today. Stop using bleach. Really. You will live without it. Longer, too.

2. Compost and recycle. I always assume everyone does this but actually, many people are not on board yet so make this the year...

3. Give up plastic bags, including baggies. Our grandmothers didn't have plastic bags. They used all sorts of containers that were reusable. What about freezer bags? They didn't have those either, just used freezer paper. And, they used frozen food very quickly.

4. Give up the power leaf blowers and weed trimmers. Really. It will be more peaceful, you'll save money on gas and oil, you won't be polluting the neighborhood and you'll get more exercise. Win win all the way around.

5. Plan all your errands for the same outing or at least plan to do things that are in the same area on the same day. Save gas and time, too.

6. Walk or bike to work one day a week if you can. Look into carpooling or public transportation if you can't.

7. Be conscious of your water usage. Shorter showers, turn off water while brushing teeth, washing a few dishes in the sink rather than load the dishwasher, etc. Consider using a rain barrel to collect water to use in the garden and on the lawn.

8. Use organic garden and lawn products. You'll be healthier and so will the water supply.

9. Give up the paper plates and cups, plastic utensils and those throw away plastic tablecloths. Use washable, reusable items instead. You can do it....;-)

10. Don't throw your old prescriptions down the toilet. In fact, don't dump anything into the sink or into the ground that you don't want to drink....it all seeps into the groundwater which ends up in our glasses, on our bodies and in our cooking....

Even if we all just do one of these things....the earth will thank you!