17 Things to Do for Earth Day at Home

Earth Day 2020 is April 22^nd. Oddly enough, many of the actions to prevent the spread of COVID19 are steps related to traditional celebratory Earth Day activities. Perhaps we have not thought how some of our self-distancing and stay-at-home activities are actually activities that help the environment and are things to do for Earth Day at home.

As much as big impacts are well, big impacts, even small baby steps help the environment. The small actions of many people can make a difference. Whether is reducing, recycling, or repurposing because we can’t go to the grocery store or enjoy some retail therapy, all these little steps can make a big footprint.

There are many ideas available on the Earth Day website. I’m including a few of my favorites that are also close to my heart and own interests. Some are coincidental discoveries. For example, transforming to a plant-based lifestyle introduces you, just by the concept of eating plants, to ideas of sustainable agriculture. Most ideas are generally free. A few require a one-time purchase to move towards a reusable and sustainable action step.

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint – Gather some household data and take 30 minutes to determine your impact on the environment. This activity may not be as fun and heart-warming as building a native bee hive, but it will definitely help you relate to conversations about the carbon footprints and each of us can be help.
Big Turn Off – Do you have electric energy vampires in your house? The tide has turned a bit on whether any plugged-in devices consume energy but there are still some heavy hitters including DVD players, MP3 players and digital devices. Walk around the house and count the number of devices, appliances, lights, etc. that are running 24/7 or almost non-stop. Rate each appliance as mandatory 24/7, nice to have, or unnecessary. Take pause to determine what is necessary to keep on, those you forget about and need help managing with smart plugs, and what devices can be managed with home timing devices such as Nest, Alexa or similar.
Energy Efficiency Assessment – You may not be able to have the assessor come to your house now, but now is good time to get in cue for an energy audit if possible. Assessments are free by most energy companies and sometimes, there is a rebate to upgrade appliances or windows.
Take a walk – with a mask on! Start with something easy. A walk or hike. But make it intentional! Take inventory or make a game of spotting things that are natural, sustainable, or are environmentally friendly in nature. I spy a Fort Collins trash can or recycle bin. I spy a bird feeder. I spy a low-water garden. I spy a family of geese. I spy a rain chain. Intentionally look for things in your neighborhood or walking trail that contribute to sustainability. Hopefully you will be surprised! In addition, wear gloves and pick up one piece of trash. According to Can’d Aid, there a 280 million people at home right now. If we walk and pick one piece of trash, we can make a huge difference!
Try a plant-based for a day – Just for a day, avoid meat and dairy. Animal agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation of land to grow grain for cattle. Eat beans or legumes, a grain, salad, spinach smoothie, and more. You may find the choices are endless and your plate is wonderfully colorful!
Make a bird-friendly habitat in your yard. Start with a small space and build. We all have that one patch that is too sunny or too shady. The sprinkler doesn’t quite reach or it is some weird shape making it difficult to cultivate what we think should go in the space. Maybe it’s time to plant something for the birds and has visual appeal. Many helpful websites are available including the Audubon Rockies Audubon Habitat Hero program. Not only are the programs for bird friendly gardening, they are usually pollinator friendly and help with water conservation.
Make your own facial products. Take a stab at making your own facial products from your kitchen produce. My personal favorite is grapefruit avocado skin cleanser. The newest discovery is a banana peel mask for dark spots. Banana peels have high levels of antioxidants and potassium which can also help heal scars. They also help in lightening the skin tone and can be used to get rid of dark circles around the eyes. So instead of tossing that peel, rub the inside of the peel on your face, wait 10 minutes and rinse.
Plant something. Your plant could be in a pot, in the yard, or even something from grocery refuse. Watching something grow and keeping it alive not only represents the goodness of the earth, but can also give us a sense of purpose. Last spring, My 90-year-old mother in law cut up a regular grocery potato, planted it in a patio pot and harvested potatoes in late fall. She was delighted it rooted, sprouted, vined, and ultimately gave her a small harvest.
Buy a bag for life (mesh grocery bags) – I absolutely love these produce bags and I hope you do too! An impulse buy last year on Facebook turned into one of my most treasured sustainable products. They take a little getting used to using, but once you get the hang of it, voila! No more film bags to recycle! Even the checkout assistants get used to opening the bag and scanning the bar code. At times, I do help them out, but all in all, the mesh grocery bags are amazing! And washable and reusable!
Take the Pledge to show your commitment to a sustainable lifestyle – Check your area for programs and outreach related to a sustainable lifestyle. There may be non-profit near you to help you understand your carbon footprint, use alternative transportation, reduce energy usage, reduce waste and conserve water. When we are home and not as mobile, it is a great to stop, learn, and make decisions on what we can do within our own homes.
Switch to paper straws – or no straws at all. Help the environment and reduce the signs of aging– a.k.a. wrinkles. Drinking from straws has shown to increase wrinkles around your mouth.
Make a meal from leftovers or less-than-perfect veggies. Americans waste around 40% of fresh food or roughly 220 lbs of food products per person per year. Try this easy Roasted Tri-Color Pepper recipe!
Go plastic container free. The DROPPS website says it all. Eco-responsible packaging, unnecessary fillers, and free carbon-neutral fillers. What’s not to love? In addition, consider refilling options for cleaner products that are becoming more readily available as new businesses, such as TheWastelessShop, TheRefillShop, or traditional co-op markets.
Plant a tree – somewhere. If not in your back yard, there are various programs and organizations that offer opportunities to plant and tree, donate, and/or support reforestation. NationalForests, OneTreePlanted, and ArborDay, are but just a few. The US. Forest Service has other options for donating to reforestation and helping in other ways.
Support the Bees. Buy local honey. Visit a local apiary or farmers market and support your local beekeepers’ efforts to pollinate your world. Much of the honey supplied in mass scale is not of the best quality or is possibly tainted. Yes, you will pay more but you will get much better taste and overall quality. And during this social distancing time, consider porch pick up, use Facebook marketplace or the new virtual farmers markets that are popping up in many areas.
Ride your bike. In most cities, bike riding is still permitted as long as the six-foot distance rule is applied. Masks may also be required. Check your COVID19 regulations in your area. Take 30 minutes and enjoy the fresh air. Intentionally look for something natural and in nature – a bird, a rabbit, new growth, an interesting cloud formation, the sound of a waterfall. If you are north, you may also experience an April snow, the sparkle of the drifts, and crocuses peaking out from the snow.
Write the world a chalk message. This activity has become popular in suburban areas on sidewalks. Neighbors leave chalk and passersby write encouraging messages to get through the self-distancing time. Send a message of love and support.