Five Things to Do For Earth Day

April is Earth Month and Earth Day is a day of action to test a change of behavior, commit, learn, and create global, national, and local policy changes. For this year in particular, perhaps the earth is a bit closer as we have called on Nature to carry us through this last year. Perhaps you enjoyed a walk, relaxed in the woods, observed a butterfly, or for here in Colorado, watched the terror of a forest fire beyond the horizon, the smoke curling across the prairie in mounding patches of gray, brown, and black. Then, blankets of snow calm the fiery world. Last year tested humanity in a way that has not been tested in a while. Each and every one of us was privy to stretching our capabilities of what must be to experience April 2021 and beyond.

Every year there are themes for the day’s festivities and ceremonies. 2021’s theme was “Restore our Earth™.” 2023’s theme is “Invest in our Planet.” So, what can we do for Earth Day? How can we speak up for the environment that cared for us so deeply last year when we needed it most?

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Reduce Plastic Use – I absolutely love Dropps for the dishwasher and clothes washing. Dropps offers small, water-soluble packages of non-scented detergent conveniently sent to you in recyclable boxes. I was skeptical at first, but the product cleans as well as other scented and highly packaged products on the market, plus, the sectioned cardboard box the drops come in can be used for organizing things like socks or undergarments, or you can just recycle away. There are multiple options for even tubeless toothpaste including Bite Zero Waste, Unpaste, and DentTabs. Of course, there is still some waste, but your waste footprint is much smaller. My next best find is standing, reusable freezer bags. I know. It sounds counterintuitive. Butt these reusables replace many, many plastic zip lock bags, plus they stand up, reduce storage space and do not inflate in higher elevations (a very important factor when you are at > 5000 feet).
Support Pollinators – I am a beekeeper and I love my honeybees but native bees are the power girls of pollination. The vast majority of food pollination occurs with native bees but the native bee environment has been affected by developments, lawns, pesticides, and lack of foraging. What can you do? Grow pollinator-friendly flowers in your garden or even in pots, or go big, reduce your lawn footprint and water usage and increase your resident pollinator family by creating an Audubon Habitat Hero or show your support with a Pollinator-Friendly garden sign.
Reduce Food Waste – The biggest thing you can do to reduce food waste is to eat or freeze leftovers. Over 30% of our food goes to waste and into landfills. Second, use up food scraps. Freeze scraps to make your own yummy broth.
Intentionally Reduce Meat Consumption – not eliminate, just reduce. Any type of livestock production is water and land-intensive. In addition, livestock emits almost 64% of total ammonia emissions and contributes 35–40% of methane emissions. Reducing the consumption of meat can be as easy as reducing a serving of meat from eight ounces to four, eating meatless once a week, or even once a day, and eating more plants. Any meat you are eating less of now is a reduction and is helpful.
Plant a Tree – in your yard, in your community, or somewhere useful around the world. Trees absorb and store greenhouse gases, boost our mental health, (think forest bathing), remove air pollution, create migratory pathways for birds and other species, filter water, and cool the air.