Happy Earth Day!!!

Today is Earth Day!  It was started in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to bring about environmental awareness and teach the necessity of protecting the environment. I celebrated this week by wearing a different t-shirt to work each day with an eco-friendly theme, such as: "Hug a tree", "Give a hoot, don't pollute", "My white T is green" (made of organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes), "I'm too hot" (with a picture of the Earth, i.e. global warming), and "Global warming is not cool".  My co-workers know I am "green" and they were excited to see what the message on my t-shirt would be each day.  I like to try and help people be green in a way that is easy for them--if it's too hard or too crazy, they won't do it, right?  One of my co-workers used to use paper plates because she lived alone and didn't go through enough dishes to fill her dishwasher.  I told her I hand wash a lot of our dishes and it really doesn't take that long, so for one person after each meal it should be a cinch!  She used actual ceramic plates and then reported back that she was surprised, it really didn't take that long after all.  And voila, she was converted!  It really isn't hard for each of us to change a few things to be more environmentally friendly. Here are some tips:

1) Recycle!  It's so easy now, many cities and more rural locations have recycling options. You can make it a family-friendly tradition and get the kids involved.  Make it a guessing game, is this recyclable? Have them be the sorters!  What do you think this is re-used to make?  Recycling saves a lot of stuff that would otherwise be considered garbage and sit in a landfill unnecessarily. It's worth it, so why not?

2) Use cloth napkins at home.  Instead of paper towels or paper napkins at dinner, why not have some cloth napkins on hand?  Each member of the family can have a designated napkin, and then it gets washed with the laundry when it's dirty just like bath towels and wash cloths.  Cloth napkins don't have to be fancy, and you can even make your own!

3)  Instead of paper or plastic bags at the grocery store, bring your own canvas or cloth bag.  We keep ours in the trunk of the car, that way we don't have to remember to put them in the car on the way to the grocery store.  I also keep one rolled up in my purse for those times you didn't think you would need a bag.  I use a canvas bag to bring my lunch to work each day, and if I pick up some groceries or stop at the drug store on the way home, I just put my purchases in there instead of getting a plastic bag. 

4) Here's one thing I feel a little guilty about--I love magazines!  I have a few magazine subscriptions, and instead of recycling them after I'm done with them, Chels and I bring them to work for the lobby or break room for others to enjoy, too (don't worry, they will get recycled eventually!).  You could also see if there is a local art group or non-profit that may collect them to use for collages.

5) Stop your junk mail.  Many cities have websites where you can get taken off junk mail lists.  This also goes for phone books.  If you don't use phone books anymore, get your name taken off the list to ensure it doesn't go to waste.  You can Google "junk mail removal list" to get started.

6) Unplug appliances you don't use every day.  We don't keep the toaster or coffee grinder plugged in on the counter top, we just plug it in when we go to use it each time.  It may sound annoying, but it takes just an extra second or two and saves energy (and might save you money on your bill, too!).

7) Shop local.  Does your city have a farmer's market?  If so, check it out!  You'll feel good knowing your are supporting your local farmers and that the food you are getting is fresh and didn't take a lot of energy travelling to get to you.  I'm not saying you have to buy all your produce at a farmer's market, but why not supplement your regular grocery trips during farmer's market season and support your local economy!

8) Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.  CFL bulbs save energy and last longer than regular incandescent bulbs.  Also, they have come a long way since they were first introduced--I wasn't a huge fan of the initial blue-ish, street light glow they gave off.  But now you can get "soft light" versions that look just like incandescents.  They may cost a little more up front, but they save energy and last longer, so you really will be saving in the long run! 

9) Compost.  Okay, I know not every one has compost options in their city.  But if your city does, why not participate?  Chels and I have so much more recycling and compost than garbage each week, and it's nice to know we won't be clogging landfills with stuff unnecessarily that can be re-used.  If your city doesn't have compost options, speak with your waste management company or write a letter to city council to see if you can get people talking about it.  If you have a garden, you could start to compost and use it for fertilizer later.  You may need to get a worm bin to work through the compost before it's ready for fertilizer, and I understand that's not an option for everyone (Chels and I do not have a worm bin under our bed, contrary to popular belief from our MN relatives!). 

10) Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water.  We're lucky in this country to have good tap water, thanks to federal regulations, so there should be no reason to have to buy bottled water.  If you tap water isn't tasty, consider getting a filter for your tap, or a water pitcher with a filter for the refrigerator.  Using reusable water bottles saves a lot of plastic waste that comes from bottled water.  Also, think of the savings!   


If each one of us chooses one thing on the list and makes a change, think of the great impact that will have on the environment!  I think it's good to be aware of, and it's not "too hard" to try and be a little greener than we are now. We will enjoy the benefits when we still have fresh air to breath when we're old, and when our kids and grandkids can get outside and enjoy nature that we helped to preserve. Give it a try, and happy Earth Day!