Each year on April 22, people from across the world come together to celebrate Earth Day and voice their support for a healthy, sustainable, and habitable future for our people and the planet.
Climate Action
The stakes aren’t hypothetical anymore. We can see the devastation caused by climate change around the world, and this year we can all take our own actions to celebrate the endless potential in a zero-carbon future!
The goal of the Earth Day is to “build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and planet.” (Earth Day Network) Historically Earth Day, has done that through effectively empowering individuals with the info, the tools, the messaging and the communities needed to make an impact and drive change.
Earth Day is a symbol of unity. Everyone has the aligned goal of preserving our environment, and with everyone’s participation, we can achieve that goal.
One way to participate in the environmental celebrations on April 22nd is to engage in activities that will help you get to know the ecosystems you live in and allow you to contribute to the health of your surrounding environment. So… Get Outside!
16 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
From Grow Ensemble
1. Make a Bird Feeder for Your Yard
Depending on how handy you are or how crafty you want to get, there is a range of options in terms of design and setup that will all open up your yard to more frequent visits from the birds in your area.
2. Build Your Garden
If starting a garden has been on your to-do list for years. Whether you are looking for an activity to fill the entire day or just an afternoon, this is your chance to start developing that green thumb.
No matter what kind of garden you want to start, the gardening community provides support every step of the way from assembling a planter, to starting your garden, to keeping your garden healthy.
If starting a full garden is a little beyond your interest right now, consider adding life to your existing yard. Step one, plant a tree! Planting trees in your community will benefit the whole neighborhood since trees are so important. Plus, a tree is a great permanent keepsake, representing your presence in your community as it grows bigger and bigger (that’s why we like to give trees as housewarming gifts!).
3. Show Your Plants Some Love and Maybe Share with Friends!
The best thing about terracotta pots? They look great in any room pretty much no matter what. Celebrate this Earth Day by decorating pots with your family—it’s the pumpkin carving of environmental celebrations.
If your plant game is really strong and you have room to be generous, consider sharing some of that plant love with your family and friends. Decorate pots as a gift and promulgate plants thriving in your home.
4. Start Composting
Yet another to-do list staple. The benefits of composting are endless. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, you’ll also be reducing your spending. If you are able to compost a lot of your food waste, that’s less in your garbage, and that means, you can look into reducing the size of your garbage can that’s collected each week (saving you money!). It also means you’ll be able to produce your own healthy nutritious soil from food scraps without having to spend big bucks on the fancy dirt!
And we have good news: getting started with composting is not as complicated as you have been telling yourself it is. In the Earth Day spirit, get yourself, your household, or your relatives in the composting scene. You can get started with something as simple as a compost pile on your lawn with some food scraps!
Kick Plastic to the Curb
5. Invest in a Reusable Water Bottle
Eliminate plastic pollution from our homes, streets, and ultimately, our oceans. Reducing plastic is one of the biggest individual challenges, but its impact is huge! Join the global effort to eliminate single-use plastic and save our oceans by banning plastic water bottles from your house for Earth Day’s sake!
Steel water bottles are better for the planet, and they have the power of maintaining the temperature of their contents—a power not shared by their evil sibling the plastic water bottle.
6. Make the Transition to Reusable Grocery Bags
We are all familiar with the image of plastic products layering a shoreline or tragically filling the stomachs of our natural wildlife. At a time when we have been forced to be extremely intentional with our trips to the grocery store, it’s a great time to put the Kibosh on plastic bags since plastic pollution affects humans, our health, and the planet.
Get a few reusable grocery bags ( set from the Sierra Club ) Having some, means you are never short when making big restocking trips, and there’s enough to keep some in the car at all times so you never show up unprepared. If you opt for a canvas tote, you can turn this into an Earth Day craft activity as you decorate your new favorite grocery store accessory!
7. Stop Buying Plastic Ziplocks
Ziplocks are a kitchen sidekick on the way out! This Earth Day, opt-out of single-use plastic storage (or at least reduce what you’re using). Think of what you will do with all the money you don’t spend on a box of plastic baggies and the time you won’t spend making a grocery store run to get them!
Introduce your home to a sustainable storage options ( Stasher ). All the use of your average bag except healthier for the environment. Pick your color and enjoy your Earth day contribution every time you use them.
8. Volunteer or Donate to a Local Environmental Organization
Even with social distancing in action, some local environmental organizations have been able to continue operating and educating online!
Check for any virtual events going on and show support for your local earth-lovers. If events have been postponed, consider donating.
Reduce Waste Around the House
9. Commit to Water Use Reduction
First, like you already know, don’t forget to turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth and between washing dishes. Maybe this Earth Day you decide to take that effort to the next level.
About two-thirds of the average family’s water usage comes from the shower and the toilet. We aren’t saying you should stop using the toilet or stop showering…reduction is up to you and your family on that. But, for a low-risk, potentially high-impact change, get a shower timer. Something as simple as a timer to prevent you from losing track of time can make all the difference in the world.
10. Go Solar or Light Your Home with Eco-Friendly Bulbs
If you have the resources to get a solar system set up, now’s your chance! Check with your utility company to learn about options in your area.
But if not, what happens if you just choose to use more energy-efficient light bulbs? Well, you reduce the amount of energy consumption, you save money, and you reduce waste. Energy-efficient light bulbs use less energy (meaning they have less environmental impact) and they last longer (meaning fewer light bulbs to buy and fewer in landfills).
This change can make a big difference for the environment without disrupting your life. LED lights are also a great alternative! Check out these other tips to save energy at home this Earth Day (and beyond!). Consider getting an home energy assessment from your local utilities - electric company.
11. Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
Calculating your carbon footprint is a great way to have a baseline understanding of how many resources you actually use. Carbon emissions are tricky beasts, but every action to reduce them counts! Carbonbase has an awesome platform to get you started. Simply put in some data about your current living situation and planet-saving ways, and they’ll help you offset the rest.
12. Make the Most of Your Recycle Bin
You know that second trash can in the kitchen? Give it some love!
What does it mean to really maximize the use of that recycling bin though? Well, it means getting familiar with, and helping everyone in your home understand, what is actually recyclable. Maybe you just need a quick refresher.
Or, maybe it’s time to make an on the spot cheat sheet visible when someone goes to throw trash away—sounds like a good Earth Day art project to us!
13. Get Rid of Junk Mail
Have you ever even considered it? Why would you!? A quick dump into the recycling bin or trash can has become an almost reflexive pit stop between your mailbox and your counter for most people.
But, what if you took the time to ask those companies to stop sending you mail at all. Reach out and unsubscribe in real life! It’s a tedious task, but well worth it for the environment and your sanity.
Get Intentional with Your Routine
14. Get Familiar with Your Local Farmers’ Market
Check out your local farmers’ markets and see what you can cross off your routine grocery store list for a farmers’ market replacement. Some of our favorites: produce, yogurts, spices, cheese, meats, kombucha, coffees, and dog treats.
15. Go Vegan?
Our high level of consumption of meats and dairy products is contributing to global warming. We don’t have to bail on all meat and cheese, but if there is a vegan alternative that you like, why not enjoy the substitute?
Have a vegan taste test. Lay out a platter some vegan alternatives and have a group (in your home or virtually) put your food critic skills to work. Best case, you’re able to support sustainable food efforts; worst case, everyone gets to laugh at your “ew I don’t like it” face.
Decide to have a few ‘meatless’ meals during the week!
16. Avoid Reaching for the Car Keys
Fossil fuels are among the usual suspects for environmental damage. And Earth day is all about fighting against that harm. When you decide to venture out the door, take a second before you reach for your keys.
Plan beforehand for carpooling or consider a more leisurely mode of transportation like biking or walking. A 30-minute bike or walk is no more unreasonable than a 30-minute car ride. Maybe it’s time to start hanging up the car keys a little further from the door?
Plan your errands and designate a day in the week for a collection of errands and plan your route!
Join the Celebration of Earth Day
There is so much work to be done, and that’s exactly why it’s so important to celebrate the wins we’ve already had, commemorate the day, and energize each other for the next steps we will all be taking together. Together let’s ‘Restore Our Common Home’.
Learn More!
Catholic Climate Covenant
Take the St. Francis Pledge
Pope Francis on ‘Care for our Common Home’
Read Pope Francis, Laudato Si,
‘The Gaze of Jesus’
Earth Mama
‘Canticle of Creation’
Marty Haugen
‘Canticle of the Sun’
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