Happy Earth Day!
Today we celebrate this planet we call home. Think about it. No matter our differences in beliefs, food preference, hair color, languages spoken, whatever—we all have Earth in common. Everyone we’ve ever known, everyone we’ve read about, every ancestor who came before us, every poet and teacher, every couple in love, every villain, every knight in shining armor, every painful and joyful experience, every pet cherished and lost, every youthful dream, every discouraging notion, every seed planted, every battle won and lost—all of it came from this place. Our home. Planet Earth.
And so today fellow Earthlings, I have 10 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day. Choose one or two and get your party on. These are simple, inexpensive, most are as free as the wind.
10 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day:
Walk and/or bike more. I’m lucky to live in a walkable city. My pups see to it that we walk. But I can always walk more.
Stop buying plastic water bottles. We need to do much more to end plastic trash. Humans use about 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute in total. Approximately 91% of plastic is not recycled. Ugh.
Plant native. Sometimes we make things harder than it has to be. Gardening with native plants is always easier. It would be difficult for you to live on Mars, wouldn’t it? Yeppers.
Compost. I love creating my own compost full of worms. Mud pies for adults? Sort of. And not only do I have healthier, richer soil, I find myself eating more vegetables because I love having scraps to feed my compost. Composting is giving back. Creating more earth for the Earth.
Use Reusable Grocery Bags. I don’t know why I can’t remember to take reusable grocery bags to Harp’s every single time. I promise to recommit to this simple thing.
Feed the Birds. Birds are not only entertaining to watch but they sing for their supper. The last few days our feeder has been crowded with yellow finches. They are the cutest! (Of course when I take pictures, they fly away.)
Read a book related to the environment and nature. Preferably while lying on a quilt beneath the clouds. How about Walden (Henry David Thoreau) or The Hidden Life of Trees (Peter Wohlleben) or The Lorax (Dr. Seuss) or Champion Trees of Arkansas: An Artist’s Journey (Linda Williams Palmer). P.S. I hear The Lorax has been banned at certain libraries, so definitely read that one.
Use a Clothesline. At least occasionally. Seriously, every kid should hang sheets out on the line. And sleep between them. This might possibly be the solution to a lot of problems.
Volunteer to help with a neighborhood clean-up. Or organize one yourself. At least pick up trash while you walk. And for Earth’s sake, don’t add to the litterbug problem.
Play outside. Go barefoot. Splash in rain puddles. Make a clover necklace. Climb a tree. (If you need a refresher on tree-climbing, watch THIS.) Have fun in this amazing life filled with amazing grace in this amazing place we call home.
Here in my corner of Earth, the last two days have brought lots of thunderstorms and more rain than my gauge can hold. There’s a break in the storms (knock on wood), so I’m headed out to walk the girls. We’ll be splashing in puddles for sure!
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Musical Pairing:
Amazing Grace, Mumford & Sons + Friends Bonnaroo
I am going out to hug a tree! My Heart Tree.
It is raining here today, chilly, and windy. I will hug my tree tomorrow. Lol
Lots of good information here. I loved composting! I enjoyed seeing my vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and raked leaves turn into rich soil. I gave up on plastic bottles some time ago. There really isn’t very many occasions when it is necessary to buy bottled water. Happy Earth Day to you!
We avoid the plastic bottles but haven’t taken up composting. I’ve been waiting for the yellow finches to drop by because I love them, too. Wish I could accompany you and the girls on a walk. Guess I’ll have to settle for a stroll down my street.