A Dozen Ways to Love Mother Earth All Year Long

Loving Mother Earth is easy to talk about, but more difficult to do. I think most people, and that includes us, want to reduce pollution, insure clean water, reuse, re-purpose and recycle, use less energy, etc. … all the key components of making Earth a better place for us and our progeny to live. We want to do it until… well, until it’s inconvenient or it costs more or it interferes with our plans. Then we kind of conveniently forget all about it.

So as another Earth Day rolls around, I thought I’d reflect on maybe trying a little bit harder in the future. The Old Farmer’s Almanac gave me some ideas…

“The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues concerning toxic drinking water, air pollution, and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans—10% of the population—ventured outdoors and protested together.

President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which followed with successful laws including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

Earth Day was meant to increase awareness of environmental problems, but it is also becoming a popular time for many communities to gather together to clean up litter, plant trees, or simply reflect on the beauty of nature.”

Because we’ve gotta start somewhere and starting small is better than not starting at all, here are a few activities that might work for us and perhaps, for you, too.

1. Support pollinators in your garden by selecting plants specific to your area that attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Go native with wildflowers and indigenous species. They’re not only beautiful but also attract native and beneficial insects that improve both pest control and pollination. Native flowers and plants have adapted to the local environment. In the desert, for instance, they require less water and are heat-tolerant.

2. Participate in or organize a community clean-up in your neighborhood or local park. Not into socializing? Just walk around with a trash bag and clean up as you go.

3. Swap out your kitchen and household products and use biodegradable products and non-toxic cleaning products. Simple Green comes to mind. Choose recycled and/or recyclable packaging or select reusable products rather than disposables.

4. Recycle used clothes, electronics, and household items. Rather than throwing out clothing or household items that you no longer need or want, consider donating them to a charity or thrift shop. Some clothes too beat up for donating? Turn them into reusable rags for cleaning. Walmart and other stores have bins for recycling plastic bags. Home Depot and Lowes will recycle light bulbs and batteries for you. Many communities offer free days for electronics recycling and if your electronics still work, thrift shops might accept them.

5. Walk, run, bicycle, or bus it whenever you can. Use your feet for transportation once in a while or maybe ride your bike. Great not only for your body and spirit but for the environment, too. Using public transit is a cost-effective to travel, too. It’s healthy, saves money, wear-and-tear on your vehicle, and helps Mother Earth in the bargain.

6. Go thrifting instead of ordering something new online or in-store. When you need/want new clothes, accessories, household items, or just some retail therapy, consider going to a thrift shop instead of buying new. Go on a scavenger hunt at local thrift shops to find what you need. Take a look at Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or other outlets for selling or for buying items you want or need.

7. Planting one oak tree brings in more insect and bird species than an entire yard of plants, not to mention beauty, shade, and carbon dioxide consumption. With that in mind, oak trees in this area require lots of water, so, while planting a tree is great, choose species suited to your climate. Consult your local nursery for the best choices.

8. Reduce paper waste and junk mail by unsubscribing to catalog senders and downloading their digital versions. Request digital bills from vendors and service providers. Opt for digital magazines and books. Take advantage of your local library offerings.

9. Conserve energy at home by turning off lights and electronics when you’re not using them. Use a programmable thermostat and change your HVAC air filters. Switch to LED lightbulbs.

10. Conserve water by using smart irrigation/sprinkler systems and don’t overwater.

11. Reduce your FoodPrint by not wasting food. Here are some statistical whoppers for you provided by Foodprint.org: “About one-third of the food that we produce every year goes to waste. More than 40% of food is thrown out every year in the US. Animal agriculture produces 65% of the world's nitrous oxide emissions which has a global warming impact 296 times greater than carbon dioxide. Raising livestock for human consumption generates nearly 18% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, which is greater than all the transportation emissions combined.” It’s not no-meat vs. meat, you can reduce your FoodPrint by just eating less meat … maybe one meatless meal a week or eating more fish which has a much lower carbon footprint. Easy - peasy and it’s healthier for you!

12. Set a good example by getting kids involved. Pass down to kids a love of nature and plants. Grow giant sunflowers or pumpkins. Have kids help in community clean-ups. If you see litter, pick it up and dispose of it properly so the kids see you doing it.

So there you have it… at least a dozen ways to help Mother Earth and they’re not all that onerous or difficult.

Of course, you’re listening to the girl who’s decided a 10,000-mile road trip to Alaska in an ICE van is a great idea. Sigh!