Happy Earth Day 50th Anniversary! What to do when you can’t join your friends and volunteer...
Now that we’re all spending a lot more time at our homes, that's where our Earth Day 2020 celebrations are going to have to take place! So, how can you participate in Earth Day when it’s usually marked by large groups of people getting together and doing some good for Mother Earth?
For starters, here are a couple of fun quizzes to check your “Foodprint". What is a foodprint? It's how what you consume impacts the environment, animals, people, and your health. The 3-minute quiz was enlightening, and you can even share your detailed results! Feel free to drop them for us and see how well we're all doing! You can also Eat Low Carbon if your results aren't what you expected. Trust me, they're not that hard to integrate and you just might learn something.
If you have enough room in your yard, adding a vegetable garden or planting a new bush or tree would be a great way to honor the Earth. If not, a container garden would be fun, low maintenance, and a great family project. Even growing your own herbs is a great way to give a nod to Earth.
Many local garden supply stores offer free no-contact delivery with online orders and/or reservations for in store shopping. You can have your soil, seeds, plants and containers all delivered right to your front door or have a safe social distancing shopping experience. While you can order online from national stores, some local favorites are Ravenna Gardens: Seattle Plant Store – Garden Center, Seattle Garden Center | Magnolia Garden Center + Gifts | United States, WestSeattleNursery.com, Urban Earth Nursery and New Ways to Shop — Swansons Nursery - Seattle's Favorite Garden Store Since 1924.
Collect Rainwater. This is an easy idea just using things you have on hand like a bucket or a watering can. You can use the collected rain water to wash your car, clean off your deck, or water your plants. It should be used within a few days so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. If you would like to explore larger rainwater collection systems, the Washington Department of Ecology has some excellent information Rainwater collection.
Speak Up from home and let the kids join in - make signs and put them in your windows. If you need some inspiration check out Make an Earth Day window sign. Or maybe your kids can create their own picture book!
And speaking of books, there are some great ones to inspire young and old. Of course, Dr. Suess’s The Lorax is one of the classic books about protecting our environment which we can all take lessons from. (also made into a movie in 2012). Check your local bookstores online catalog for more!
If you want an Energy Challenge, there is a course that will examine the future of climate change in the context of the Earth's history. Then helps us consider different strategies to help slow the progress.
If you follow any of the links above and learn something new about yourself and how your food makes an impact, let us know! We'd love to hear your ideas on how to make this quarantined Earth Day one of the best ones yet - It is the 50th anniversary, you know!