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This year marks the 52^nd anniversary of Earth Day.  Since the first Earth Day in 1970, which was supported by 20 million Americans, Earth Day has grown considerably.  Today, about 1 billion people in more than 190 countries recognize Earth Day.  But it’s not just about celebrating for one day.  Real impact is gained by making conscious, earth-friendly choices every day.

We’ve put together a list of our ten favorite ways to honor Mother Earth on Earth Day and throughout the year.

1. Explore the outdoors. Go for a walk or hike.  Use the iNaturalist app (https://www.inaturalist.org/) to learn about the plants you encounter.  Looking for a new place to explore, All Trails is one of our favorite resources (https://www.alltrails.com/). Being in touch with nature reminds us of why Earth Day matters and encourages us to make lasting changes that will have a positive impact.
2. Pick up litter. It’s so simple and costs nothing.  Clean up your neighborhood, or perhaps, pick up trash in your favorite park.  A litter-free space rallies others to clean up after themselves.
3. Schedule a home energy audit. Whether you rent or own, a specialist can help you discover ways to make your home more efficient, saving you money and helping the planet.  How’s that for a win win?  Learn more at: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-energy-assessments
4. Reduce. Reuse. The 3Rs that have a dramatic impact.  Separate your trash from recyclables. Reduce waste.  With the pandemic surge in restaurant deliveries, the number of plastic utensils being used and discarded is unnecessary.  Tell your favorite restaurant that you don’t need cutlery.  Carry reusable bags with you, so you always have one handy.  Have you seen Project Have Hope’s colorful bags that fold up conveniently?  https://projecthavehope.org/collections/textile-designs/products/reusable-shopping-bag 

5. Start a compost bin. Toss your veggie scraps and biodegradable waste in a bucket.  This prevents organic waste from ending up in a landfill and turns it into a natural fertilizer you can use in your garden.  Did you know that when organic waste in landfills decomposes methane gas is released?  Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases.  New to composting?  Here’s some info to get started: https://bit.ly/3JKeyOh
6. Use your new natural fertilizer to start your own veggie garden. Then, each year, gather seeds and store them in a dry, cool area for next season.
7. While you’re outside planting veggies, consider planting some bee-friendly flowers. Bees are integral to our ecosystem and have become endangered due to parasites, habitat loss and even cell phone radiation.  Hostas, purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans all attract bees.
8. While you’ve got your hands dirty, why not go ahead and plant a tree? We can all use the extra oxygen trees give off.
9. Get educated. Watch a documentary about climate change, conservation or food production.  We’re looking forward to the release of “Eating Our way to Extinction.”  Here are 10 must sees:  https://www.earthday.org/10-environmental-documentaries-to-stream-this-summer/
10. Sign up for a library card. As kids, we loved to walk to our local public library and peruse the shelves for great reads.  Instead of buying the latest bestseller, libraries are a great tool for sharing and reusing resources.  Not just for book lovers, you can access audiobooks, music and videos at libraries.  Museum passes may even be available.

 What are your favorite ways to be kind to the environment?