Planet Earth Needs You!

The earth needs your help!

April 22nd marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day. This year's theme is Restore Our Earth so I have compiled some family-friendly ideas to help you celebrate and heal our planet. Though I am writing this in acknowledgement of Earth Month you can use these ideas any time. I encourage you to keep them up as often as possible!

Pick up trash around your neighbourhood

Now that spring melt is here we can see all the trash that has accumulated in our cities. The nice weather is a perfect excuse to get outside for some fresh air and help clean up your neighbourhood while you're at it. Take a bag along with you for a walk and fill it with any trash that you come across. If you frequently walk a pet, try changing up your daily route to cover new areas.

Lower your driving distance

Bike or walk manageable distances that you would normally drive, such as running to a nearby store or taking children to a park. These small trips add up but we can cut down our carbon footprint by substituting earth-friendly transportation options.

Learn something new about our planet

Check out some of the amazing documentaries about our planet that are available on your favourite streaming service. If you can get your children or family learning along with you then it’s bonus family time! I recommend one strange rock or anything in the Disney plus earth month category that sparks your interest.

Donate or recycle your spring cleaning baggage

Look for ways to donate, repurpose, or recycle the items your ditching during spring cleaning. Instead of adding to your local landfill, you can give your items new life!

Buy local

Buying locally cuts out the need for extra shipping packages as well as reducing the time delivery drivers spend on the road. Buying from locally-owned businesses rather than chain stores also contributes to keeping local businesses afloat in these turbulent financial times.

Pull out your tools

Fix that leaky tap or dripping pipe you’ve been meaning to get to. Help reduce water consumption and waste without leaving your home. Not only will you be preventing water waste, but you will also be lowering your water bill.

Help the bees!

Plant some potted flowers or start a garden to help your local bees. If it’s too cold outside for flowers you can always get them started indoors so they will be strong and ready when the nice weather hits. Old egg cartons or even egg shells are perfect for starting plants and since they are compostable you can plant them right into the garden. This is a fun way to recycle your old cardboard egg cartons and help the bees at the same time. If you're feeling really ambitious you could even get into beekeeping!

Read a good book

Many of us have a pile of to-be-read books somewhere in our homes. Conserve energy by reading your way through that pile you’ve been putting off rather than firing up the tv in your downtime.

Don’t forget your reusable bags!

Cutting down your plastic consumption is an easy yet impactful commitment. Make sure to have reusable bags readily available for all shopping adventures. You can also recycle your unnecessary plastic bags if you have accumulated those bags full of bags we often find ourselves collecting.

Go paperless

This easy switch can be made without getting off your couch. Saving unnecessary paper not only cuts down the world's paper consumption but also helps to cut down clutter in your home!

Get as much done with natural light as you can

Do the bulk of your household work during the day with natural light to conserve energy. As a bonus, you can look forward to relaxing while you watch that beautiful sunset. Enjoying soothing candlelight or use a rechargeable book light rather than turning on extra lights in the house for evening activities.

Start a compost pile

Composting is earth-friendly and also supplies you with excellent fertilizer. If you haven’t grown your own food before this is a great time to try. Gardening is not only good for the environment but can also save you money on your food bill. The feeling of accomplishment you get when you bite into that first harvest from your own garden is a huge bonus as well!

Switch to earth-friendly cleaning supplies

You can get a surprising amount of cleaning done with a little vinegar, dish soap or baking soda. Essential oils are also a great way to add delightful scents without using harsh chemicals. I highly recommend looking into Norwex products, they offer cloths that disinfect without a need for any chemicals. My personal favourite as a housekeeper was the window cloth. With water alone, the window cloth leaves a streak-free surface with the added bonus of saving you and the planet a pile of paper towels! (I’m not sponsored or employed by Norwex, I just love the products!)

Cut out power waste

Locate the items in your home that are constantly draining unnecessary power. Rarely used technology, outdoor lights that come on during the day, and any items that you don’t unplug while not using will continuously waste power. Unplugging these items when they’re not in use will cut out your power waste and save you money!

Check out Earth Day Live

Learn more about the state of our world by joining the experts for Earth Day Live April 20-22. Check out the link to learn more about this year’s activities HERE.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post please leave a little heart and consider sharing this post on your social media. Help me spread the word about these awesome ways that we can care for our planet! 🌍