tips and tricks

Small Steps for Earth Day

In my younger eco warrior biologist pre-child pre-marriage years the list of what I could personally do to better the earth and save all the endangered wildlife would have been long, very detailed and really hardcore in a martyr type of way. It didn’t matter how many ships I would have to chain myself to, or how many protests would result in jail time, or how many people I could “educate” on the right way to do things, I was ready to dive in and never look back!!!

That was many years ago and life has changed drastically, sometimes when I actually can take a moment to reflect on where life has taken me, I don’t recognize who I have become. But what hasn’t changed is my heartfelt desire to make sure that I tread on this earth as lightly and respectfully as I can and to teach my son why these things are needed and important.

So I focus on the small things that I can manage and feel that during the early motherhood phase of my life this is the most sane and realistic option, who knows what will happen when the kids are older !?!!

Small things:

Eating local and organic foods whenever possible.
It’s good for the earth, good for your family’s health and good for local farmers. Can’t get any better than that!! There are many options besides Whole Foods & PCC in the spring & summer months you can visit the myriad of local farmers markets, take a drive to a local farms (some have Farm tots programs, like South 47 Farm) or buy a CSA share from a local organic farmer, it ranges from 16-30 dollars per week. It is something fun to do with the kids, gets you out of your house get some delicious healthful foods.

Using resusable bags instead of paper & plastic.
The key to this is to actually find a system that works for you to put the bags back into the car after you use them otherwise they will just sit in a heap by the front door collecting dog hair & mud and you will have to wash them again(not eco friendly). I lived in Europe for 5 years where everyone uses reusable bags, and it took me about two weeks of being back in the US to be lazy about it. Now I just hang the bags on the front door so when I leave in the morning, the bags come with and this is a good system for me.

Picking up trash when you go for a walk or visit the beach.
I bring a large plastic bag with me and fill it with whatever I find, especially on the beach it is so important to pick up all plastic trash, each year thousands of marine creatures and birds die from ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it. This is a great way to show your children an easy way to be green.

Planting something and watching it grow.
Anyone can do this. Even if you only have space for a few potted plants or herbs or flowers you will enjoy watching them grow. For years now we have had a vegetable garden and it makes me feel good to feed my family healthy organic vegetable & herbs and to watch my son learn about all the types of bugs and insects that come with a garden. Now he is old enough not to pull out, stomp on or pick all the beautiful veggies & flowers so we are all really excited to see what will happen this year!!

Small things count too and they add up so have fun figuring out what you and your family can do to respect and honor the earth and yourselves-Happy Earth Day!!!