04/22/2022
Happy Earth Day everyone! Today is about showing that we care about our earth. Here are some ways to celebrate:
1. Clean up litter around your neighborhood- make sure to wear gloves and wash your hands after
2. Make a bird feeder or bird house - to make a bird house, use a milk carton, carve a hole, and fill it with birdseed. (you could also glue on a branch for the bird to perch on.) To make a bird feeder, take a pinecone, cover it in peanut butter or something else that's sticky, and roll it in birdseed.
3. Plant something- even if it's not a tree, you can still plant something. You could plant some flowers that bees like. Here are 20 flowering plants that will attract bees:
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/g32157369/flowers-that-attract-bees/
You can also plant herbs or vegetables in your garden. (yum!)
4. Go on a walk or bike ride- if you want to enjoy the nice, sunny weather and get a little exercise, you can take a walk or go on a bike ride! If you have to go to the store or somewhere else and it's less than a mile, bike (or walk) in style!
5. Consider buying eco-friendly alternatives- If you drink water from a plastic bottle, definitely consider using a reusable metal water bottle instead. Here is the link to a great brand called Hydro Flask
https://www.google.com/search?q=hydroflask.com+official+website&sa=X&bih=649&biw=1366&rlz=1CANHHD_enUS1002&hl=en&tbm=shop&sxsrf=APq-WBsG6nsWZkfjgv9fx
Another easy swap is if you use pump soap, cut down on plastic and use a bar of soap. Dove is a popular bar soap brand. The last simple swap is straws. When you go to a store, either say "No thank you" to the straws and just don't use one, or bring you own straw! You can bring your own reusable metal straw, and you can also use metal straws at home. You could also talk to the restaurant/store owner and suggest using paper straws, but I find that they get soggy and gross easily. So, I have recently discovered agave straws. They are disposable, but they biodegrade. They feel hard like plastic ones, but they are safe for the environment! If you are interested in agave straws, I put the link to buy some below.
https://www.kingofsparklers.com/agave-straws?sku=SKU-511946EE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpImTBhCmARIsAKr58cywF9h6JSO-Jjk9gyXNcvOR-nvms8mfORy2wUAs9ioyQIsM-uA1vQMaAlXnEALw_wcB
6. Conserve water- take shorter showers, do not leave the water running while you brush your teeth, (it's really not necessary!) and instead of dumping out the water after boiling pasta, water your plants with it! It actually provides a natural fertilizer and adds minerals to your plants!
7. Don't use cleaning products with chemicals!! - Seventh Generation is a great brand that sells eco-friendly cleaning products. I put the link to Seventh Generation products below.
https://www.google.com/search?q=seventh+generation&rlz=1CANHHD_enUS1002&sxsrf=APq-WBtGkbgiJBxvHQBjJw1QHzCmYUZPvg:1650638582508&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSq_Py86f3AhX8hIkEHShFBNUQ_AUoAnoECAIQBA&biw=1366&bih=649&dpr=1
8. Shop wisely- buy foods in bulk, and buy less things with lots of plastic packaging. Also, ALWAYS bring your reusable shopping bag where ever you go! (stores usually have reusable shopping bags at the checkout station for about 1-2 dollars.)
