April 22nd will mark the 50th Earth Day Celebration. Most events have been canceled this year, but we came up with a few ways you can celebrate close to home.
- Look up your county recycling options and follow them, for instance click this link for plastic film recycling near you – https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/find-drop-off-location/
- Plant a tree.
- Add a bird feeder to bring more wildlife to your yard.
- Drink more water instead of canned or bottled drinks.
- Start a journal and record the signs of spring such as wildflowers, birds, amphibians, etc. If you need something identified, take a photo and send it to us at info@firendsofrogers.org.
- Make the switch from plastic wrap and baggies to wax paper or beeswax wraps, bags and glass containers.
- Take a walk around your neighborhood or nearby trail and pick up trash.Use gardening gloves or even a used bread bag will be sufficient on your hand to pick up most trash you will find. You will be surprised at the difference it will make in your neighborhood.
- Become a member of Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center!
- Put out a watering area for our bee friends. There are many DIY options available online.
- Clean out your closet and donate items to local charities, keeping clothing out of landfills and helping your neighbors at the same time.
- Create or join a swap for sporting goods such as cleats, ice skates, skis and ski boots as your kids grow out of them. You can also donate used items such as rain and snow gear, skis, ski boots and snowshoes to Friends of Rogers for use in our Nature’s Nursery and other programs.
- Plan to make one small change in your purchasing to avoid consuming plastic products every month. By next Earth day you will have changed 12 products in your home to greener options.
- Plan to leave the dandelions and milkweed to grow for our pollinator friends.
- Start a worm compostery, or find a friend that will take your compost. You can have worms delivered. By removing your food waste from your trash, you will be putting less waste in the landfill.
- Plan a garden space in your yard or containers to grow vegetables for your family. Seeds are available at many sources online so you don’t have to go to the store for seeds. And What to do with all those toilet paper tubes? Cut the tube in half, cut up about a third of the way in four places, fold the tabs that you’ve created like you would the bottom of a cardboard box. There you have a little container for seeds. If you have a light potting mix that’s the best but you could use garden soil if not to fill the container. Plant the seeds, keep moist and warm until they germinate and then move to a spot with bright light even putting them outside on nice days until the weather is warm enough to plant into your garden.
- Learn to grow some fresh food organically indoors. Order seeds online (from Parry’s even) to grow sprouts or microgreens. That worm compost will come in handy here. This idea has real practical benefit in this time of food supply insecurity as well as teaching us more about what it takes to grow food.
- Make a family project of a whole-home sustainability survey. Revisit every part of the home you’re trapped in, inside and out, looking at it from the perspective of how you could reduce your environmental impact. Look for energy, water, and material waste, e.g., disposable materials vs. recyclable/biodegradable and record your observations. Start making some changes!
- Take some time to start making a list of the things you can do to help the earth even after this is over. Things like shopping local, planting a garden, buying from local farmers, shop at second hand stores or yard sales before you look for new, only go to the store once a week or as seldom as we are learning to do now.
- Take a moment to go outside and notice nature around you. Take a hike at Rogers Center! Practice social distancing and stay at least 6 feet away from others.