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Earth Day is coming up on Friday, April 22, 2022. There are numerous ways to give back to Mother Earth and the good news is we don’t have to wait until April to make Earth Day a lifestyle. We can make small, tiny choices every day that lead to big lasting results!
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is the worldwide proclamation to protect our planet from pollution and to promote clean, sustainable living. On April 22, 1970 marked the very first Earth Day in the United States. 20 years later in 1990 it became a global sensation celebrated by 140 countries! Today over a billion people honor this amazing day.
We’ve been celebrating Earth Day every year for the last 52 years. How amazing is that?
How can we get involved?
What comes to mind when you think of Earth Day? Raking mulch, volunteering, recycling? Earth Day can actually be really fun. It doesn’t mean that we have to pick up 100 bags of trash or donate large sums of money. You can decide how you want to make an impact. In fact, I recommend that you choose one or two activities that really speak to you and light you up. Making your involvement enjoyable will make you more motivated to get involved and stay involved.
Here are 5 ways to make an impact in your community today!
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1) Recycling
When I think of Earth Day, the first thing that comes to mind is recycling. Recycling is a great way to go green and it’s something we are all pretty familiar with. The impact you can make just by recycling your papers and plastics really makes a difference.
The benefits of recycling include less waste sitting in the landfills, conserving our natural resources (timber, water, etc), and reducing pollution (source).
♻️ Tip: Check with your local City, County, or waste provider to see if they offer recycling services at your home or place of work. Recycling is usually offered as a complimentary service!
2) Re-use your wine and beer bottles
My house is proudly adorned with reused wine bottles and beer bottles that I have converted into flower vases. I found the idea on Pinterest some years ago back in 2014. It’s fun, creative, and sustainable! I am always down for a DIY Home Decor project that requires very little skill and little money. 🙌🏽
This is the paint I used for the white bottle. Before adding your paint, be sure to wash the beer/wine bottle and wait for it completely dry. You also will need to remove the product labels too. Once this is done, then pour the paint into the beer/wine bottle, swirl it around to make sure it covers the entire bottle, and add more paint as you go. Lastly, turn the bottle upside down and sit it on a paper towel. Takes about 24-36 hours to dry, you may have to check it every couple of hours. Voila, you have re-purposed your beer bottle into a beautiful flower vase.
I can’t tell you how many compliments I get on my vases when friends and family come over. When they find out that I actually re-purposed a beer/wine bottle they are even more astonished. One less item to the landfill makes for a great day!
♻️ Tip: Go slow with the initial pouring of the paint, you don’t want too much paint in the bottle!
3) Join a beach cleanup.
We live in Florida and this couldn’t be more applicable. There are numerous beach cleanup events and organizations up and down Florida’s coast. It’s a great opportunity to give back to our community and the beautiful Earth that we inhabit.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has graciously provided a website that lists all the beach cleanups going on in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Martin Counties!
Get the little ones involved too. They can really start to appreciate what it takes to maintain the environment and provides a new outlook on the beach. Never too young to make a difference!
♻️ Tip: Consider your school, your church, your grocery store, or even your employer – they may already have Earth Day and Sustainability initiatives in place.
4) Choose sustainable products when you shop.
Thrift stores are a wonderful option. I know firsthand the amazing things you can find at a thrift shop or consignment shop. I religiously donate to our local shops quarterly, and most of the items have never been worn and are of good quality.
Shopping secondhand is an easy way to go green and reduce waste. Also, consider purchasing from a local boutique or even at a farmer’s market. Many times those items are handmade and locally sourced, which contributes to less waste and pollution.
5) Find a local company to partner/volunteer with.
In our wonderful state of Florida, we have an organization called Keep Florida Beautiful (an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful). According to its website, KFB’s mission is to “organize volunteers to participate in cleanup events.” They are a one-stop shop for the cleanup events going on in the state. So if you happen to be in Pensacola or Tampa, there is a cleanup near you and you can find it on their website here.
Additionally, another incredible organization that I absolutely have to mention is 4Ocean. This amazing Certified B-Corp is committed to removing plastic from the ocean. In fact, they are one of the largest ocean cleanup companies in the world and they have a location right here in Florida. 4Ocean has really cool sustainable products (made from recycled and reused material) that they sell on their website, like the 4Ocean Beaded Bracelet.
For every product that you purchase, 4Ocean removes a pound of trash from the ocean (this is called the One Pound Promise). You get a beautiful bracelet, they pick up the trash for you on your behalf. See what I mean? You don’t have to leave the couch to make a difference! Today, 4Ocean has pulled over 20 million pounds of trash since 2017. Check them out, get a cool bracelet, and make a difference!
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Conclusion:
In summary, there are numerous ways to celebrate Earth Day, these are just 5 simple ways to make an impact. Would love to know what you and your community are doing to make the world better. What are your plans this year for celebrating Earth Day?
Thank you for your support!
Xoxo,
Courtney G.
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