Earth Day 2013

April 22 is the 43rd annual Earth Day.  According to earthday.org, more than one billion people take part in Earth Day – individuals, communities, organizations and governments from around the world.  This year, earthday.org is collecting and displaying images of people, animals and places directly affected by climate change as well as those helping to do something about it. 

I hope you will participate too!  There are lots of easy and meaningful things you can do.  You can: 

• Plant a tree
• Sow some seeds for your garden
• Visit a local farm
• Change a conventional light bulb to an energy-saving compact fluorescent or LED one
• Pick up litter on the beach
• Take part in a trash pick-up
• Use a travel mug rather than a paper cup for your coffee-to-go
• Drink from a reusable water bottle rather than a plastic one
• Recycle newspapers, bottles and cans
• Start a compost bin in your backyard for kitchen waste
• Make a commitment to drive less and carpool or walk more
• Take public transportation
• Shorten your shower by one minute
• Shut down your computer for one hour
• Attend an Earth Day event in your area or volunteer
• Include your kids and grandkids and open their eyes about protecting the earth

End the day with an Earth Day Dinner Celebration with foods that are grown locally if possible and are gentler to the earth - organic vegetables and fruits, grass-fed, grass finished beef, free-range chicken or sustainably harvested fish and raise awareness about the origins of our food at the same time. You could host a potluck dinner with regional specialties, plan an earth dinner fundraiser for your favorite local organization, and have an earth day party for kids or a simple supper with your family or friends.  If the weather is warm, try an earth day picnic.  Use real cutlery, not plastic, real plates, not paper and cloth napkins.  Seed packets make great place cards.  Eat by candlelight to save energy and wash the dishes with non-toxic detergent.  

Check your local newspaper or go online for Earth Day events in your town.  Make Earth Day and Earth Dinner celebrations your new tradition.  Never forget that simple steps really do make a difference!

For more green living tips, visit greenwithbetsy.com.