Happy Earth Day, Readers!
In the hustle and bustle of our lives, many of us tend to forget the vast awesomeness that is our home-Planet Earth. The Earth works so hard every day giving us resources, storing the entire human race, providing for all the critters and also managing to be beautiful to admire at the same time...So, the Earth deserves to be pampered, don't you think? Because it is Earth Day, I would like to share with you a few (easy AND cheap!) ways to appreciate, honor, and even give back to Mother Earth today and all the days to come, because, after all, any day can be Earth Day. Don't worry, readers. As a college student, I am completely aware of the sensation of "uhh....I don't have money for that...or time..." and I am here to tell you that it is completely possible to give the planet some love without ANY money (maybe a tiny bit...) and only a few minutes of your time.
Let's do it!
- Plant Something! Anything!
This one is super easy. Go to your nearest Walmart or supermarket and pick up a pack of seeds. Flowers are easiest to grow and very inexpensive. A pack of flower seeds is typically around $.87 and you don't even need a fancy flower pot or anything. You can grab that chipped coffee mug in the back of your cabinet (you know the one...) and use that to plant your new addition to the Earth! All you have to do once you have your seeds is fill your chosen receptacle with soil from outside, and follow the (very easy) planting instructions on the back of your seeds. Typically it just involves pouring the seeds about 1/2 inch under the soil, burying them, and placing them somewhere with decent sunlight (pretty much any windowsill will suffice) and then just remember to water it once a day! That's it! Optional planting tips include singing to your flower and giving it lots of vocal encouragement every day. :)
2. Start Using a Re-Usable Grocery Bag
Many people actually have these bags sitting around the house somewhere, AND YOU COULD TOO! These re-usable bags (also available at your nearest supermarket) are typically somewhere between $15-20 which I KNOW seems like a lot....But here's the thing guys: The amount of plastic you could save by carrying your groceries in a re-usable bag vs. the horrid plastic bags at the store is INSANE. There are islands of plastic bags the size of Texas (and bigger) floating around in the Pacific right now...because plastic does not go anywhere. If it ends up in our landfills, it doesn't magically disappear, readers. No, it breaks down into mountain-sized piles of tiny plastic pieces. There's no getting rid of it...And. I know the Earth does NOT appreciate being used as a giant trashcan. So, if you have one of these already (you probably do somewhere...they are pretty common giveaways at events and whatnot) why not consider putting it in your car and taking it in next time you go grocery shopping? You can make an actual difference in doing so.
3. Build a Bee-Waterer
This one is one of my personal favorites. It is extremely simple and fun! Here's the deal: Bees get thirsty too..Have you ever had a bee fly around you after you got out of the pool? You probably swatted at it, right? The truth is, that bee was thirsty! Bees are so important to the Earth and our lives because they pollinate the crops we consume and the flowers we love. However, bees often have a hard time finding water that is shallow enough for them to drink from safely. AND YOU CAN HELP! Here's how: Simply find a bowl, dish, pie container...anything of that sort and fill it with rocks or marbles and water. Set it down outside by some flowers and watch the bees land safely on the rocks to drink! Being gentle and kind to all life is one very easy way to appreciate our planet.
4. Go for a Bike Ride
If you own a bike, try riding it to places that are a reasonable distance from your living place instead of driving your car there. Burning fossil fuels is something we simply can't avoid in our society, but it is something we can learn to decrease! Not only is riding your bike beneficial to your mental and physical health, but it benefits our Earth too!
5. Consider How Much Water You Use
Along with burning fossil fuels, using up lots of water is another aspect of society that we can't exactly control but we CERTAINLY can limit with a little practice. Let's talk about showers. The typical shower head uses approx. 3 gallons of water in one minute. SO, by taking 2 minutes off your shower every day, you can save up to 42 gallons of water a week. That's saving 2,190 gallons of water in a year. And you're just one person! Imagine if everyone in your family did this, or everyone in your town? Baby steps, readers. Baby steps. This is how we help the Earth!
6. Meditate
This is the easiest way to not only benefit yourself, but to give back to the planet. This Earth Day, consider taking a walk to somewhere peaceful out in nature. Anywhere that you can kick off your shoes and put your feet in the soil, grass, or water is perfect. Sit down in the quiet of nature and find the sweetness in the silence. You can use this time to be grateful for the Earth and all of the many blessings it gives us. You can use this time to think about ways in which you plan to start living as a steward of the earth....We'll call it your Personal Promise. You may choose to promise to use less water, or recycle more. Whatever you do, thank the Earth for all that it does for us!
That's all for today, thanks for reading!
Love always, Hannah
This is a wonderful post. I would like to make the bee-waterer. Happy Earth Day!
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