10 Ways to Bring Earth Day Home
Try out these ideas for reducing your carbon footprint and celebrating planet Earth all year
Shana Levy McCracken
April 22, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Shana is a sustainability consultant who lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Green MBA as well as a master's degree in Culture, Ecology & Sustainable Community and a bachelor's in Conservation & Resource Studies. Shana has been an environmental communications professional for over 20 years now.
Houzz Contributor. Shana is a sustainability consultant who lives and works in the... More
While your community probably has some sort of Earth Day event planned, there are plenty of ways you can celebrate at home too. Here are 10 ideas to try. Have another? We’d love to hear about it in the Comments.
More ideas and how-tos in the Houzz Earth Day section
More ideas and how-tos in the Houzz Earth Day section
1. Plant a tree. Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time, famously said this: “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.“ While his area of expertise is investing, the literal meaning of this quote also holds true.
It takes awhile to reap the rewards of planting a tree, but there’s no better time to do it than today. Perhaps your grandchildren will one day enjoy the coolness beneath its branches, the squirrels that chase each other around its trunk or the tart bite of its sun-warmed fruit.
As to the more scientific benefits of planting a tree, a 10-year-old tree absorbs roughly 48 pounds of carbon dioxide — a powerful greenhouse gas — per year, according to the Urban Forestry Network. When you think about the fact that CO2 is a gas, that’s an enormous volume that one tree sucks out of the air we breathe. As an individual it can feel daunting to try to make a dent in global warming or deforestation. But planting one tree? That’s doable.
Why, When and How to Plant a Tree
It takes awhile to reap the rewards of planting a tree, but there’s no better time to do it than today. Perhaps your grandchildren will one day enjoy the coolness beneath its branches, the squirrels that chase each other around its trunk or the tart bite of its sun-warmed fruit.
As to the more scientific benefits of planting a tree, a 10-year-old tree absorbs roughly 48 pounds of carbon dioxide — a powerful greenhouse gas — per year, according to the Urban Forestry Network. When you think about the fact that CO2 is a gas, that’s an enormous volume that one tree sucks out of the air we breathe. As an individual it can feel daunting to try to make a dent in global warming or deforestation. But planting one tree? That’s doable.
Why, When and How to Plant a Tree
2. Start a compost pile. Soil is a living, life-giving thing. Without it, we’d have nothing to eat. In light of that, Earth Day is the perfect excuse to start a backyard compost pile. Composting your food scraps and yard trimmings instead of landfilling them reduces methane emissions. It also leaves you with a wonderful soil amendment for your garden, or even your houseplants. If you already have a compost bin, today’s a great day to tend your pile: Turn it, water it or harvest your compost, if it’s ready.
If starting your own pile is not possible, be sure you’re taking full advantage of your curbside organics collection program by looking at your city’s or garbage hauler’s web page. Your provider usually has a hotline with an operator who can tell you which items are accepted. Many programs now accept food and food-soiled paper as well as leaves and grass clippings.
If starting your own pile is not possible, be sure you’re taking full advantage of your curbside organics collection program by looking at your city’s or garbage hauler’s web page. Your provider usually has a hotline with an operator who can tell you which items are accepted. Many programs now accept food and food-soiled paper as well as leaves and grass clippings.
3. Fix something. Repairing something rather than replacing it is nearly always better for the Earth. Not only might it be less costly to repair an appliance than replace it, you’re also saving all sorts of resources by not buying something new. Essentially, repairing your home item retains the energy and materials already used to make the original item, avoiding the consumption of additional resources embodied in the new item.
If you’re not the handiest person, consider taking your broken item to a professional, or calling a handyman or handywoman. These are generally higher-quality jobs than the ones you’d be supporting if you purchased a new, imported item. Contributing to better jobs performed locally adds even more to your sustainability quotient.
If you’re not the handiest person, consider taking your broken item to a professional, or calling a handyman or handywoman. These are generally higher-quality jobs than the ones you’d be supporting if you purchased a new, imported item. Contributing to better jobs performed locally adds even more to your sustainability quotient.
4. Encourage pollinators. Bees and other pollinating species play an essential role in any garden but especially ones with fruit trees, berries or squash. Bees have been having a rough time the last few years, with some species’ populations crashing dramatically. You can do the bees and your garden a favor by adding plants they find especially attractive. Lavender, white clover, heather, bellflower and yellow mustard are among the many options.
In our garden, the most popular plant has been oregano, which we unintentionally let go to seed. We ended up leaving it that way after we noticed what a hit it was with our local bees. For more information on which species are best for your area, visit this site, or search in the stories on creating pollinator gardens on Houzz.
If you’re still using pesticides in your garden, Earth Day marks a great occasion for calling it quits and disposing of them at your local household hazardous waste facility.
How to Grow a Modern Pollinator Garden
In our garden, the most popular plant has been oregano, which we unintentionally let go to seed. We ended up leaving it that way after we noticed what a hit it was with our local bees. For more information on which species are best for your area, visit this site, or search in the stories on creating pollinator gardens on Houzz.
If you’re still using pesticides in your garden, Earth Day marks a great occasion for calling it quits and disposing of them at your local household hazardous waste facility.
How to Grow a Modern Pollinator Garden
5. Choose a species to follow. Select one type of bird, insect or furry critter that lives in your own backyard and follow it over the next year. You don’t need to keep a log, put out a feeder or do anything special other than observe. What do you notice going on with that species? Over time you’ll become aware of changes in their numbers and habits.
I watch the crows in our neighborhood and have come to appreciate their intelligence. Paying attention to their behaviors has caused me to realize they have certain routines that are different at various times of the day. These shifted recently when a neighbor cut down a dead tree that the crows had tended to congregate in. Three weeks later, they still don’t seem to have settled on — literally as well as figuratively — a new tree.
Watching the crows has caused me to notice other species as well, and how they all interact. Sometimes I hear a racket outside among the crows and go outside to check it out. Sure enough, there’s a hawk circling above. I imagine the crows are protecting their nests against this formidable hunter. That makes me curious about the hawk and whether he has a mate and a nest of his own.
It would have been overwhelming to try to learn about my local ecosystem all at once, but focusing just on the crows gave me an entry point to a larger awareness of it that I hope to develop over time.
Create a Container Wildlife Habitat for Hummingbirds and Butterflies
I watch the crows in our neighborhood and have come to appreciate their intelligence. Paying attention to their behaviors has caused me to realize they have certain routines that are different at various times of the day. These shifted recently when a neighbor cut down a dead tree that the crows had tended to congregate in. Three weeks later, they still don’t seem to have settled on — literally as well as figuratively — a new tree.
Watching the crows has caused me to notice other species as well, and how they all interact. Sometimes I hear a racket outside among the crows and go outside to check it out. Sure enough, there’s a hawk circling above. I imagine the crows are protecting their nests against this formidable hunter. That makes me curious about the hawk and whether he has a mate and a nest of his own.
It would have been overwhelming to try to learn about my local ecosystem all at once, but focusing just on the crows gave me an entry point to a larger awareness of it that I hope to develop over time.
Create a Container Wildlife Habitat for Hummingbirds and Butterflies
6. Join a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, programs have become extremely popular in recent years — and for good reason. They allow residents to buy ultrafresh produce from nearby farms and orchards. Buying your food this way means it doesn’t have to travel far, and CSA farmers frequently use organic practices. For these and other reasons, subscribing to a CSA service helps ensure a smaller eco-footprint for you and your family.
Many CSAs will deliver right to your doorstep and many will allow you to choose a quantity that’s right for your situation. In some cases, you get whatever assortment of fruits and veggies happens to be in season, but some services now allow you to select what you would like. The U.S. Department of Agriculture keeps a fairly extensive list that you can search online by ZIP code.
Many CSAs will deliver right to your doorstep and many will allow you to choose a quantity that’s right for your situation. In some cases, you get whatever assortment of fruits and veggies happens to be in season, but some services now allow you to select what you would like. The U.S. Department of Agriculture keeps a fairly extensive list that you can search online by ZIP code.
7. Buy nothing. This idea sounds easy enough, right? But not buying anything — either in the brick-and-mortar world or online — for a whole day can be more challenging than you might think. Doing this does require that you have enough food on hand to get through the day, so be sure your refrigerator or pantry is adequately stocked before you try this out.
Not purchasing not only helps your pocketbook, it is also an environmentally friendly practice. Think about your shopping habits and whether you buy things as a form of recreation. What could you do instead — bike, read, call a friend? Earth Day can be an opportunity to think about how you and your family might consume less in the future.
Not purchasing not only helps your pocketbook, it is also an environmentally friendly practice. Think about your shopping habits and whether you buy things as a form of recreation. What could you do instead — bike, read, call a friend? Earth Day can be an opportunity to think about how you and your family might consume less in the future.
8. Read an Earth-themed book. Maybe you’re not up for a big outdoor project, or perhaps there’s a storm in the forecast. Never fear — you can celebrate Earth Day indoors, while sipping a nice, hot cup of tea and reading a book. You might pick up a classic that celebrates the outdoors, such as Walden by Henry David Thoreau or A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Or you could read the book often credited with sparking the environmental movement, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. I also recommend Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place by Terry Tempest Williams. If these don’t strike your fancy, find more ideas here, or ask for recommendations from your local bookseller or librarian.
9. Make a donation. Giving to a cause you passionately care about can be empowering. And April tends to be a fiscal low point for most charities. (Many get a third or more of their donations in December.) What issue has been on your mind lately? Check online to see what organizations are working on that challenge and see which one resonates most with you.
If you’d feel better knowing how they administer the funds they receive, check out the nonprofit’s ratings by looking it up at Charity Watch, Charity Navigator or BBB Wise Giving Alliance. These three watchdog organizations are all recommended by Consumer Reports. Once you feel confident about how the charity you’ve selected spends its money, give as generously as you can. And remember, your employer may have a giving program that will match your donation. The one offered by my husband’s company makes the process easy. It really is satisfying knowing we’ve doubled our impact just by filling out a simple form online. That’s what I call a high return on investment.
When your birthday or the winter holidays roll around, you might consider asking for a donation to be made in your name. By now, my friends and relatives know I much prefer donations to more stuff.
If you’d feel better knowing how they administer the funds they receive, check out the nonprofit’s ratings by looking it up at Charity Watch, Charity Navigator or BBB Wise Giving Alliance. These three watchdog organizations are all recommended by Consumer Reports. Once you feel confident about how the charity you’ve selected spends its money, give as generously as you can. And remember, your employer may have a giving program that will match your donation. The one offered by my husband’s company makes the process easy. It really is satisfying knowing we’ve doubled our impact just by filling out a simple form online. That’s what I call a high return on investment.
When your birthday or the winter holidays roll around, you might consider asking for a donation to be made in your name. By now, my friends and relatives know I much prefer donations to more stuff.
10. Gaze at the stars. At the end of your Earth Day celebrations, take a few moments to enjoy the night sky. Although some recently discovered planets may have the potential to support life, for now, our own blue and beautiful Earth is the only one we know of. Make a wish, not for yourself but for the Earth. It’s her special day, after all.
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Find more ideas in the Houzz Earth Day section
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Find more ideas in the Houzz Earth Day section
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It doesn't matter what we all say, the fact is we all need to
do better. This world has become a place of bickering troublesome people. I
blame a lot of it on social media. If you cannot say a kind word then wouldn't
it just be nice to say nothing at all? Consider the future of our kids that
love to recycle, farm, take care of family, RESPECT others and simply do the
right thing. Having a large family is not a problem when the parents are
involved, but most families have both parents working and the children do not
get the development, morals, or values that they need to have a successful
future. I am only speaking from experience and I’ve seen both sides of
development. I know many will not agree and have bad things to say, but it’s
all about compromise if you chose to be parents. Sacrifice is the ultimate way
of life when raising a family. That is if you are an average American that
lives on a budget.
So that being said when I read this part of the post…
If you’re not the handiest person, consider
taking your broken item to a professional, or calling a handyman or handywoman.
These are generally higher-quality jobs than the ones you’d be supporting if
you purchased a new, imported item. Contributing to better jobs performed
locally adds even more to your sustainability quotient.
I had to chuckle because it is so hard to find
a qualified handy man to do anything. I could go on about this but I think it
is pretty clear to anybody that has had major work done on a home. It has been
nothing but disastrous for us as we bought an old home and have had several
things updated or fixed (I say fixed loosely) … fixed many times by different
so-called handy men. And if you call
them out on their work it becomes a cluster of attitude, so just live with what
you got and if it works pray it never breaks. Happy Earth Day … Pray God fixes
it all!
Add solar panels to the roof. I completed my install last Sept and look forward to banking energy during the sunny days of July and Aug to make the house net zero. Also now driving a Bolt as our second car. Using power off the grid at current electric rates is equivalent to driving a gas powered car that would need to get 60 MPG. We hope to be sun powered my this time next year.
Thanks for this! As I understand it, there are three key priorities: reduce fossil fuels, donate and support groups and parties that reduce fossil fuels, and plant trees. If we don’t reduce the ff’s and the warming trend, everything else is pointless. Of course in the meantime, do all these things, plus give up on plastics, plant native plants in your area, and support companies trying to make a difference. If we’re reducing consumption in other ways then we will have more dollars for higher cost ethical and green companies.