When it comes to the Earth, we all have a role to play. As the Earth’s population grows, the environment becomes impacted from the consumption of resources and the wastes that produces. We can look to our elected officials to do more for our planet, but we can also look at ourselves. I want my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on to be able to live on this Earth and it be more beautiful than it is now. This Earth Day, I want to show my kids how easy it is so be environmentally friendly. Here are six easy ways your family can be green and be kind to the Earth today and year round.
Donate books to a Little Free Library
My children have hundreds of books that have been bought by us or gifted from family members. I like to save some of the more sentimental ones but now the bookshelves are overflowing. If the books are not written all over or destroyed we donate them to Little Free Libraries. You can usually find a little library at a park or walking area. The idea is to bring books for others to enjoy and you in turn can also take a book to enjoy. In the past we picked great books from here and also brought books as well. In the video below you will see Mila walking up to the Little Free Library and donating some of her books. A great and easy way to be environmentally friendly and give the joy of reading.
Be environmentally friendly at the park
In honor of Earth Day we did one thing that we never did before. We went to a local park with a trash bag and a trash picker and picked up any trash we saw. Honestly doing this made me feel so good inside, because I felt like I was giving back to the Earth and also my kids were enjoying it. The thing that surprised me the most was that other kids joined in. They were interested in what we were doing and asked if they could help. That really gave me a sense of joy and hope for our next generation. This is something that we are going to do monthly, to be environmentally friendly at the park. Also hopefully inspiring others to do the same.
Reusable water bottles
Reusable water bottles have become an environmentally friendly fashion trend. Everyone is getting into this trend, which in turn is helping to create less consumption of plastic bottles. I take mine everywhere I go, from the gym to the mall. It is an easy way to stay hydrated throughout the day. You can get any kind that suits your lifestyle and you will not have that build up of half drank water bottles on your night stand or in your car. This is a green idea that the whole family can get with.
Recycle old electronics
During most of last year we were all at home. A lot of us bought new electronics to support our work and school from home, and entertaining purposes. If you did not get rid of your old electronics before you got new ones consider recycling them. Companies are having free electronic recycling events around the city for the very purpose of getting rid of old TVs, computers, phones, tablets and more. I went to an event today held by Georgia Natural Gas. Keeping these items out of the trash is an environmentally friendly thing we all can do.
Shopping can be environmentally friendly
Yes, you read that right, but not just regular shopping, thrift shopping. When you buy clothes and goods that have been previously used that is more sustainable. There is a surplus of materials made that get thrown out before they even hit the stores. When you buy secondhand you are decreasing that demand for new clothes in turn becoming environmentally friendly. I found four bomb items for the total of $27, and two of the items still had the original tags on them. You can always find a treasure at a thrift shop, and you don’t have to leave your home either. Thrift shopping can be done online as well at sites like, ThredUp and PoshMark.
Environmentally friendly planting
When I think of Earth Day, I think of planting seeds of flowers and vegetables. This is something we always did in elementary school to celebrate the day of being environmentally friendly. I recently got a basil starter garden from Target and it comes with a compostable pot, soil, and the basil seeds. I also planted poppy flowers today, in my pot Mila made for me for Mother’s Day. Planting the seeds really made me feel like I connected with the Earth. Follow me on Instagram to see the growth of my little seeds.
Learn more ways you can be environmentally friendly at the official Earth Day website. If you are looking for ways you and your family can get out and enjoy the beautiful Earth check out the Spring things to do.
