Make Every Day Earth Day!

Earth Day is April 22^nd and on this day many people celebrate the Earth. They may help pick up litter in a park or on a beach. They may plant trees or flowers. Whatever they decide to do, they do something special for Mother Nature and to nurture the Earth that we all live on.

But why not make every day Earth Day? There are things, some little and some larger, that you can do each and every day to make Earth Day a reality 365 days a year. The more that you do to nurture and love the Earth, the longer it will be here to sustain us and the more pleasurable life will be for all who live here. So really, it is a win-win situation to make every day Earth Day.

1. Don't litter. You'd be surprised but some people do. Whether they are in a hurry and forget to look for a garbage can - or whatever their reason, they litter. Take the extra time to find that trash can, or carry your litter with you until you do. Don't litter.

2. "Adopt" an animal. There are so many organizations that do this. You could adopt a manatee, or another endangered animal. Some zoos offer this adoption program. You pay a monthly fee and know that this monthly fee helps to pay for the animal's care. This is a wonderful way to help care for the Earth's creatures.

3. Consider indoor plants. Indoor plants are terrific and many are easy to care for. Peace lilies are easy to care for and they also help to purify and clean the air. There are a number of indoor plants that help to purify the air (ask at your local plant store). Plants are a terrific addition to your office space and to your home.

4. Reduce waste. There are so many ways to reduce waste, but it is most important to consider the ways that are easiest for you. One way to reduce waste is to read your newspapers online. Many newspapers offer free or online subscriptions to their papers. This is also convenient as you can e-mail articles of interest to your friends or co-workers. This cuts down on newspapers being printed, and although paper can be recycled some people do not take the time to recycle. Other ways to reduce waste are to donate your gently used clothing to thrift stores, not to simply throw them away - so other people can use them. Or to use the other side of junk mail to write telephone messages on, so the paper gets used.

5. Recycle. This one is really a no-brainer and it has become so easy to do. Most cities now have recycling programs that are very easy to use. Call your local city and find out what day recycling pick up is and get recycling bins to put paper, glass or plastic in. Get a paper shredder so you can shred bills before recycling them to protect yourself against identity theft. Recycling helps the planet in so many ways.

6. Use cloth grocery bags. Many grocery stores sell cloth grocery bags for you to use. Our local grocery store sells them for ninety-nine cents, certainly not a bad deal. They are well constructed and easy to carry. Using cloth grocery bags cuts down on paper or plastic bags being used.

7. Grow a garden. Even if you have an apartment, you can do some gardening on your terrace. You might be able to grow herbs or some flowers. Gardening is good for the soul and it will help connect you with the Earth. It is nice if you can grow your own vegetables, in some cases you can save some money. There is a great feeling of pride that comes when you realize that you can help nurture the Earth while it is growing something. It feels wonderful and this feeling will help you want to take even better care of the Earth.