Earth Day is just around the corner, and while public celebrations are currently at a halt, there’s no reason why you can’t celebrate at home.  Indeed, one of the silver linings we can probably consider with this ongoing pandemic is the realization that Mother Nature can and most likely will thrive in the absence of humans. It puts things in perspective and allows us to appreciate the Earth’s raw beauty, as well as make us more aware of the steps we can do to ensure we take care of this place we call home. Here are a few ways you can Earth Day this year.

 

Go on a Walk

Walking is one of the most underrated exercises, but it is beneficial for both your physical and mental well-being.  In most places, people are still allowed to go outdoors as long as they observe the appropriate social distancing measures. In Marin County, we are fortunate to have a bounty of areas where we can go on a walk and enjoy the beautiful sights and scenery. If you have kids, up the ante by having them take photos then putting them together for a nature-themed album.

 

Start a Compost Bin

Composting makes use of kitchen and garden scraps to make fertilizer. Not only is this a great way to reduce your waste output, it also helps to keep organic trash out of landfills. You can check out how you can do composting in this useful guide from How Stuff Works.

 

Learn to Make Paper

One tree makes about 16 reams of copy paper, and it takes 12 trees to make a ton of newsprint. While trees are sustainable, it does take a lot of time to grow, and in the meantime our needs for paper aren’t getting any less. If you have small kids, this activity is also a good way to keep them occupied for a few hours. Check the instructions here.

 

Create Salt Dough Ornaments

Commemorate the one time you got to spend more than a month indoors as a weird albeit helpful contribution to society with a few salt dough crafts. Made from a mixture of salt, flour and water, these ornaments can be baked or simply air-dried and can last for many years. If you have essential oils, you can even use them to add a little aroma to the dough. Check out this Earth-day themed salt dough ornament craft.

 

Go Bird watching

With the drastic reduction in pollution due to the drop in cars out and about and factories closing down temporarily, our feathered friends are enjoying an unusual kind of freedom. French researcher Blandine Doligez, who specializes in the study of birds, states that in France, the government-imposed lockdown is indeed conducive to animals changing their habits to venture out of “their usual bases”. When you do your outdoor foray, bring along a binocular or camera and see how many birds you can spot along the way. If you’re lucky, you might even be treated to some wonderful birdsong!

 

Make a Birdseed Ornament

If for one reason or another you are unable to go out bird watching, why not have the birds come to you? This fun craft activity makes use of gelatin and some corn syrup with bird seed to create cute ornaments you can hang out in your garden or porch. This is also another activity you can enjoy with your little ones.

 

Plant a Garden

If there’s anything we learned from this shelter-in-place situation, it’s that we can probably do better with a few self-sustainability practices, like having your own garden to harvest food from. Growing your own vegetables and herbs is also a great way to reduce your environmental footprint as well as cut down on spending. Check the advantages of planting a garden here, or learn the basics on vegetable gardening here. If you don’t have enough space in your yard, you can consider hydroponic gardening instead.

 

Read a Nature-inspired Book

If you have little ones at home, the best way to instill a sense of accountability and appreciation for nature is to start them small and make them more aware of how their actions may impact our environment. Check out these recommended top Earth Day books you can read to and with them for a little quality time.

 

Try Going Natural

In the recent years, more and more people have come to appreciate natural ways to keeping homes clean. Not only does this help the environment by keeping away toxic chemicals from our drains and eventually our oceans and waterways, it also reduces the risk for the user, especially in households where there are small children. Some natural cleaners you probably have lying around in your pantry are white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Here’s a list of 12 natural cleaners you can use.

 

Cut Down on Paper Products

Encourage the use of cloth and other substitutes instead of paper in your household. The recent toilet paper shortages have made us aware how largely dependent we are on paper products for a variety of home needs, but we can easily make the switch to reusable items. For example, a bidet, which sprays water, is used in other countries instead of toilet paper to clean up doing your business. Stock your kitchen and bathroom with hand towels instead of paper towels.