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10 ways to celebrate Earth Day at home



Do something green for the planet on this day dedicated to preserving the Earth

10 ways to celebrate Earth Day at home


This year marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day. This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet”.  It's a great time to teach our kids about caring for the planet. Here are some things families can do at home to celebrate from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Support the pollinators

Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are all pollinators. Plant flowers and other plants that will draw these vital creatures to your garden or yard.

READ MORE: Help feed the bees for Earth Day 

Clean up the plastic in your neighborhood or local park

Grab the fam and some recycling bags and head out to pick up all that plastic people discard.  Take what you can to a recycling center. Bonus: you can bring other bags and pick up trash in general to make the area cleaner and healthier.

Swap out the plastic products in your home

Plastic sandwich bags, food wrap, storage containers and more are all a huge problem in our landfills. Try switching to more eco-friendly products. You can find lots of products online.

Plant a tree

If you have the property and the room, by all means, plant a tree. They are just plain good for the environment. 

Plant wildflowers and native plants

Indigenous species attract native and beneficial insects. Wildflowers will bring your pollinators. Once you get pollinators, you get birds. Win win for everyone.

Reuse and recycle in the garden

Buying mulch and topsoil in bulk drastically reduce packaging. Recycle the plastic containers the plants and flowers came in and try to use biodegradable planting items.

No more pesticides or chemicals in the garden

Compost is literally black gold to gardeners. Turn this into your soil and reap the rewards with big, healthy plants. Bring in the bugs. Ladybugs are fierce and will help keep your garden free of pests.

READ MORE: Fun activities for Earth Day you can do with your family 

Conserve water

Water your garden conservatively. Be sure to water from ground level as to not burn the plant itself. You can harvest rainwater in barrels or use a drip hose to help reduce water consumption. This does not just go for the garden. Reduce your water usage in the house also. Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth and only turn it back on to rinse.

Think about changing your diet

See if you can pick up food with as little packaging as possible. Farmers Markets are great for this. Bring your own reusable bags and help even more.

Get your kids involved

Kids love to help out so get them in the garden and start teaching them conservation early. Let them plant some sunflowers, or better yet veggies. They are more likely to eat them if they grow them.

 



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