April 22nd is Earth Day! The day marks the anniversary of what many consider to be the birth of the modern day environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson, who came up with the idea after he witnessed the ravages of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Check out earthday.org for more information on the history of Earth Day as well as information on how to become involved with Earth Day events in your area.
BlueApple Starter Kit - 2 Apples w/ 12 Month Refill Kit |
Insulated Reusable Novelty Coffee Cup |
Ethel Gloves: Gloves for Women (Traditional Glove: Rendevous) |
The contest starts April 10th, 2012 and ends April 16th, 2012 at 6pm EST. Must be a US resident. No purchase necessary.
GOOD LUCK!
I recycle newspapers, plastics, aluminum cans and plastic shopping bags. It really bothers me to put that stuff in the trash instead of recycling it. My trash bag doesn't fill up near as fast, so I guess I'm saving money on trash bags, too!
I wash my clothes in cold water and keep the lights off during the day
At work rather than throwing away paper I use it for notes and scrap. My boss hates it but I am saving him money and helping the environment.
I always use cloth shopping bags -- but not just at the grocery store. Take them to target (you get a 5 cent credit) and department stores as well. Just make sure to keep one set for groceries and another perfectly clean set for items such as new clothes or shoes!
We keep a clearly labeled recycle bin beside our trash can so everyone can help in our recycling efforts. We reuse and recycle paper, and we turn off lights and unplug appliances/electronics not in use.
nice blog
I also use the library, ours has a great newspaper and magazine selection. Earth Day and several other green events are HUGE where I live. The city even puts on a very very large event to teach green, promote local green businesses and through out the year puts on free classes to teach composting, etc. The local mall even provides space for a farmers market 3 months each spring/early summer.
Back in the 70's as a really young kid we had a sticker on the light switch by the front door, it said "nose down on way out." So I've always remembered to turn out the lights, unplug items not in use. Reuse back side of paper and junk mail for scrap paper. I generally try to find a 2nd purpose for everything before throwing it out. And remember to ask myself these questions before I put things in my cart or bag, even when printing things on the computer, do I really need this? Will I use it? Does it have more than one purpose? And I think about packaging and waste amount when I buy things. Buying refillables and not getting bags when I check out when I don't need to.
I use the reusable grocery bags every time I go shopping, I turn the water off while brushing my teeth, make sure all my lights stay off during the day, unplug all electronics when not in use, and all my light bulbs are energy efficient. I try to do what I can everyday!
I always wash my clothes in cold water, turn the water off when brushing my teeth , and for the most part, lights stay off during the day. Open the blinds and get that natural light. I recently bought those reusable bags for grocery shopping. I believe the little things like that can make a difference.
I knew that running the water while brushing one's teeth wastes water, what I didn't know was how much it wastes 2 gallons. Oprah said one time referring to wastes water, think about the people in Africa who walk 5 miles just to get water and than carry it back on their heads. Ten miles a day for water and perhaps it isn't even clean water. My mother wash the clothes in warm water, I am going to change my washer setting to cold. I use water is water. Thanks for the advice. Brenda
I use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels for cleaning. I also use vinegar, baking soda and lemon instead of store bought cleaners. I also use Tea tree oils as a double duty product. It's great for cuts, burns and breakouts and it also gets rid of mold and mildew!
I run all my errands during one trip: write down where I'm going, plan my route, stick to it...saves gas. I also don't use the drive-thru options at fast food eateries. I park& go inside. Gets me outta the car, saves gas, and cuts down on emissions.
I buy local whenever possible. Purchasing produce from Mexico doesn't make sense when I can buy many of our favorite fruits and vegetables fresh locally. The transportation costs of trucking food around the country is staggering. Plus, locally grown produce is fresher and I like knowing where my food comes from.
Have always celebrated Earth day and do what we can't. A family of 5 produces a lot of waste. Love our worm composter! There are so many things we try to do. One little one is buying eggs in the cardboard carton instead of the styrofoam....easy to compost.