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April is for the Earth.

 

     Earth day is in April, and for this month a majority of my social media posts will be for the Earth- sustainability, lifestyle, adventure, and respect for the one earth we are given.  The earth was here before humans and will be here long after.  However, we need to be better humans for the earth and its other inhabitants.  So I implore you- what are some ways that you can personally achieve this?

 

     I enjoy gardening, and I’m very big on the grow food not lawns movements.  I understand having a yard to play in, but that doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive- you can let the “weeds” grow.  Like my grandmother says “Just because you didn’t plant it in a garden doesn’t make it a weed.”  This is very true- many common “weeds” are better than the grass and flowers we grow.  They are early pollinators for our bees, have beautiful little flowers, and are often edible!  Take the dandelion for example- every part of it is edible from the flower to the root.  Many types of violets have edible flowers and leaves.  Dead nettle is one of my favorites- I use it in tea, salads, and even skin salves (it is said to help with inflammation.)

     

     Try to throw away less. What can you reuse instead of throwing out?  I recently took some old t-shirts, cut them into strips, tied those together, and knitted a really cool rug for my bathroom.  I use old plastic containers as planters, my garden walls are made from pallets, and I’m even building a bicycle powered washer out of an old washing machine and bike frame.  Can you compost?  That allows for a more natural breakdown of organic materials and is great for gardens!  I enjoy making cards out of recycled paper for friends and relatives. 

 

     How much utilities are you using?  Are you turning off lights, opening curtains and windows, conserving water, and using less electricity?  If we can’t all go solar, we can certainly be better with what we are using.  Be honest- how many times have you worn something once, it’s clearly not dirty, but you throw it in the wash anyway?  I’ve done it.  Not everything has to be washed with every use.  Do you have a spot for a clothesline or clothing rack to dry on? I genuinely enjoy using my clothesline.  A simply $1 dish tub can help to conserve water.  Catch your rinse water and use it in the gardens!  I even know people who use it to flush the toilets with.  You can get free large buckets from many grocery store bakeries and delis and reuses those buckets for compost, water conservation, planting, and so much more. 

 

     So how are you going to help? 

 

If you'd like to see some beautiful footage of our planet, please check out my newest youtube video of my recent backpacking trip!