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Happy Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day, fellow nature lovers! Since 1970, Earth Day celebrations have encouraged people to invest more in our dear Mother Earth. One way to celebrate this year, and every year, is by making simple changes to help reduce the amount of waste we produce every day. All of us remember being taught the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but let’s actually be proactive and follow this advice. To jog your memory, we have compiled a list of five simple changes to reduce waste and help out Mother Earth year round.
Compost Food Scraps and Yard Waste
According to the EPA, in 2013 the U.S. disposed of more than 35 million tons of waste. To do your part in reducing food waste, try composting your food and yard waste. Not only will Mother Earth thank you, but so will your garden! Composting helps fertilize your soil, and healthy plants will grow in return.
To get started with composting in your backyard, first, select a dry and shady spot for your compost pile. Then, add browns (dead leaves, branches and twigs) and greens (grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps and coffee grounds) as they are collected, and make sure to moisten these dry materials. Once your compost has been created, mix greens into the pile and bury your fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material.
Buy Items Made of Recycled Content
Another great way to reduce waste is by checking the labels when you are out shopping, and try to buy more items made with recycled content. Using items that have already been recycled promotes more reusable goods in stores. Make Mother Earth more proud, and bring reusable bags when you go out shopping! This way you save the environment, and also don’t have to carry ten heavy grocery bags.
Use Reusable Dishware at Work Instead of Disposables
Eating lunch at work or school? Ditch the disposables and use reusable cups, dishes and utensils. Not only will you be adding a simple change that will benefit our environment, but using these items also might encourage other people to reduce the amount of disposable goods they use. Even Starbucks has jumped on board with helping Mother Earth. Did you know that you can save money at Starbucks if you bring in your own reusable coffee mug? Talk about incentive!
Use Aeroponic Growers like Tower Garden to Grow Your Own Fruits and Vegetables
Invest in an Aeroponic Grower to grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. On your journey to healthy eating, by growing your own food, you can avoid purchasing prepackaged items. In the long run, you will save money from this purchase! Another benefit of Aeroponic growers is that they only use water and nutrients, which can help reduce the amount of pests, disease and weeds that may cause you to toss fruits and vegetables grown traditionally.
Consume More Whole Foods Instead of Prepackaged Fruits and Vegetables
Springtime also means the season of farmer’s markets is among us! Make a weekly tradition of it, and start visiting a farmer’s market to buy your fruits and vegetables. Not only can this be a fun, social outing, but it ultimately can reduce waste since prepackaged produce often ends up in a landfill.
Learn How to Store Fruits and Vegetables
Another great way to reduce waste is to make simple changes in the way you store all of your fruits and vegetables. Be sure to store them in separate bins since their natural gases can affect other surrounding produce. Freezing is another method of storing your food that can give you more time to enjoy your produce.
To freeze your fruits and vegetables, gather them when they are at their peak of freshness and place them in ice water. Dry thoroughly, then fill them to the top in air-tight containers or freezer bags to remove as much air as possible. Place them in a place where the temperature is at 0-degrees F or colder.
This holiday reminds us to take a moment to reflect on how we are helping or hurting the world around us. It’s important to incorporate simple changes like reducing, reusing and recycling to keep Mother Earth happy and clean! What One Simple Change are you making to gradually make every day Earth Day? Let us know how in the comments.
http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/residents/reduce/top-10-ways-reduce-waste
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-easy-ways-to-reduce-landfill-waste.php
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
http://www.zerowastehome.com/p/tips.html
