We are just One Week Away from Earth Day 2019! I’m so excited!
There are so many ways to celebrate Earth Day, and I hope you’ll choose to join me in one of them. Here’s a list of what I’m doing, and ideas for you! Check out these events to attend, ideas to do at home, and organizations to support!
Local Earth Day Events:
- Indiana Earth Day Festival: We’ll be attending this year as a family, and I can’t wait! From the Nature.org website: “The 2019 Earth Day Indiana Festival will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Historic Military Park at White River State Park. Come to the festival for local food vendors, kid’s activities, over 125 exhibitors, live music, and a 5K run/walk.” There’s also a 5K and 1 mile fun run.
- Living Lightly Gardening Workshop: This one is my event! Bring your kiddos out to the Grace Gardens (at the back of the Grace Church 146th Street parking lot–look for the picnic shelter) at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 22. We’ll start by talking a little bit about what Earth Day is and some basics of gardening, and then we’ll get our hands into some dirt and plant seeds. Flower and veggie seeds will be available. Come join us, and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy together after.
- Living Lightly Trail Hike & River Cleanup: Another chance to hang out with me! We’ll be meeting at Potter’s Bridge Park in Noblesville at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, and we’ll take a walk along the White River Greenway. Bring your family and friends, and some gloves for your hands. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day, so don’t miss the chance to get out and enjoy it!
Ideas to try at home:
- Read a book. I currently have about 20 kids’ books from the library about Earth Day, the environment, how to care for our planet, how plants grow, etc. I picked them up for my Earth Day events, but believe me: there were plenty more on the shelves! This is a great way to start a conversation with your kids and family. There are also SO MANY great books written for adults to get you thinking and help you learn new ways to care for this big beautiful planet of ours.
- Visit a website. The internet is FULL of websites dedicated to teaching us how to care for our planet. Start with EarthDay.org or just Google “green living,” “eco-friendly,” or “environment.” I promise you’ll find some great info out there. Also, this one from National Geographic Kids is great for the younger crowd!
- Plant something. Put some seeds in dirt, give it water and sunlight, and watch it grow! Whether it’s a garden, a tree, or some flowers, more green plants is always a gift to the planet.
- Go outside! It’s hard to celebrate the Earth if you don’t get out and see it, so lace up your shoes and get out there. Whether it’s a walk around your neighborhood, a trip to a local park, or a hike up a mountain… just get out there and get grateful for this beautiful planet.
- Pick up trash. Do you see litter when you’re walking around? Pick it up! This keeps it out of our waterways and eventually the oceans. And it prevents local wildlife from ingesting something dangerous. You’re making a big difference when you pick up that candy wrapper or soda bottle!
- Watch a documentary. With the amazing advances in cinematography, there are some GORGEOUS miniseries and films about our planet available these days. Check out one of the “Planet Earth”/”Blue Planet” shows, or the new “Our Planet” on Netflix.
- Make an eco-friendly choice. Make a swap for plastic-free or waste-free living. Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and the water while you brush your teeth. Recycle, or even better: reduce your consumption. Start a compost bin… there are tons of ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle: check out my other blog posts or Instagram feed for ideas!
Organizations to Support:
If you have a busy weekend or day, and you don’t get around to attending one of the events or participating in another way, you can ALWAYS donate to organizations who are out there doing good work.
- I’m raising money for the Sierra Club this month (check that out HERE)
- GreenPeace
- the Nature Conservancy
- Environmental Defense Fund
Just do something.
No matter what fits your schedule, lifestyle, or budget, just get out there and do something. One step at a time, we can heal and protect our planet!
Living Lightly in the Suburbs 