Earth Day 2010

Happy Earth Day Bloggers!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year (is that sad?), because I can express to people, without preaching, that we can do little things to help our planet.  I'm not suggesting you try to change the world by leaps and bounds - I'm just saying think about what you can do.

I write a post every year on Earth Day (well, for the whole 2 years I've been a 'blogger')... here is my 2008 Earth Day post and here is my 2009 Earth Day post.  I'd especially like to suggest checking out the 2009 post because there is a great link there on how to start your own compost pile.  Today, while my work schedule is extremely packed with things I need to get done before 4 o'clock, I am taking time out to talk to you and tell you that you can help!

Start small.  Don't feel obligated to change the world overnight.

First and foremost, the easiest thing you can do is recycle.  It's takes almost no effort.  Get a separate bin for papers, plastics, cans, etc... done.  Second, if you are a smoker or know someone who does - let's put an end to all the cigarette butts being tossed out car windows and onto the side of our roads.  Seriously, I can't stress enough how much this bothers me.  What gives you the right?!  It's the equivalent to tossing your McDonald's bag, full of trash, out your car window.

I hate that we only talk about this one day a year...

Target Field (which is the new home of the Minnesota Twins Baseball Team) is the 'greenest ballpark in America'... how awesome is that?!  It recycles, and even if half the people there decide to use the recycling bins available, it's that much less waste in a landfill and that much more waste that can be potentially reused.  The ballpark has water saving toilets; pull up on the handle to flush liquid waste, down for brown.  When it rains, Target Field collects the water and reuses it to water the field and to wash down the seats.  The stadium was built with as many local products as possible to cut down on shipping and to support our local economy.  There is a public transit stop right outside the stadium and people are encouraged to take the train!  Read for yourself all about Target field and how green it is!  How can you not love something like that?!

Okay, so back to you and I; how can we help, you ask?

• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle - need I say more?
• Carpool or use public transit or bike or walk - anything to reduce car emission (and improve your health)
• STOP littering (this includes cigarette butts) - plain and simple
• Switch to energy efficient light bulbs - they are not cheap, so change them out as needed, not all at once.
• Turn off electronics - when your not using it or in the room, turn off the TV, radio, lights, etc.
• Bring your own bag - everywhere you go you should be bringing your own bag; grocery store, Target, EVERY. WHERE.  You can buy the bags almost everywhere now-a-days (or maybe you have an old bag in the closet you can use?)... so start using them.  No more plastic!
• Grow your own veggies - do you need an explanation?
• Wash with cold and dry outside - Using cold water to wash saves energy by not making your hot water heater kick on, and drying clothes on a clothes line eliminates the dryer altogether!
• Stop with the (plastic) water bottles - seriously folks... go buy a reusable and refillable water bottle.  How many plastic bottles have we had to produce and toss in the landfill in the past year?  ugh.
• Start a compost pile - great for your plants and better for your waste pile.

Had enough yet?  Okay, I'll be done.

I recycle.  I {try} to use the reusable grocery bags or not take a bag at all, if possible.  I'm trying to use refillable water bottles more.  I always wash clothes in cold water.  I NEVER litter (I'd rather have my car full of garbage than throw one piece of it outside).  We are slowly switching to the new light bulbs... my mom just unplugged her outside lighthouse and changed to solar powered lights.  

All of this stuff is hard, I know.  Small steps in the right direction though... and we are well on our way to doing something big.  If you recycle one thing a day, eventually it will become habit and you'll start to recycle everything in a day.  baby.. steps..

Now I want to hear form you - what have you done in the past year to become more green?  What will you do in the coming year to become more green?  What will you do today to help better our planet?