Earth Day – 22nd April – Get Involved and have some stay at home fun!!

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally and in some communities, activities can last for a whole week.

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action, an enormous challenge — but also full of opportunity.

What types of activities or resolutions do people adhere to during Earth Week and beyond? Some are listed below and it might be worth using the current world health situation to make this into some fun activities for the whole family:

Agree to eat less meat – get the family together to choose some menus and cook veggie meals instead.

Take the pesticide pledge and make the decision not to use pesticides on plants and crops – use Google to find a homemade, chemical free version.

Plant a tree or start your own vegetable garden, fruit planter or potato barrel.

Follow and support organisations that protect species and habitats.

Say no to disposable shopping bags – perhaps make your own fabric ones.

Choose products that have the least amount of packaging – get the family to choose products online for your shopping basket.

Buy unpackaged items when available.

Use what you already have instead of buying something new whenever possible.

Buy liquid products that are concentrated.

Avoid single serving foods that require extra packaging

Purchase reusable, rather than disposable, products such as mugs, dishes, cloth napkins, and metal flatware instead of paper cups, plates, and napkins, and plastic utensils.

Use refillable containers, like water bottles and soap containers, whenever possible.

Educate your children to take only as many paper towels and toilet roll sheets as they need.

Mend clothing, toys and other products so that they can be reused. Set up an account on Freecycle or Gumtree to give larger items a new home – this is an ideal time to organise advert content and photos, but please bear in mind that, due to social distancing, collection may not be possible for some time to come.

Find craft projects for used paper towel rolls, linens, boxes, packaging, and/or empty containers.

Use both sides of paper when printing from your computer.

Adults might like to try making their own wine, beer or ginger beer, this was very popular during the 1970’s and 80’s. Please drink responsibly.