I really like Earth Day. It falls a few days before my birthday (Yes, I’m the girl who celebrates “Birthday Month”), so every year I try to do something in the Earth’s and my honor like buy something to plant in my yard — flowers are my favorite. In fact, I did so this weekend with my son and we talked about Earth Day as we planted. I fancy myself a true Earth Mama. To me, Earth Day marks the heart of Spring. In a few weeks, Summer slides onto centerstage, and the newness and moderation Spring represents, transitions into another phase of our journey around the sun.
Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States on Wednesday, April 22, 1970. There were parties, teach-ins and gatherings of all kinds dedicated to environmental awareness on about 2,000 college campuses, thousands of primary and secondary schools, and in individual communities across the country. Fast forward 50 years, add in 193 different countries across the globe and you have Earth Day 2020. Half a century has passed, yet Earth Day’s mission remains the same: to support, sustain and make more clean communities worldwide.
COVID-19 has changed the way everyone will celebrate this year. This year’s theme is “Climate Action,” but lots of locales are still observing stay at home orders. Most outdoor community cleanups and events are going to piggy-back off of National Cleanup Day and Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup which don’t happen until the Fall. However, there may be a few events that will still be held on or around April 22 because they comply with local safety conditions. Check in with earthday.org’s Find a Cleanup web page for possible locations near you.
Even if you can’t get to an official Earth Day event, there are still lots of easy things you can do in your community to honor Mother Earth while also maintaining a safe social distance.
- Plant a Tree
Trees that are native to your area provide food and a home for pollinators like bees (by the way, we need to save those little guys), birds and other wildlife. Planting a tree is a great way to engage and educate the whole family. There are lots of videos like this one, where you can find information about how best to plant a tree. There is nothing like planting a tree and watching it grow. Especially if it’s a fruit-bearing tree. Plant a tree, and literally enjoy the fruits of your labor. - Virtual/Digital Celebrations
Many global Earth Day festivities will be held online…like everything else nowadays. You can attend a live digital event in your area or find one just about anywhere in the world by logging on. Earthday.org is a great resource to find social media campaigns, online teach-ins (like in the old days but digital and obviously updated) and more. If you find yourself celebrating from a safe social distance and want to share your day with others, follow the promoted hashtags of #EarthDay2020 and #EARTHRISE. There are also plans underway to have a major global event across digital platforms and social media to mark the 50th anniversary. - Give a Gift that Keeps on Giving (sort of)
Do you know someone who is celebrating a special occasion? Consider giving that special someone the gift that keeps on giving…zero times. “Zero waste” gift boxes are completely reusable and recycled. There are lots of ideas on Pinterest, or for those who are not as artsy or DIY saavy, but still have big hearts, there are several businesses online that specialize in great gift ideas. - Spring into Spring Cleaning Action
My family and I have been in close quarters for over a month now. One of the first rules I laid out, if we were going to all make it through the quarantine in one piece, was that the house had to be showroom clean. That never happened. However, we have managed to stay neater than I would have expected. We will use this Earth Day as motivation to air out the house and set those dust bunnies free. Keep America Beautiful has a few COVID-19 specific tips to help you responsibly clean up your living space, while using environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies the EPA considers safe and effective to use against the virus. - The Re-TeeTM was Made For This
SanMar’s new and very popular District® Re-TeeTM is an investment in the Earth’s future. It is made from 100% recycled materials and there are also plans to extend the fully-recycled clothing line to more than just t-shirts. Soon there will be more choices and more ways to recycle, reduce and reuse in style.
Stay safe out there. Enjoy and take good care of your little spot on the Earth. Let us know what you’re doing this Earth Day. Join the conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.