Let's make celebrating Earth Day (April 22) fun and meaningful! Whether you're going all-out or keeping it low-key, there are ways to get your family going green on April 22nd, and all year long! Here are some ways to celebrate and show some love to the planet:
🌱 Get Your Hands Dirty
- Plant flowers! Simple and easy, and crucial for all the pollinators! Also a great way to get kids involved in gardening and teaching about the life cycle of plants.
- Clean up a park or join up with a local clean up group- you can even do it in your own neighborhood.
- Plant a garden- even if it is a small indoor space! Indoor plants can help with air purification while boosting your mood (and possibly reducing stress)
♻️ Live a Little Greener
- Select reusable items (straws, bags, containers) over single use
- Shop 2nd hand: save money & give new live to pre-loved items!
- Check out my Savvy Shopping Guide to find the best spots to shop!
- Install a rain barrel- trap rainwater to use in your garden or to let your kids use for outdoor fun!
🚶♀️ Choose Earth-Friendly Activities
- Take a walk or hike in one of Reading's great parks and trails! Take the time to appreciate the nature that surrounds us.
- Do an outdoor scavenger hunt- see how many native animals, birds, plants, or trees in PA you can find in your area
- Go bird watching- Grab some binoculars and see what local birds live by you.
- If you have never been, I highly recommend checking out Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
🎨 Get Creative
- Collect recycling (clean items) and let your family use their imaginations to create! Bird feeders from cans, sensory bottles from old water bottles, vases from glass jars. The ideas are endless!
- Upscale old items- Stained shirt? Tye dye!
- Painting with items found in nature- deepen your appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us!
- Another fun idea: paint rocks to leave around public places to brighten a strangers day!
- Clay imprints with items found in nature- imprint flowers, leaves, sticks, etc. into clay to create unique images
- Make homemade bird seed ornaments- attract all of the feathered beauties to your yard!
Going green is the best way to protect our planet, health, and our family's futures. When we work together, we can set a powerful example for our kids and our communities- sustainability improves the environment, saves money, and boosts everyone's well-being. Going green simply means being mindful of our carbon footprint and making small changes to help ourselves, and our wonderful planet Earth!
