Well, I missed posting an official "Earth Day" blog entry, but not because I forgot about our wonderful world. It's because I don't celebrate "Earth Day" per se. But before you go green with anger, hear me out...
I believe we should have more than one designated day out of 365 in which we think about our precious Earth. Earth Day should be Earth Way, a way of life that keeps us constantly aware of our actions and the footprint we leave behind. You can find countless resources online and in your community that will advise you on the who, what, where, when, and whys of recycling and "going green". However, not all of these well-intended tips and tricks are easy to implement, and all too often, the average person (i.e. me) forgets their hemp shopping bag at home.
So consider the following some advice on going light green. Here are some everyday things you can do that are easy, enjoyable, and above all, practical.
Watch a movie...
In order to really care about something, you need to understand the scope of the situation. Knowledge is power. A great way to learn more about the environment (in addition to actually reading, of course) is to see one of the many moving films about our planet in peril. Netflix is my personal favorite for watching movies, and many titles are available instantly-- which means no waiting for your movie and no shipping/ driving to get it to you! Pretty green, my friend...
Worthwhile flicks: Earth, An Inconvenient Truth, March of the Penguins, Who Killed The Electric Car?, End of Suburbia
Read it online...
I know we all love our share of glossy magazines and NY Times crossword puzzles. But nowadays, so much of our news is available online, and cutting down on your paper intake can make our forests breathe a little easier. I'm not trying to kill the newspaper industry, but in case you haven't noticed, it's got one foot out the door.
One Man's Junk...
And lastly, something I absolutely love doing is creating lovely works of art out of odds and ends that may otherwise end up in a landfill. I've dedicated the month of April to collage pieces created with recycled materials.
There are many artists taking throwaway items and reincarnating them into amazing works. A few of my favorites are the lively Garbage Bag Sculptures by Joshua Allen Harris, and fun jewelry at Eco-Artware.
Bring out your inner artist and create a collage with some old giftwrap, colorful paper shopping bags, fabric, beads, newspaper, magazines, and endless other items that can transform into artwork. Kids also enjoy a good collage project, and learn a lot about how to implement recycling in a beautiful way! Check out this Matisse-inspired lesson plan for a crafty afternoon...
So there are my tips for venturing into a more eco-savvy life... I basically told you to watch movies, go Internet-surfing, and make some art! We need to start somewhere... if you can't go green completely, try going light green.
