Seedlings of Change

I’ve always been a greenie. In fact, in the second grade I skipped school on Arbor Day to plant “trees” (aka stalky weeds) along the ditch bank. Little did I know I was ahead of my time, just barely. The first annual Earth Day was held the following week in 1970.

Today, Earth Day includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network), including a billion people in more than 193 countries. That’s a lot of voices that have an immense scale of collective power, even if each one committed to only one new earth-conscious action for the rest of the year.

Better late than never …

… and easier said than done. The official Earth Day theme for 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. I’m sharpening my pencil on a host of ideas, but for now, let’s get after doing something to big with very little changes to your lifestyle.

Here are five actions you can take to support Mother Earth, starting today:

1. Invest in an eco-friendly water bottle and keep it with your keys and wallet.

2. Take your own carry-out packaging when you dine out.

3. Walk, cycle, carpool or take public transportation as an alternative, even once a week. (If you absolutely must drive due to time or location, try to consolidate trips, errands or mileage.)

4. Plant a pollinator garden with pesticide-free seedlings and starter plants—‘tis the season to step out with a greener foot and smaller footprint.

5. Take a consumption reduction challenge for 30 days, which is the magic number to cultivate a new habit. Start by asking yourself a few simple questions before putting an item in your grocery cart or clicking the “Order” button:

• Do I already have it? (take inventory of your pantry or closet, early and often)

• Is there a good substitute I already own?

• Can I live without it … comfortably? (We often don’t distinguish between need and want)

• When, and where will I dispose of it? (Awareness is a great incentive to revisit 1, 2, and 3 above)

• How can I maximize its use or shelf life? (Think shared newspaper subscription or splitting the multi-pack with friends or neighbors.)

Let's do this together

My pledge is to adopt all five above more consistently. Yes, my bar is probably low compared to many and possibly out of the question for others. No judgement, of any of us, we gotta start somewhere!

I promise to check back in a month with a progress report and invite you to join the conversation: What’s your currency and commitment?