There’s really not any holiday that isn’t fun when it comes to celebrating. Some traditions revolve around food and big family meals, others get you outside with friends and fireworks. Even Earth Day, a relatively new holiday, has its own traditions that make it a fun way to give back to the environment.
This year, Earth Day turns 52. How will you celebrate its birthday?
If in need of inspiration, these five options make it easy to do something good at the local level, and keep up the positive contribution all year long.
1. Tackle your yard
This request isn’t as daunting as it sounds. You don’t have to design the perfect landscape plan or even get rid of those lingering weeds. Instead, on Earth Day, consider putting something new, and green, onto your property.
Enhancing the environment in your own backyard could be as simple as planting a sapling or a few flowers in pots. You could finally set up that small vegetable garden you’ve been considering. All kinds of tasty veggies thrive in Michigan, including squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, carrots, celery, onions and more.
Anything you plant will continue to grow and add natural beauty to your space way after Earth Day is over too.
2. Brighten up a community in Michigan
Earth Day is an ideal time to volunteer with a local organization already doing good for the planet. In Michigan, it’s easy to see what opportunities are available.
One great way to clean up your community is by adopting a section of highway. Especially if you’re a business owner, or can suggest this idea to your boss, it’s fairly simple to adopt a highway in just about any city or town. Then, all you need are willing hands and some trash bags to make a continual difference.
3. Rethink where you trash goes
Although some of us do recycle, there’s still a lot of trash we throw out that we could repurpose. This year, for Earth Day, consider doing some research into composting. It’s a long-term activity that benefits the earth by reducing the amount of waste getting dumped in landfills.
Composting does require some supplies, and a basic understanding of what items can and can’t go into the bin. The Environmental Protection Agency is a great resource for this exact information.
4. Take a hike
Getting out in nature is not only a relaxing activity, but for Earth Day, it can inspire your next environmentally-conscious project. Even taking an hour to hit the trails or walk through your neighborhood can do the trick.
Wherever you go, make sure this walk is about your surroundings. Unplug from electronics, don’t even listen to music, and take in the natural beauty that’s all around.
5. Support companies already making an impact
Another great way to celebrate Earth Day indefinitely is to look into the brands you buy most often. Do they have sustainability projects in place? What are they doing to offset their own waste? If the answer is nothing, maybe it’s time to start buying different products. Supporting businesses who care about the environment also makes an impact.
This is true for anything you purchase, even gasoline. At SpeedyQ, the Drive program offsets ten pounds of carbon dioxide every time you go in and fill up your vehicle. By investing in carbon reduction projects, this harmful gas, your car emits every time you turn it on, lingers a little less in our atmosphere.
Not only is SpeedyQ doing its part for the air we breathe, but every time you buy a hot or cold beverage in a SpeedyQ Market, 100 percent of the waste is offset. Filling up on Earth Day ensures you’re doing a little something, but SpeedyQ also makes it easy to help the environment all year long.
Celebrate Earth Day Year Round
Start with Earth Day, April 22, 2022. Make a difference in your local community and keep it up all year long. There are plenty of opportunities for those who want to invest in the plant and keep it healthy for future generations.
To learn more about Earth Day visit the EPA’s website or the official Earth Day event site.