Happy Earth Day! Ideas to Green Your World.

What will you be doing for Earth Day? Hopefully contributing to the solution! My friend Mindy from Bamboosa has decided to plant an organic garden, you can't get any more local than your own back yard and talk about enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor! UPDATE! Check out the photos of Mindy's garden at the bottom!

I have been trying to think what I can add to my Earth Day efforts…so I have been looking into actions that would help, here are a few ideas:

• Paint your roof White! The term is "Cool Roof" and doing this one thing alone can reduce your carbon emissions by about 20%. The largest impact is in large cities where there is less green space and the effects can be felt almost immediately. If most of our commercial buildings would paint their roofs white, it would reduce carbon emissions by about a million metric tons (according to the EPA) imagine if we all did it!
• Replace your lawn with native plants, especially if you live in a hot, arid region. If that sounds like too much, why not start by conserving water by using the drip method, replacing part of your yard with native grasses or a vegetable garden?
• Do you own a rain barrel? Capture the rain and use it for summer watering. Another great way to keep water clean is to use permeable pavers to prevent urban runoff, erosion, and this is a natural way to filter the water instead of sending it directly into storm drains.
• Safely dispose of toxic materials like paint, CFL's, e-waste (computers, televisions, cell phones etc.) pesticides, batteries, antifreeze, motor oil…etc. Find out where to safely dispose at Earth911
• Plant a tree! Forests are the lungs of the planet; trees provide shade, fruit, beauty and clean the air at the same time. This is a fun and easy way to help the planet, enjoy the day with your family and to do something lasting and meaningful. Jonsteen, a local business here on the North Coast is supplying 1 million trees to Lowe's for an Earth Day tree planting give-away, seedlings to be given away at participating Lowe's across the country this Saturday. Read more about it here.

Need some more ideas? Lets see, you can compost, donate or sell unwanted possessions instead of dumping, install low flow faucets or toilets, buy energy efficient appliances, reduce your carbon footprint, shop the local farmers market or buy from a CSA, start a recycling program in your office, use public transportation or carpool, have clout in your company? Suggest a green fleet or better yet - electric when it comes to replacing vehicles, stop idling and fill your tires to proper levels, power down especially at night by using a power strip, if your energy provider has a green option, opt for that! (Find out if your state has this option http://www.energy.gov/) wash in cold, use the line to dry, go paperless (billing) and stop unwanted junk mail.

Looking for another way to make your impact felt? Join with others around the world and pledge to be part of the solution with "A Billion Acts of Green" where you can pledge to green the world in your own way. Please go to the Earth Day Action Network to Pledge. http://act.earthday.org/

Happy Earth Day - you've done your part today, now celebrate and think of more ways to green your world throughout the year!

Penny Schafer
Taraluna - Fair Trade, Organic & Green Gifts

Garden photo courtesy Mindy Johnson Saintsing
Bamboosa