Everyday Ways to Make Earth Day Every Day

In my family, I’m referred to, ever so lovingly, as “the hippie dippie whack doodle.” Between bouts of meatlessness to countless retail boycotts, I’ve built a reputation for myself. If you told my family that I’d chained myself to a tree in protest of deforestation, they’d probably believe you.
 
Realistically, though, I’m not a total hippie. Nor a whack doodle. Everyday, I make an effort to make environmentally friendly decisions. And, every day, I make decisions that are easy, convenient, or best for my family instead of Mother Earth.  The way I see it, I won’t ever be perfect! But, that shouldn’t stop me from doing what I can.  It shouldn’t stop you, either!

 
So, I’ve compiled some of my favorite ways to be kind to our mother in honor of Earth Day this weekend.
 
1. Ditch the plastic! One-time-use plastic is nothing but a giant waste of resources and a cancer to the environment.  Easy swaps include: stainless steel straws, stainless steel water bottles or cups, beeswax wraps and glassware (I donated my Tupperware to reduce plastic in my house. But if you love yours, I still think any reusable storage is preferable to things like baggies or cling wrap).
 
2. BYOB – Bring Your Own Bags. Don’t stop at the reusable canvas grocery bags and soft-sided cooler bags. You can also buy your own, mesh produce bags, too.
 

3. Break up with your K-cups.  I read that the inventor of the Keurig despises his own invention due to the thousands of K-cups that make it to the landfill every day. How will you get that single-serve cuppa? Try a French Press. No icky plastic K-cup. Not even a paper filter! If you must have your fancy machine, try a Nespresso – the cups are aluminum and 100% recyclable. 
 
4. BYOT – Bring Your Own Tumbler. While it is cheaper, easier, and more delicious to use your own French Press at home, you’re probably going to want a latte every once in a while. So bring your own tumbler. Those paper cups are usually lined with lovely chemicals that make it impossible to recycle them.
 
5. Consider cloth.  This is a tricky one for me. The negative side of cloth is the rise in laundry done, and therefore, water wasted.  The way I eventually made the choice was looking at the price. I’m a stay at home mom, after all, and I cut costs wherever I can. Cloth diapers, cloth wipes, cloth napkins, and cloth “paper” towels have resulted in approximately three extra loads of wash a week, which is approximately $6.  The cost of a week’s worth of diapers is approximately $20, so the savings is readily evident.   also have no need to buy expensive butt paste, because we haven’t has a single diaper rash! 

6. Buy used. My girl, Audrey, just wrote a great post about thrift store shopping for her daughter’s clothes. Toys and books are also great second-hand finds. Most of my furniture has come from Craigslist or my favorite second-hand stores. I brag that I paid $80 for a 10-foot long Midcentury Modern table and six chairs! 
 
All of the above require small financial start up to get going.  But, when I say small, I mean small.  My cloth “paper towels” cost $6 for 60. Compared to the $15 every two months I was spending, that’s nothing!
 
Still, there are so many other small ways that don’t involve a financial investment!  
  • Reuse your plastic grocery sacks as garbage bags.  
  • Wash and reuse gass jars. 
  • Map out your errands for the most efficient journey in order to save on gas.  
  • Keep your lights turned off if you aren’t using them.  
  • Unplug your electronics when you aren’t using them. 
  • Stop ordering new books on Amazon and get a library card instead (I’m the WORST at this). 
  • Get a recycle bin for your house and use it.  
  • Buy recycled products.  
We don’t have to be perfect to show our love.  And, with so many different ways to be kind, we’re out of excuses. 
 
So, be kind to your mother!
 
Britt
Britt is a former nomad, who happily put down roots in the Kansas City suburbs to start her own family close to her parents and siblings. After three professional degrees and a brief stint as an elementary teacher with Teach for America, Britt now spends 40 hours a week working in the legal world. In what little free time she has left over, she pretends to do yoga, installs toilets, cans vegetables, quilts, entertains family and friends, and seeks adventure around KC and beyond with her two favorite boys. Though she and her husband, David, are new to parenting their 8 month old son, Benja, they already agree that they love him more than coffee. They just not-so-secretly hope that no one ever makes them choose between the two.