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7 Ways to Be More Earth-Friendly on Earth Day

In the grand scheme of things, each of us can make a profound difference in our carbon footprint by making some slight changes to how we live. Here are 7 ways we can be more earth-friendly and sustainable.

The foundation of Earth Day is a concept  very dear to the hearts of preparedness-minded individuals – sustainability.

It shouldn’t be about recognizing a single day, but should be a time when you sit down and make long term plans on how your family can make a difference in maintaining the rich resources of our planet.

Be the Change

Remember, the road toward mindful living begins with a single step and your actions can influence others around you. My sister was my inspiration to be more conscious of our natural resources. She has always been on the road of sustainability and was the one reminding us to recycle and not be wasteful. As an adult, I have a better understanding of this and have made my own long term plans, thanks to her.

In the grand  scheme of things, each of us can make a profound difference in our carbon footprint by making some slight changes to how we live.

7 Ways to Be More Earth-Friendly

  1. Be Chemical Free – Store bought cleaners are filled with harmful chemicals that over time can cause health issues, including long term bronchial issues, and even cancer. Rather than taking the chance of developing long term health issues, I’d rather use more gentle cleaners. Here are 9 natural all-purpose cleaners that every home should have.
  2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Recycling is one of the best ways for you to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. Recycling is important to both the natural environment and us. Keeping things out of the landfills will help our environment and our soils. If you have babies, consider using cloth diapers, re-using second hand clothes from others, making homemade baby food rather than buying the glass jars at store. You can recycle your water, your trash, and even turn some of your trash into upcycled pieces of art work. Learn 10 different ways to make your trash work for you.
  3. Plant a Tree – Trees are the world’s single largest source of breathable oxygen. They are under threat, which means we are under threat. Planting trees in the community, at churches or at the home is a great way to keep our environment strong. Further, if planting a tree or two at the home, consider planting trees and bushes that produce fruit so that you can enjoy harvests of fresh fruit in the future.
  4. Solar – We have a finite amount of energy available to us. One of the best ways to be more sustainable is to incorporate solar power into your household. Whether it be adding solar panels to the home or adding solar battery chargers to your preps, these eco-friendly solutions can help the environment and help you be more independent from the grid.
  5. Water Conservation Methods – Those that do not have access to their own water sources run the risk of being completely dependent on the city’s or town’s municipal water supply. When that supply is consumed or contaminated, emergency contingency plans must be put into place to find another water source. Learning how to be less dependent on the local water supply will  ease this burden and, in the process, make you more self reliant. Here are sustainable options for water harvesting.
  6. Grow Your Own Food – When you grow your own food supply, you use less gas when traveling to and from the store. Your carbon footprint reduces because you are using your own land to grow food. If you choose to go the organic route, you can use natural composts and materials found in the yard to fertilize and bring nutrients to your soil for better harvests.
  7. Teach Your Kids  – We must teach our children how to be more mindful of protecting the earth’s finite resources. By informing them, we are setting them upon a self-sustaining path for life. For instance, you can teach them that they can recycle paper in bins or go a step further and show them how to use  cut up cardboard and paper (black and white or colored paper with soy ink) and add them to a lasagna garden.

What I admire most about the unique path we are all on is that we have already adopted many of these sustainable concepts in our own lives. Ultimately, we are carving a path to live more independently as well as being in unison with nature. As I close this, I am reminded of my most favorite quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Happy Earth Day to all of you, and remember, you can make a difference.

This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on April 22nd, 2014