Did you know that April 22, 1970 is considered the start of the environmental movement? For 52 years, we’ve been celebrating Earth Day by planting trees, participating in community clean-ups, gardening, hiking local trails, attending environmental events and more.

 

Are you wondering what the environment and your health have in common?

 

Everything!

 

The air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the oceans and lakes you swim in, the shelter you rely on—all of these impact your health. When you take care of the environment, you’re also showing love for yourself and your community.

 

In celebration of Earth Day—April 22, 2022—we’re sharing 22 ideas that are good for your health, and good for the environment. After all, environmental health is public health.

 

  1. Participate in a community clean-up. Do an online search and see if you can find an event picking up trash in your city’s parks or waterways. If you can’t find one, organize something in your own area. It’s a great way to show hometown pride and teach values to the neighborhood kids. Plus, you may even make new friends!

 

  1. Hang up the car keys. Whether it’s for a day, a week, or a month, see what it’s like to use transportation other than your car. Hop on a bike or lace up your walking shoes. It’s great for your heart, your lungs, and your surroundings.

 

  1. Plant a garden. You can grow your own fruits and veggies in any amount of space! If you have a yard, consider putting in garden beds. Otherwise, try your hand at container gardening. Tomatoes are a surefire win in a container, as are herbs and even some types of peppers.

 

  1. Support your local farmers. When you buy produce from local farms, you’re helping to cut down on energy/transportation costs, you’re able to eat with the seasons and you’re supporting a community business. Triple win! Spend the morning at your local farmer’s market or sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership and receive regular bountiful boxes of produce and protein from a farm.

 

  1. Recycle. If you don’t already sort your plastic, papers, and metals, it’s never too late to start! When you recycle, you’re reducing waste sent to landfills, conserving natural resources, creating jobs, and more.

 

  1. Participate in a local Earth Day walk or run. When you sign up for a group race, you’re committing to a goal, and that’s a great motivator for your workout routine. With the Earth Day theme, you’ll be alongside like-minded people, all out to enjoy the fresh air.

 

  1. Commit to using a refillable water bottle. Plastic water bottles may seem convenient, but they’re incredibly wasteful. Buy a sturdy water bottle you can refill and carry it with you. Not only will you be cutting down on waste, you may even find that the easy access helps you stay hydrated.

 

  1. Take reusable bags to the store. Plastic bags are useful for just a few minutes, and then they end up in landfills, oceans, rivers and blowing in the breeze. Bringing your own bag (BYOB) is an easy way to cut down on plastic waste.

 

  1. Reflect on whether you need to use that plastic fork, knife or straw. Single-use plastics are a growing concern. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, between 1950 and 2017, approximately 9,200 tons of plastic was produced, and around 7,000 of those tons became waste. Consider the plastic you use once and then discard, such as yogurt containers, plastic packing materials, to-go containers, and drink lids, and consider if you can find a more sustainable option, or go without.

 

  1. Go thrift or consignment shopping. The phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” can apply to clothing and furniture as well as household items. Shopping at second-hand stores can feel like a treasure hunt: not only can you find stylish items, you save money to boot.

 

  1. Clean out your closet and donate what you no longer use. You know you have shirts, dresses and pants shoved to the back of the closet that you haven’t worn in years. Drop them off at a local charity, so they can go to someone who will use them. It’s fashion recycling!

 

  1. Take a hike. Round up the family or grab a friend and head to the hills! (Or lake, or countryside, or state park). Earth Day is a day to appreciate the planet’s natural beauty, so immerse yourself in it and enjoy.

 

  1. Start composting. You can turn your trash into treasure and help your garden grow! Compostable items include fruits and vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, nutshells and more. When you compost these in your backyard or even indoors (instructions from the EPA are here), you can use the compost to enrich soil. Plus, you’re reducing your carbon footprint by keeping trash out of the landfill.

 

  1. Plant a tree. Check with your local government to see if they have any tree-planting programs for residents. While you’re at it, ask about the best native trees to add to your area. 

 

  1. Re-think your yard. If you have a yard that demands lots of water, consider steps you could take that could minimize water use, like replacing grass with native plants and flowers or placing rocks in different areas. Bonus: As you make these changes, you may also realize the yard is easier than ever to maintain.   

 

  1. Plan a picnic. Create a lavish spread (bonus if you get it from the farmer’s market; double bonus if you avoid using single-use plastic) and head to a favorite outdoor spot to enjoy the great outdoors.

 

  1. Plan an Earth Day craft or activity with the kids. Build a birdhouse, make a leaf collage, plant seeds in eggshells or go for a neighborhood scavenger hunt. Think of a fun way to talk about nature, and get the kids excited about it!

 

  1. Volunteer with a local organization. Find a non-profit that’s doing meaningful work with nature, the environment, sustainable food, or other areas, and find out how you can be of assistance, whether it’s on Earth Day, specifically, or all year long.

 

  1. Visit a forest, botanical garden, arboretum, or another outdoor sanctuary. Have you heard of forest bathing? The idea is to find stress relief in nature. Find a place to immerse yourself in flowers and trees in your area. Look for butterflies, birds, and bees and admire the foliage. Take some deep breaths. Can you feel the stress leaving your body?

 

  1. Consider ways to make your home more energy-efficient. Want to reduce your environmental footprint and your power bills? Take a tour of your house and look for ways you could cut costs. Some ideas include switching your light bulbs to LEDs; sealing cracks around your home to reduce heating and cooling costs; using window coverings during hot, sunny days to keep your home cooler; relying on natural light when you can. Check with your utility for more advice.

 

  1. Recycle your e-waste. Do you have old phones, tablets, and computers shoved in a drawer or closet in your house? Declutter by donating or recycling them. Check out the EPA’s guide to doing so safely. 

 

  1. Keep it up! You should keep your health in mind every day, and the same is true for the earth’s health. Pick and choose some of the ideas above, and pledge to keep them going all year long.