[leadin]Today is Earth Day, and whether you are young or old, liberal or conservative, black or white, male or female, you share one fact: We are all Earthlings.[/leadin]
The Earth is our home. It’s the only one we have, and as humans we’re kind of rough on our home. Here are a few easy things you can do — pledges, if you want to call them that — to lessen your impact. They aren’t much, but every step counts, right?
1 – Quit plastic bags
How are these things still so prevalent? They clog waterways, kill wildlife, never degrade, and generally suck. Bring reusable bags to the store or wear a backpack for toting purchased loads.
2 – Plant a garden
So rewarding, so easy. You get food and meditative outdoors time, right in your yard, no trucking-from-the-farm-in-Mexico needed.
3 – Eat less meat
Domestic meat is hard on the environment, creating huge amounts of methane and gobbling up resources. Just watering livestock required more than 2 million gallons per DAY in the United States. Cutting back a little on meat consumption is a small step, and who couldn’t use a few more veggies?
4 – Buy local beer
5 – Recycle your local beer can or bottle
6 – Open a window
7 – Repair outdoors gear
8 – Don’t wash your jeans
9 – Ride your bike
10 – Work from home on occasion
11 – Buy organic
12- Drive slower
13 – Air up your tires
14 – Use gear-buying dollars for good
15 – Give up bottled water
16 – Let your lawn grow, water less
17 – Wash laundry in cold water
18 – Air dry your laundry
19- Check Craigslist and FreeCycle before buying new
20 – Use rags instead of paper towels
21 – Repurpose food containers (jars) at home
22 – Keep vehicles on trails
23 – Don’t cut switchbacks
