Earth Day: connecting with our roots

by Shyamala Rajan, Christine Smith and Gurram Gopal

Being under some form of stay-at-home or lockdown or social distancing or other isolation methods for a few weeks has given all of us opportunities to learn and become more aware of our impact on the world around us. What are some simple things we can do to be more sustainable while developing good habits in our children and others around us? Some of our suggestions are listed below. We woud love to get your ideas to add to the list- please post them in the comments section!

Become a Foodie:

Grow Smart: Grow your own vegetables, especially herbs. They can be grown in outdoor gardens as well as in studio apartments. Growing one’s own herbs means a fresh and timely supply of rosemary, basil, mint, and all the other stuff that gives flavor to the dishes we all make!

Buy Smart. Buy fewer packaged foods to reduce food waste and packaging waste.

Cook Smart. Use all the foods that have been pushed to the back, the excess produce or the leftovers and especially any condiments that we might have bought more than needed.

Plan Smart. Plan your menu with similar ingredients. This makes cooking easier and creates less waste as ingredients can be used across multiple dishes. For example, herbs leftover from the main dish can be added to a salad.

Become a Master Composter. Create your own composting system which works even in a small space like a studio apartment. Compost makes for a great gift that turns gardeners green!

Connect with Nature. Take walks or bike rides (with helmets) to explore and enjoy the natural world. Appreciate the plants and animals that share our planet. Fortunately these may be easier to spot now than before.  

Explore Local Library Resources. Local libraries are providing free access to numerous resources, including streaming sites like Hoopla and Kanopy. These sites have many entertaining and educational movies and documentaries that we can watch and learn from and become more educated citizens.

Recycling and Reuse.  Revisit your local town’s recyclables list. Chances are some new materials have been added to the DO Recycle list. Determine what can safely be reused throughout the day. Use water from food preparation to water indoor/outdoor plants. Kids can be great at helping with these tasks and they enjoy learning from doing.