5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Safely 🌎

 

Earth Day has arrived and we are ready to celebrate! Safely, that is. This year as vaccinations rise and the world gradually starts to open back up, it’s definitely still a good idea to stay as safe as possible when celebrating Earth Day and wear a mask. What is Earth Day? April 22nd is the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes to fight for a clean environment. This fight continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more and more apparent every day. Read more about the history of Earth Day here. We want to activate you on this day to get out and fight for the Earth in the safest way possible. Here are AVRE's 5 ways to celebrate Earth Day in the safest way while having the most fun. 

 

 

PLANT A GARDEN

Our forever favorite way to celebrate Earth Day is to plant a garden! Anything to awaken the inner gardener in all of us puts a smile on our faces. The act of personally adding more plants or flowers to your space makes this celebration all the more special. The sense of accomplishment that one feels after planting, watering and caring for a new plant and watching it grow is unmatched. We think you’ll love it. Plants help maintain the Earth’s atmosphere by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. What better way to show Mother Earth how much you love her this year, than by adding to some plush plants in her soil to grow? Clink on the link below for some easy plants to grow for beginners and items you will need to start. Happy growing!

9 Things to Know About Starting a Garden From Scratch 

 

 

TAKE A SOCIALLY DISTANCED WALK & DISCOVER NATIVE PLANTS 

Another way to celebrate Earth Day this year is to go for a walk. Spring is in full swing and the weather is perfect for a socially distanced walk to discover native plants in your area. Make sure to wear a mask and follow any guidelines for your state. We love learning more about the native plants that grow in our region and this is the perfect time to get to know yours too!. This site helps you identify the native plants by simply entering in your zip code Native Plant Finder. Native plants have so many benefits to the earth that most people are not aware of. Native plants do not require fertilizer, help prevent erosion and use less water than lawns. Celebrate Earth Day this year by supporting the Native Plants in your area that promote biodiversity on Earth.

 Here is a list of supplies/reminders for your walk: 

• Sun hat
• Mask
• Comfortable walking shoes 
• Sunblock 
• Water 
• Sunglasses 
• Layer clothing just in case it’s warmer than expected. 

 

 

LEARN ABOUT RECYCLING: 

If you don’t know by now, recycling is the future. Learning more about how recycling is accomplished in our communities is always a good idea. Another way to celebrate Earth Day this year is by educating yourself on ways to recycle efficiently. Learning about this process and how it helps the Earth is all we could ask for this Earth Day. Here are some of the benefits of recycling that you may not be familiar with:

• Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators
• Conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals
• Increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials
• Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials
• Saves energy

What happens to your recycling after it’s collected? You may not be sure right now, but you definitely will after you watch this video that details the journey of your recycling starting from your bin to the plant. Understanding this process is the 1st step to making the changes at home to become a more efficient recycler. Every little bit helps. Celebrate Earth Day the recycled way!

If we all continue to learn about recycling, we can better understand the effects it has on climate change. We want everyone to understand why this is important and that the small choices we make really do matter. To learn more about the process of recycling check out the basics on the EPA website here. This page breaks down recycling and the steps used to make the continuous loop represented by the recycling symbol. 

 

 

SHOP SUSTAINABLE BRANDS ONLINE: 

If you want to revamp your wardrobe for Earth Day, here are some sites you can use to search for conscious/sustainable brands Good On You, Eco Cult  and The Good Trade. By doing some research before you buy, you can find sustainable brands to purchase from and do your part one piece of clothing at a time. Making the transition to buying all sustainable can seem overwhelming but if you become a more thoughtful buyer, it really does make a difference. You are helping the Earth by not purchasing from fast fashion sites and supporting brands that are thinking about the big picture of climate change while they create products that are consciously made.

If there was ever a specific day to buy from a sustainable brand, then it’s Earth Day. Celebrate Earth Day by treating yourself to a pair of AVRE sneakers! All of our styles are made from recycled materials and are sustainably made to help combat climate change. Buying a pair of our sustainable sneakers is like giving Mother Earth a hug on her special day. 

AVRE is committed to achieving our goal of a zero waste future. We are on the path to lower our carbon footprint by reducing our energy usage by 45% which helps us improve air quality by emitting 30% less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We have also lowered our water consumption by 20% and use recycled packaging and paper that protect our rainforests. Lastly, all of our sustainable sneakers are made from 8-10 plastic bottles. To check out all of our recycled styles head to our site. 

WATCH A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT EARTH: 

Lastly, the safest possible way to celebrate Earth Day this year, is to stay home and watch a documentary about the Earth. There are several climate change documentaries to choose from, but we rounded up a list of our favorites to watch from the comfort of your own home and which streaming site you can find it on. 

• Chasing Coral - Netflix : Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. Divers, photographers and scientists set out on an ocean adventure to discover why the reefs are disappearing and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.

• Cowspiracy: The sustainability secret- Netflix : Follow the shocking, yet humorous, journey of an aspiring environmentalist, as he daringly seeks to find the real solution to the most pressing environmental issues and true path to sustainability.

• A Plastic Ocean - Netflix : A Plastic Ocean is an adventure documentary shot on more than 20 locations over the past 4 years. Explorers Craig Leeson and Tanya Streeter and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. 

• I Am Greta - Hulu : Greta Thunberg, 15, starts school striking for the climate. She skips school and sits outside the parliament to show the politicians that if they don't care about her future, why should she? A film about acting to stop climate change before it's too late.

Before the Flood - Disney+ : From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Fisher Stevens and Academy Award-winning actor, and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio, BEFORE THE FLOOD presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change. 

We hope this list helps give you some creative ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day this year and stay safe. We must all do our part and continue to wear a mask and stay safe. This year we want to make it a very special day for Mother Earth and show her the appreciation she deserves. We want to take this day to help educate and spread awareness about climate change to build environmental and climate literacy around the world. For more information about Earth Day visit earthday.org. Let us know in the comments how you are celebrating today!