Earth Day

Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson (a distant cousin of mine) on April 22, 1970. His idea was to hold a grassroots, environmental teach-in at each university across the United States, motivating community action around local environmental concerns. Since the first Earth Day that mobilized 20 million Americans on 2,000 college campuses, at 10,000 primary and secondary schools, and in hundreds of communities, it has become the largest secular observance in 192 countries with more than one billion participants and celebrants. The Earth Day Network is widely recognized for the global coordination of environmental education and activism with 22,000 partners around the world.

Earth Day is Sunday, but you don’t have to wait until then to do something to improve your habitat. Here’s a short list:

Junk Mail - The average American receives nearly 40 pounds of junk mail each year. Visit the Direct Marketing Association for a comprehensive list of ways to get off mailing lists. They can help you reach direct marketers who give consumer lists companies for everything from credit card applications to coupons.

Get Involved & Support Environmental Programs - Virginia’s natural resources are important to our economy. When you support and participate in state and local programs, like litter cleanups, you are protecting Virginia’s natural resources for future generations. Become informed and engaged in your community by voting. Let your legislators know you care about Virginia’s environment.

Be a Smart Driver - Your car’s exhaust may contribute to ozone smog. Keep your car tuned and its pollution control equipment working properly. You’ll reduce air pollution and save fuel and money. Combine shopping with other errands to avoid unnecessary car trips. When practical walk, ride a bicycle, carpool or take public transportation. Encourage your employer to participate in a regional ride-sharing program.

Don’t Litter - Never throw anything from your vehicle, even apple cores. Leave parks and picnic areas cleaner than you found them. Pick up after your pet, and put a lid on your garbage can. Remember that cigarette butts are litter too. Litter is unsightly and can harm wildlife. It is also expensive for cleanup crews to pick up.

Plant a Tree - Trees cool our cities, filter the air, buffer noise, and provide homes and food for wildlife. Their leaves produce life-giving oxygen and their roots reduce erosion and absorb pollutants. Organize a tree-planting event or just plant one in your yard. Check out Tree Fredericksburg!

Reduce & Reuse - Here in Stafford and Fredericksburg, each person on average throws out more than seven pounds of trash every day. You can reduce this amount by buying things without excess packaging, buying items in bulk, and repairing items that are broken. Every day you can choose to use a washable cloth to clean up a spill instead of a paper towel, refill a stainless steel water bottle with tap water, and take a reusable grocery bag to the store. You can even donate old clothing and household items to charities, instead of throwing them in the trash.

Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!

Save Household Energy - Wise energy use preserves non-renewable resources, protects air quality, and saves money. Set your thermostat lower in winter or raise it in the summer, at night, and when no one is at home. Use fans to circulate air; they use one-tenth the energy of an air conditioner. Turn off lights when not in use. Purchase Energy Star rated appliances and electronics. Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full. Weatherize your home by caulking windows, weatherstripping doors, adding insulation to the attic, and planting evergreens on the north and west sides of your house. Switch to compact fluorescent lights when your traditional incandescent bulbs burn out. Be sure to recycle CFLs too!

Compost Your Food & Yard Waste - Turn your food scraps and yard debris into compost for your lawn or garden. You can use your finished compost as a mulch or as fertilizer for your plants. Composting is a great family activity or school science project. If you have questions, sign up for one of the R-Board's free Backyard Composting 101 classes.

Teach your children about environmental stewardship.

Buy “Green” - When you go shopping, think about what you are buying. Buy durable rather than disposable products. Avoid excess packaging or items with packaging that can be recycled. Buy used—clothes, books, CDs and even sports equipment can all be purchased used. Lastly, buy items made with recycled  materials.

Fertilize Your Lawn Sparingly - Lawns can protect the environment by preventing soil erosion and soaking up nutrients before they run off into our waterways. But your lawn care practices may cause pollution if you’re not careful. Have your soil tested to make sure you plant the right grass and use the proper kind and amount of fertilizer. Follow the application instructions carefully. If you use too much fertilizer, the excess can run off into storm drains and streams that will carry the fertilizer pollutants into the Chesapeake Bay. Too much fertilizer can also burn your grass or make it less hardy. “Cut it high and let it lie”. Raise the blade on your mower and leave grass trimmings on the lawn as a natural fertilizer.

Prevent Pollution from Household Chemicals - Many household products, like paints, cleaners, batteries, detergents, and pesticides are hazardous materials that can harm the environment if not managed properly. Be careful when using these products: read the labels and use it for the purpose intended. Luckily, “environmentally friendly” alternatives that are less toxic are available for many of these products. For example, citrus-based cleaners provide the same antibacterial results as chlorine-based disinfectants. Many homemade substitutes can eliminate the need for harmful substances such as water and vinegar for window cleaner. Properly dispose of all household chemicals at your community’s next Household Hazardous Waste Day.

Conserve Water - Conserving water saves a valuable resource and your money. Repair leaky faucets. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day and a running toilet up to 200 gallons. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth. Install a low-flow shower head and take shorter showers to save hundreds of gallons a week. Water your lawn early in the morning and only water 1” a week for a strong root system. Sweep off your sidewalk and driveway rather than hosing them down.

Maintain Septic Systems - Have your septic tank cleaned out every 3-5 years. Poorly maintained septic systems can contaminate groundwater and surface water. Monitoring and cleaning your system regularly also saves money by prolonging the life of your septic tank.

Shop Locally - Purchase fresh fruits and veggies at the local farmers’ markets. You can also find honey, baked goods, fresh cut flowers, and herbs, among other things. A savvy shopper can find many local treasures and from foods to home décor items in the quaint shops in Fredericksburg and the surrounding area.

Play Outside - Enjoy our region’s wonderful parks and outdoor recreation. The Fredericksburg area has many parks with picnic tables and playgrounds. The Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers offer boating, fishing, tubing, kayaking, and other recreational amenities.

Visit this fantastic clearinghouse of even more ideas to MAKE EVERY DAY EARTH DAY! This website has links to many wonderful craft projects for kids! http://www.executivegiftshoppe.com/celebrating-earth-day-activities-gift-ideas.html