The woods are in full bloom and the animals are busy. Just hanging outside leads towards a strong appreciation and love for nature. It helps us want to learn how to take care of our earth. Here is a big list of fun and easy things that you can do to help Mother Nature stay green!
After you do all the things on this list, find some more by searching the web and/or checking out some books at the library.
I hope you are having a happy and green summer!
Plant some trees and/or a garden. All green plants produce oxygen and oxygen helps clean the air.
Replace all incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in your home. This helps save money and electricity.
If possible, ride your bike or walk instead of using a car. This saves money, fuel, and it’s good for you!
Use reusable grocery bags and shop for items that use less packaging. Bring your own bags and containers and buy in bulk when possible.
Shop for food that is in season and has not had to travel very far. Ask the folks at the grocery store for help with this, they know a lot about where different food items come from.
Visit the Native Energy web site www.nativeenergy.com/pages/carbon_ footprint_ calculator/41.php. Figure out your carbon footprint and learn some steps you could take to lower the carbon footprint of yourself and your family.
Take shorter and/or fewer showers to help save water.
Stop buying bottled water by refilling reusable bottles from the tap.
Recycle everything you can and build a compost bin in your yard if possible.
Use Earth friendly cleaning products.
Get together with some friends and clean up the local park, paths or any other area such as road sides or parking lots.
Print from your computer only when necessary.
Using fabric paint, decorate “new to you” clothes bought from a second hand store.
Kelly Dupre of Grand Marais is an artist, children’s author, and educator with over 20 years teaching experience with all age groups in a variety of settings. The activities in this once-a-month column are spin-offs and combinations of ideas she has used and learned from teachers, parents, kids, books, and workshops. Only some of the activities has she actually thought of herself! Do you have a project or an idea you would like to see on the Whirligigs page? Let us know! Send your suggestion to starnews@boreal.org
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