5 Earth Day Activities To Do As A Family

Today is Earth Day!  As a child growing up on a farm, each year on Earth Day we would as a family, walk around the farm, pick up trash and make the farm look pretty again.  As we all know, winter can do damage and leave it’s mark on our outside spaces so it’s important to take care of what we have.  There is also the element of the wind blowing trash and debris so there is always something to clean up.

I have carried on my mom’s Earth Day tradition with our kids.  We go out, clean up the trash, put anything away that is out of place, and get ready for spring.  We have occasionally planted some seeds or worked in the garden too as a way to pave the way for warmer temperatures.

Here are a few ideas that you and your family can do to celebrate Earth Day.  Some are very simple, some you may already do.  It’s a fun tradition to do as a family and it’s one the kids enjoy!

1. Pick Up Trash- Whether you live in town, the city or in a rural area like we do, there is trash.  You could choose to walk around your neighborhood, your yard or maybe you and your family adopt a highway as a family project.
2. Make “green” cleaners that are safe for your kids and family.  Many of the items you need to make your own are simply found in your own kitchen.  My favorite “green” all purpose cleaner is made simply by using 1 cup of white distilled vinegar, 3 cups of water and 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like citrus or lemon grass).
3. Work towards self substainability.  Plan a garden.  Even if you live in the city, you can probably find a place for a patio tomato.  My Grandma has her own chickens that she feeds organic feed and therefore has organic eggs.  Get creative!
4. Set up a recycling center in your home.
5. Repurpose items instead of throwing them away.  With Pinterest, it seems like you can repurpose about anything!  Whether it’s making a bubble snake out of an old sock and a plastic bottle or refinishing an old furniture piece, a little hunting around on the internet and you may have a new use for what you previously thought was trash!

Do  you have an Earth Day tradition?  I’d love to hear about it!