10 Easy Ways to Make Every Day Earth Day

I grew up a country girl on a 100 acre farm surrounded by animals and beautiful forests in Minnesota. Some of my first lessons in life was on sustainable living and on how to leave things better than I found it. After college, I worked for a school that focused on environmental learning and would go on to teach classes on sustainable living.

Through my childhood, education and work experience, I have learned a lot about preserving our fragile wildlife and being mindful of the impact my action has on our earth- especially when we are traveling. If we are mindful about the choices we make every day, we can ensure generations after us have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty earth has to offer us. This blog will explore how to make every day earth by adjusting every day practices.

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1. Follow the Leave No Trace Principles

The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. 

1. Plan Ahead & Prepare

Planning can help you be prepared for the conditions you may experience during your adventure depending on location, weather and the skills of yourself and others in your group. Planning is essential not only to have a great time, but also for safety.

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

When you travel or camp, your goal should be to leave the area as you found it by having a minimal impact on the environment. Make sure to stay on the trails, use designated camping areas and travel on surfaces that can withstand it.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

This is SO important- dispose of everything properly! This includes picking up after your dog, packing away fruit peels and making sure you are actually leaving no trace.

4. Leave What You Find

Sitting in the middle of a wildflower field for pictures, carving your name in a rock or tree and taking things home can not only damage the land, but potentially disrupt the ecosystem (this can also include stacking rocks). Take pictures, enjoy nature, but make sure to leave it how you found it.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Consider laws and conditions before building a campfire- every single time! If it’s too dry out, it is better to skip the campfire than risk a wildfire.

6. Respect Wildlife

I want to reiterate this every where, but I especially think of this rule in parks like Custer State Park or Yellowstone National Park. It is so important to respect wildlife by giving them space (never approach an animal) and by not feeding them.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Be respectful of others when you are out in nature- after all, we all go there to find peace in an overwhelming, busy world. Make sure to pick up after yourself and limit excessive noise.

Visit the Leave Not Trace website to educate yourself on how you can do your part to protect the planet.

If you are a lover of the outdoors, consider a visit to our US National Parks like Voyageurs in MN or the Grand Canyon in AZ.

2. Decrease Plastic & Recycle

Reflect on what plastic items you currently use. Which of these items can you reuse? My top plastic items I have decreased are plastic bags, straws, coffee cups and water bottles.

Check out the article Top 10 Eco-Friendly Substitutes for Plastic for more tips on how to make every day earth day.

3. Be Water Wise

I encourage others to drink tap water (investing in a filtration system is a great idea) because you are helping the environment in various ways. You are reducing the use, production and transportation of plastic water bottles-that is a lot of energy you are helping to conserve!

4. Eat Sustainably & Garden

I am not suggesting you become a vegetarian to make every day earth day, but I do want to point out being mindful of our consumption of meat to help our global food system decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Growing your own vegetables, herbs and fruit is also a great way to practice sustainable living (and just overall a great life skill to have).

Also, planting a wildflower garden for the bees and planting trees are great ways to nurture the earth.

5. Use Eco-Friendly Personal Hygiene and Beauty Products

Think of every dollar you spend as a vote being cast- support companies that are sustainable, eco-friendly and giving back to the environment. I have become a lot more mindful by researching the “About” page for brands I work with and purchase from. If they are not giving a proper living wage to their workers, are testing on animals, not reducing their footprint on our earth or giving back, they are not a brand I care to support. A lot of these brands will ensure package free shopping,

Below are some brands I have found that are doing their part to make every day earth day:

• Kinfield (made for women who love the outdoors featuring beauty, sunscreen, bug repellent)- Use TRAVELWILD15 for 15% off any item
• Pacifica (vegan skin care and beauty items)
• United by Blue (Apparel, household and hiking gear)
• Happy Earth Apparel (clothing brand, plants a tree for each time purchased- 15% off using TRAVELINGWILDFLOWERR)
• Keep Nature Wild (clothing brand, 1 pound of trash picked up for each item sold)
• Hydroflask (reusable water bottles)
• Rei (Camping, fitness, clothing, travel, kids items)
• Patagonia (clothing, sports wear)
• Columbia (clothing, kids items, footwear)
• Yes Straws (biodegrade straws)
• Numi Organic Tea (organic tea brand)
• Misfits Market (online grocery shopping)
• Parks Project (National Parks gear)
• Cocokind (beauty)

6. Rent or Thrift Clothes

The less we consume, the less we throw away- and the same goes with clothing items! One of my favorite things to do during travel is to check out the local thrift shop. It’s a great way to get a taste of what the local fashion may be like. There is also the option of renting clothes. This is a great idea if you are in need of clothing items that you may only wear a few times. Check out clothing rental options at Nuuly online.

7. Decrease Take Out

I remember eating take out during COVID & being amazed at all the waste I produced after one meal. It was devastating. We got used to making meals at home, which saved money and reduced waste. Meal planning was a skill that was very helpful!

8. Turn It Off

Not using the water? Turn it off. Not using the lights? Turn it off. Not using your laptop or video game console? Turn it off. (You get the point- and it only takes seconds to do!).

9. Mindful Transportation

When you can, car pool, ride your bike, walk, reduce traveling by plane- a lot of pollution comes from transportation. If we all practice transportation in even the smallest way, we can make a huge difference.

10. Educate Yourself & Others to Make Every Day Earth Day

Use your social media platforms to make every day earth day. Educate others on ways they can make a difference. Research your political leaders and elect people who give a damn about the environment. Never stop educating yourself and trying to do better.

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