Sunshine Guerrilla: earth day

45 of the Easiest Ways to Help the Planet for Earth Day

by balfeo - Thursday, April 22, 2021

40 of the Easiest Ways to Help the Planet for Earth Day

Earth day is coming up this week and it seems that more people than ever are getting invested in the state of our world and what they can do to help. Thank goodness for everyone out there who cares!

This year, the environment is on more and more people's minds. From Greta Thurnberg to new climate plans, our planet's BIG problems come up more often than ever. Actual solutions can be kind of vague- pictures of plants or watering cans, mentions of Leonardo DiCaprio, etc. The environment is this place out somewhere- an iceberg we have never seen or a rainforest we have never experienced. That abstract thinking certainly has it's place, but it isn't all that specific, and I find specific goals make a lot more traction than abstractions.

It can be hard to start, because resources are scattered and if you aren't going absolutely "zero-waste" you can get stuck in the cycle of "not doing enough." You have to not let these setbacks keep you from doing something.

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

I think we can do better, and my challenge to you is that you DO SOMETHING for Earth Day. Something concrete. Something you can keep up with. Turn this big abstract sense of nature being important in trouble into real commitment and change in your own life.

I am a climate optimist. I believe extreme waste and climate change are problems we creates, so we can solve them.

Here are 40 places to start, and ideas for small changes you can make to dramatically change the world one small step at a time. Pick one. Feeling ambitions? Pick two. Take on choices you can sustain, share your changes with friends, and let it grow!

This blog does use affiliate links for Etsy and Amazon. That said, don't shop at Amazon when you can help it- shop local! If you are shopping on Amazon, opt out of 2 day shipping when you can, it's less efficient and comes at a higher environmental cost.

Ok, let's do this.

1. Cut One Piece of Plastic Out of your Life

Ask for no plastic straw. Skip the plastic bag at the store, and just carry your stuff. Don't use produce bags. There are so many ways to cut plastic out of your life. Just pick one, and start working on it.

Want to do more? The city of Seattle is outlawing plastic straws. Why couldn't your community do it too? And ask your favorite restaurants to change their take out containers or use of plastic straws.

2. Make a Meatless Feast

Meat, especially beef, is responsible for a shocking amount of our water and energy consumption as a country. I would never demand that you to give up your hamburgers (The Boy might leave me) but maybe only once a month? Once a week? The less red meat we eat, the better we will feel, so it is a big bonus for you as well.

Seafood isn't much better for the planet. Our waters are overfished, and plastic fishing nets are the biggest plastic polluter in the ocean.

So to celebrate Earth Day, just eat less meat! Consider joining us on our Meatless Monday quest. We have a vegetarian meal at least once a week, slowly sliding more and more meat out of our diet. We also have a super helpful post about half meat meals, where you can cut the amount of meat per portion way down and still have a delicious meal.

3. Buy Less Stuff (and Change the Way you Buy)

Just buy less. So simple, but we all have way more stuff than we need! Change your ambitions about stuff- change the world.

Yes that toy looks great- don't buy it.
Yes, that top is on sale- don't buy it.
If you don't need it, don't buy it.

And when you do need something, try to find it used. If you can't, find it as locally (or made in the US) as possible. You can do it- choices are available! We waste excessive, massive fuel and energy shipping stuff, most of which we don't need.

4. Plant Some Trees

Cleaner air and water, better climate. All from just having more plants. Start that herb garden you think about. Volunteer and plant a tree in a park. Nowhere to plant? Skip one meal out and donate the money to the Arbor Day Fountain or Plant a Billion Trees.

Want to do more? Plan a tree-planting party! Gift saplings for your next holiday. Plant a tree instead of releasing a balloon in memory. Make planting a regular part of your life.

5. Be Eco-Lazy

Don't run the dishwasher or laundry machine until it is totally full. It's not procrastination- it saves energy and water! Bonus points for every load of laundry you air dry. Here is a whole list of Eco-Lazy options to try.

we got this table on buy nothing for free!

6. Join a Buy Nothing or other Local Sharing Group

Buy Nothing Project builds hyper-local communities by creating a venue where people can ask for what they need or offer what they already have. It takes 5 minutes to look up what is available in your area and join.

We love our Buy Nothing group. The more we share with each other, the better for our planet. 4 babies other than our own have used our Rock n' Play. That's 4 fewer sold and 4 fewer in the landfill later. I also know ten times as many of my neighbors as I would without it. Buy Nothing is the best, and if your neighborhood doesn't have one, take the leap and start one.

7. Seek Out Recycled Plastic

They say ours is the "plastic generation" and that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Don't add more. You can find many plastic items, from toys to watering cans to pens out of recycled plastic, so don't settle. Make a little list of the stuff you still buy in plastic, start looking for recycled options.

8. Don't Mow your Lawn

The easiest thing you can do to help the planet is to leave your lawn alone. You're welcome.

American lawns are on their way out. The way we treat our yards wastes unbelievable amounts of water, adds chemicals and pesticides into water sources, and honestly just wastes space that could be plants that help pollinators, eco-systems, and air. Even most weeds are better for bees.

So let those weeds grow!

9. Make a Friend

We tend to gravitate towards consumerism and waste as a substitute for community. The more lonely we feel, the more likely we are to shop. It may seem silly, but one of the best things we can do to curb our spending/ wasting is to seek out community instead. So say hi to your neighbors or find an online community for the hobby you love most.

10. Collect Water

You can go big and get a rain barrel to catch rainwater, or you can go much smaller and put a bucket in your shower for while our water warms up. Either way, you can water your plants completely with water that would have otherwise gone to waste.

11. Give Your Neighborhood a Pick Up

Discussions of the environment usually make us think of a mountain or forest or beach somewhere. But the environment is right where you live. If you want to do something for the environment for Earth Day, start right where you are. Go for a litter picking walk in your neighborhood, or in a spot that looks like it needs a clean up.

You can just go for an hour and still make a difference, and making it a regular part of your routine does even more!

jonagold apples at seattle university district farmer's market

12. Shop the Outside Edge of the Grocery Store

The healthiest and most eco-friendly (see: way less packaging!) food all lives on the outside of your store, where they can keep things cool and not frozen. Healthier than Healthy Choice? Fresh vegetables. Healthier and way less wasteful than the devil's baby snack pouches? An orange. The less packaging your food comes in, the more you can keep nasty (probably cancer-causing) chemicals out of your bod. If you want more ideas for making your grocery shopping plastic-free (and chemical-free), check out this post.

Want to do more? Ask your local store to carry more items with less packaging.

13. Carpool or Walk, Even Once a Week

We finally have more chances to use public transit again. Do you have public transit nearby? Can you walk to what you need? It may seem silly in less populous areas, but even when you aren't saving time with a carpool lane, you still keep that much less junk out of the air, even if you only do it occasionally. Maybe Earth Month is the perfect time to try it.

14. Stop the Junk Mail

Both paper and online junkmail create a huge amount of waste. Luckily, we can stop both. Take an hour on Earth Day to unsubscribe to all of those junk emails. If you are feeling ambitious, you can stop your paper junk mail. This is one of my favorite articles on how to stop it.

15. Extend the Use of What You Already Have

Every object has a use life and a waste life.

For example, an apple can be used to be eaten, and then has a second use life becoming soil.

A plastic container has the use life of a week or so. Then it is trash for 400 years. How can you make the use life longer for what you already have?

16. Use a Smaller Garbage Can

It sounds silly, but you throw out less if it accumulates quickly. Sometimes those huge cans make us numb to just how much we toss. What to do with the old can? Make it your recycling! You'll be amazed at how it makes you rethink your garbage strategies.

Want to step it up? Look at how your local government deals with garbage, compost, and recycling. Encourage them to do better.

17. Consider Composting

We started composting a few years ago, and it surprised me how simple it is. We live in a city with green waste, but most people are not so lucky. A banana peel will decompose in less than two weeks, but in a plastic garbage can, it may never decompose. By composting our food, we can cut our garbage in half. We use a spinning composter like this one, and it takes so little work, but there are multiple systems you can use. Spend a minute this Earth Month to do research on this.

eat like you give a damn mug with a spoon in it

18. Make a Reusable Travel Pack

Think about the things you are most likely to get while you are out- a coffee? Buy a travel mug. Even better, buy an adorable, Made in America travel mug. Then stop getting those little coffee cups that are one time use instant garbage. Most places will put that coffee in your mug, and you could be saving hundreds of pieces of garbage from the landfill a year (depending on the severity of your addiction).

Want to do more? Ask your regular coffee spot to change their cups to something good for the environment.

We love little travel silverware sets, but you could just as easily buy a set of silverware secondhand with you. A reusable water bottle is a must. If you need a straw, get in the habit of bringing one along. Just having a bit of preparation in your routine can help you avoid a lot of single use nonsense. Use Earth Day as an opportunity to set up your pack.

19. Hello, Vintage

Fast fashion is on its way out. The perfect place to start your clothes shopping is in consignment or vintage stores. Check out Refashionista- you can do a lot with old clothes! And with online shops like Thred Up (or opportunities to rent on Rent the Runway) you can switch to this approach no matter where you live. Brand new clothes just aren't worth it.

We buy about 90% of my clothes and my kids secondhand now. When I want something specific, I can usually find it on eBay. I don't miss new clothes at all. It sounds like a hard shift, but honestly, I can't imagine going back to buying clothes full price.

20. Make Life Easier and Switch Up Your Toilet Paper

Remember when all the stores ran out of toilet paper, and everyone freaked out? There is no need to do that! You can buy bulk toilet paper and be set for months. Even better, Who gives a crap? and reel toilet paper are made with fast-growing bamboo and don't come wrapped in plastic.

I honest to goodness don't understand why everyone doesn't buy toilet paper this way!? This is EASIER than grabbing it at the store every couple of weeks and you are prepared for an emergency! If you want to do something relatively simple for Earth Day this year, save some trees and switch to an eco-friendly bulk toilet paper brand.

21. Buy Recycled Paper Towels

Why should trees come down for your messes? Try something like Seventh Generation's recycled paper towels instead, and cut down the number of trees that have to be cut down! Also, buying paper goods in bulk Need more recycled paper inspiration? Check here.

Want to go even bigger? Buy unpaper towels instead. These cloth towels snap together and use them for all the paper towel jobs. You can just wash and reuse them for a long time, saving you money and the Earth trees. You can read more about them here. We love ours, and they have lasted for years.

So you can plant one tree, or you can save hundreds by never using paper towels made by fresh trees again. Go big!

22. Give Old Stuff New Life

Why does anyone buy a new wood table? You can find tons of them just waiting for a new life. Beautiful, built to last way longer than the Target junk, and it often costs way less. Need a simpler goal? Slipcovers instead of a new couch.

23. Recycle

Seems obvious, but not everyone is doing it. Not available right where you live? Time to check out what your options are. In Seattle, we have Ridwell. You could get a Terracycle box.

To do more? We know that recycling is going to be a growing problem in the US as China has refused to accept more of our garbage. You can find tons of ideas of how to dispose of things more responsibly in this post.

Want to do more? Help hold companies accountable. Consider where you make the most plastic waste and write those companies to complain.

24. Switch to Bar Soap

Millenials hate bar soap, but we shouldn't. Bar soap can cut a bunch of plastic waste from your life, and you can find local brands you love, cutting down on shipping. You have about a million options. You can start with these- Dr. Bronner's, Burt's Bee's, Cetaphil, Badger Organic Bar Soap, L'Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap, Paul Mitchell Body Bar, Aveda Rosemary Bath Bar, LUSH soaps but check Etsy and what is local too!

25. Break Up with Disposable Water Bottles (For GOOD)

It's over. No seriously. There is nothing worse than those cheap plastic water bottles.

Remember when people thought it was a really good idea to build houses out of asbestos? Doesn't that seem absolutely unthinkable now? I am certain that's how we will feel about plastic water bottles- you pay for something you can get for free, so almost cartoonishly evil companies like Nestle (I kid you not, they are really that bad) can steal it, pit it in toxic and wasteful containers, and sell them to the public. We know plastic is causing brain problems in kids, endocrine and hormonal problems, and even shrinks penises! Plastic doesn't belong anywhere near the food we consume.

Buy one water bottle to carry with you instead- it saves tons of money too! We are all about ,Lifefactory, Liberty Bottleworks and even this Nalgene) to hold all your water and kiss single use plastic bottles off forever.

26. No More Palm Oil

Palm oil is horrible for the rainforests and our planet's biodiversity, but apparently great for shampoo, because it is in so many of them. You also find palm oil in tons of preservative-rich foods. Look out for palm oil and help stop the destruction of the rainforest. You can read more about this issue here.

27. Use Natural Light

Don't turn on the lights unless you actually need to. Simple and pretty! You can also switch to more efficient lightbulbs. This blog from Christmas looks into what would be most energy efficient and safe for lightbulbs. Worth it to make the switch. Other simple ways to save electricity? Put your outlets on timers, wash your laundry on cold, and turn off electronics at night!

28. Use Reusable Bags for Groceries

Plastic grocery bags make no sense and create so much of that waste our children and grandchildren will be desperate to get out of the water. Animals are mistaking them for food, and they keep finding washed up whales and other animals with stomachs full of plastic bags. Is the convenience worth it? I don't think so. End the cycle now and get reusable bags. If you forget them (I get it, we all have our days) opt for paper. You can also try the awkward carry everything out in your arms move. But no more plastic bags.

29. Skip the Plastic Produce Bags

While we are at it, you are going to wash those asparagus anyway, so just keep one reusable bag open for all of your produce (the one exception might be jalapeno), and wash it all when you get home. I promise your oranges won't get their taste on your apples. Those little plastic bags are ridiculous. If you do want to separately bag your produce, you could use something like these from colony co.

30. Think About Where Your Stuff is Traveling From

Have you seen those maps that chart all the trips someone has taken in a year? Imagine that, but with every item you buy in a year. Or the 300,000 items the average American has in their homes. What would the map look like? Never thought about it? Check out this link.

Could you go a week without buying anything made overseas? How about a year? Try taking the challenge or at least cut down! Made in China (or "Made in Poverty") feels inevitable, but it rarely is, and it wastes so much fossil fuels from shipping overseas and almost guarantees mistreated workers, (if your t-shirt is 5 dollars, how much do you think the person who made it was paid after the cost of shipping it all that way?). Every thing we buy locally or secondhand makes a positive impact AND tells companies we will no longer accept the mistreatment in their supply chain.

You should get to travel all over the world; your stuff should be from nearby.

Check out our shopping lists- we have probably found a better option for the thing you need!

30. Buy One More Food Item Locally

Even better if it is something fresh and seasonal. But much like our stuff, our food is traveling way too far. The average American food item travels 1500 miles! Every mile it goes, someone takes it there, so whatever you can find made nearby is much better for the environment. Sometimes easier said than done, but you might by surprised at your find and you can definitely save local jobs!

Maybe during Earth month, you could explore the food local to you and even plan some foods around it! It might be a fun challenge, and I bet we could all learn a lot!

31. No More Dryer Sheets

Use the 1000 times over reusable dryer balls instead. Also popular with toddlers.

If you want to go big, you could go old fashioned and dry your clothes on a clothes line. Even if you just do some clothes this way, it still helps!

32. Switch (even partially) to Cloth Diapers

If you do one cloth diaper a day, you will save 365 diapers in a year. Multiple that by the number of years in the diaper, and you have saved 1000 diapers from going to a landfill. That's awesome! We are cloth diapering now, and it isn't nearly as miserable as it sounds. Plus, we got most of our diapering stuff as hand me downs, so we are definitely saving money.

33. Cloth Napkins, Unsponges, and Washclothes

Cut down on those paper products that work just as well in a reusable version. It's a change in routine, but I can tell you after the switch, we don't even notice. Reusables will save you money (no more buying these items over and over again) and they can cut way down on waste.

You can read about switching these over in our simple switches post or in this post about cleaning supplies.

34. Write a Business a Letter

Noticed a company, restaurant, store, or business not really up to environmental standards? Stand your ground and let companies know what they are doing isn't right and needs to be addressed. The more they get the feedback that you are paying attention, the more likely they are to change. Here is an old letter I wrote to McDonald's if you need a starting place (they just switched to paper straws in the UK, so they must need more encouragement to do the same in the US).

Where are the places you shop most? What could they be doing better? Tell them you notice. We need this chorus to keep getting louder.

35. Call your Representatives

If you have 5 minutes (waiting to pick someone up, sitting in your car before a doctor's appointment, really any time), skip scrolling and call your representatives. My favorite tool for this is 5calls.org - they will set you up with the phone numbers, help you pick from a list of current issues (usually you can find one relevant to the environment), and even give you a script. It is SO dang easy, and you will get better and better at it. You don't have to be perfect, the offices are just keeping tallies of how many people care about the issue/ where they stand, so you can just say "Carbon tax GOOD" and it would still get the point across.

36. Pick a Environmental Organization and Donate Something

Tons of environmental groups (here is a short list if you need a start) are out there fighting to preserve our natural world (and humanity... they go hand in hand), but they are up against huge corporations out for money at any cost. This is a true David versus Goliath situation, and they need your help.

Can't afford it? Sign up for their mailing list and sign their petitions. Commit to signing 3 petitions and making 2 political phone calls a week. They can use your voice as well as your money.

37. Look at your Institutions

Many of the institutions we invest in, from our churches to our banks to the colleges we went to all have a part to play in helping our environment. Maybe pick one, and check how it is doing.

-We can divest as individuals from fossil fuels by putting our money in banks and credit unions that have divested in fossil fuels. Greenpeace has a clear list of which banks continue to fund pipelines and what to do about it.

- Universities have begun divesting from fossil fuels, but the vast majority have not. Universities and colleges depend on alumni money. You can push for them to change and make a genuine difference. Fossil Free is a great resource for this.

-Churches and other communities of faith can really come together to be stewards of the planet. We wrote a post on our ideas of how.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. We all participate in so many communities, and we have the opportunity to shift their cultures. We can do this.

38. Go Outside!

We take care of what we love. Go out in the natural spaces near you to remember how much there is to love!

This is also the perfect reason to get outside more often. Go learn about your local flora and fauna. Go watch the birds. Start going on walks. Get out into the nature you live in. The problems its facing will seem so much more important once you have really gotten out there and explored. Bonus, it helps you with your focus, happiness, and your health!

39. Switch Up your Toothbrush

No more plastic toothbrushes! When the next one you have runs out, you can make this simple switch. Those plastic brushes are bound for the garbage as soon as you take them out of their excessive public packaging, they are already waiting for the bin. I love Preserve's recycled brushes and Tiny Yellow Bungalow's bamboo option. Simple switch, huge difference! Especially if you stick with it!

Want to do more? Ask your dentist why they keep handing out plastic brushes. Encourage them to look into greener options as well.

40. Travel Sustainably

As travel is opening up again, it's worth remembering that the lack of travel had a positive effect during quarantine. I know we are all ready to rush into adventure mode, but before you go, it's worth thinking about how your travel was serving you, and how it just wasn't. Maybe take fewer flights a year or try to keep doing more local adventures.

It's the little things too. Bring your own shampoo and conditioner, so you can skip those stupid tiny bottles. Use public transit. Bring everything you need to the airport. Buy all of your souvenirs made in the place you are at. This can be crazy to find, but I am sure you can handle it. I have faith in you.

41. Get Gardening

Grow something. Grow anything. It can be a windowsill basil or a huge veggie garden, but either way it can really help you appreciate the labor and love, time and failures that go into what we eat. It is a transformative approach to our food, and it seems to have particularly profound effects on kids.

Just like very few of us are born with NBA level skills, very few of us are born with perfectly green thumbs. But you don't have to have perfect skills to enjoy it, and once you can see the failures as learning experiences (instead of proof that you are just "bad" at plants), you can enjoy it! Anything we grow is good for our own mental health and the planet.

42. Support the Indigenous People Where You Live

This map is a great resource to learn whose land you are living on. Where are those communities and people today? The information is often as easy as a google search, and supporting these communities is also supporting the particular eco-system you live in, because they are often experts at preventing waste and using the land effectively. If you want to do something for Earth Day, this can be a great place to start.

So many options that I am excited about! What do you want to do or switch for Earth Day?

Is this all common sense stuff? Yes, but it doesn't mean we are doing it! No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. For Earth Day, let's all admit we can do more and pick one more goal to clean this Earth up! And what a wonderful Earth it is!

Want to step up your eco-shoppung? Check out my Mega list of Lists for tons more shopping inspiration.

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20 of the Best Picture Books to Teach Kids about the Environment

by balfeo - Monday, April 06, 2020

Beyond the Lorax- 20 of our Favorite Picture Books to Teach Kids about the Environment

Talking to our kids about the environment right now is really hard. How do you teach your little ones about Climate Change without keeping them up at night? How do you talk about our responsibility for the planet without overwhelming them with guilt and responsibility?

One great tool that I love to use is books. And I find more every year, so check out our updates at the end of the post!

The Lorax may speak for the trees, but he certainly isn't the only one. As Earth Day approaches and we see climate catastrophe all around us, introducing these ideas to our kids can be intimidating or scary. It's no wonder that people lean on familiar and comfortable books!

As I have become more aware of Dr Seuss's approach to race, I have purged my kids Seuss library, but I can never say good bye to the Lorax. I like that the narrative makes a bold, direct, and unapologetic connection between consumerism, manufacturing, and environmental destruction. Though I don't want Dr Seuss to be a cornerstone of our library, I have left this voice as one among many.

Looking for more books to share with your kids? I have tons of great ideas, perfect for days at home or the build up to Earth Day. Let's do this!

I am listing these as Amazon links so you can see them and their reviews, but don't be silly and get them this way! You don't know me from a hole in the ground, so go check out these books in the library before you buy them. Amazon is essentially the Walmart of the internet, and a lot of their practices are pretty cruddy for the environment, so borrowing and buying local are both significantly better options. I am an Amazon associate and take a tiny cut if you buy them this way, but seriously, that should hopefully be a last resort.

Check your local booksellers too! Seattle's Third Place Books, Oregon's Powell's Books and many more are still using online orders, so you can support a small business and stay social distanced as needed.

Ok, let's do this!

1. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth - Oliver Jeffers

This book is beautiful, and every time we read it, I think we should just read it every day. A perfect book for embracing our own smallness and how we fit into this world. This works so well as a partner book to so many others on this list (and I just think it belongs in every library).

2. A Stone Sat Still - Brendan Wenzel

This is a book I thought I might love (we got it as a gift), but it might not keep the attention of my kids. It's quiet and poetic and beautifully illustrated. I was so wrong; my five year old frequently asks for me to read it. The rhythm just draws kids in.. It's quickly becoming one of my absolute favorites.

3. Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian - Margarita Engle

Maria Merian was one of the world's first entomologists, and this book is about her childhood examining bugs and reptiles in a time where people still saw them as evil and menacing. In our house, this book leads to great discussions of looking closely and how much you can learn by slowing down and observing. For my classes, we make our own sketchbooks and go out with magnifying glasses to help slow down our looking at nature. Even the littlest kids can do this!

4. Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and his Art - J. H. Shapiro

Trash is a huge topic, and kids are shockingly great at putting their knowledge about waste into practice (my son knows that we try to avoid plastic and that we save containers we can use again). This is a beautiful book about waste, community, and seeing the beauty in things others don't even notice the value of. It also pairs perfectly with making your own art projects with anything out of your garbage (we save our best trash in a bin in our basement).

5. We Are Water Protectors- Carol Lindstrom

This brand new book is outrageously pretty to look at, and it sets you up to do more research and reading about indigenous people and their battle to protect water all over North America. Our kids love stories about heroes, so introduce them to heroes they may not know much about.

6. Thank You Bees - Toni Yuly

This is a fun, bright, and positive book that really resonates with little ones (2-3) but can be discussed with preschoolers and early readers too. Not a ton of words, but plenty to talk about when you are done, and it adds to my general goal that my kids understand bugs, bees, and spiders as helpers.

7. Sofia Valdez: Future Prez - Andrea Beaty

I love all the books in this popular series from Ms. Grier's second grade class (Rosie Revere is the favorite in our house), but Sofia is the first one to make me cry! This book is about courage, team work, and turning Mount Trashmore into a park instead. The story illustrates the dangers and destruction of trash when it accumulates, and it stresses to kids that they are never too small to lead and collaborate. Everybody get this gem.

8. Big Book of Bugs series - Yuval Zommer

These beautifully illustrated books share fun facts about all sorts of creatures from bugs to sea life to birds. Bugs is my favorite, and it pairs perfectly with Maria Merian, but any of these are a perfect pick if you have a kid who likes non fiction information, not just stories. And seriously great inspiration for making your own animal-inspired art!

9. Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring- Kenard Pak

With my three and five-year-olds, we are just getting to conversations about seasons and change. These are simply and lovingly addressed in these books (they have one for every seasonal change), but I mostly love that these are written like a conversation, a subtle reminder that we are witnesses and participants in what is happening in nature.

10. The Magic Schoolbus- Joanna Cole

All of these books are wonderful, but my favorite is probably the one about bees. Why? Because bees are a perfect example of humans perceiving nature as a threat when creatures like bees are actually vital to keeping us all going. It's not that heavy handed, but it helps build understanding, which minimizes fear. I always learn something reading these books too.

11. The Magic and Mystery of Trees - Dr Jen Green

A beautiful book that is super dense with information. Great for slightly older children, but it can be fun to browse through with little ones too.

12. What's so Bad about Gasoline: Fossil Fuels and What They Do - Anne Rockwell

This isn't the best book in terms of literary merit, but if you have a kid who needs some direct answers, this can be really helpful. I love that it is pretty clear while making the science accessible to kids.

13. Field Notes or Decomposition Books

There is really nothing like getting your kiddo out into nature and experiencing the real thing. I have had some really surprisingly wonderful mornings with my kids with pens and paper (and if I am really on point, a magnifying glass). Even if you are only exploring your neighborhood, practice looking closely and drawing what you see. I do this with almost all of my classes, and it is always a hit in its own way. The best option is to use paper you already have, but if you want a specific space for these observations, check out field notes and decomposition books.

If you don't feel confident just having a blank page, we liked this nature journal for more direction.

14. If you Plant a Seed - Kadir Nelson

Super simple, but it uses growing as a metaphor for how the way we treat people grows into the bonds we make with each other. A perfect read for this time of year, especially if you are planning a garden (which I highly recommend. Starting a garden with my kids may be the best thing I ever did as a parent).

15. All Around the World - Geraldine Cosneau

If you have a kid who loves stickers, but you don't love the waste, All Around the World is a pretty great option. The stickers are reusable, and each page is like its own lesson on habitats, eco-systems, and nature's interdependence. Super beautiful.

16. The Street Beneath my Feet - Charlotte Guillian and Yuval Zommer

This strange and wonderful book folds out the length of our living room, so our kids can inspect and study the many layers of Earth underneath them. This isn't a part of nature we often think of, but the book effortlessly connects ecology and geology, so kids can think about everything from plumbing to fossils.

17. National Geographic Children's Books

How do you pick just one? Their books are consistent, accurate, and filled with gorgeous photographs. I tend to gravitate towards a good story or beautiful illustrations, but my five year old cannot resist a good encyclopedic non-fiction book, so he loves the Big Books of things. They have these kinds of books for geology, animals, and more specific subjects like birds. These are always gems and worth picking up at the library.

18. The Wonderous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding our World and Its Ecosystems - Rachel Ignotofsky

This book is so beautiful, and it gives so much interesting information about the planet. I think it also really works as a call to action, pressing us to protect the planet. It always makes me think about how we need to relearn to love nature, because we can only save what we love. Here, the planet is portrayed throughtfully and lovingly.

19. Andy Goldsworthy Coffee Table Books

There isn't a Goldsworthy book for children, but if you get a book of images like this one "A Collaboration with Nature" it is likely a win. I have never had a class that didn't get invested in flipping the pages and trying to guess how he makes his outdoor installations.

Perfect for talking about how things in nature are always changing, and it can be a particularly lovely day outside searching for materials and making their own art. Kids as little as three can really enjoy making their own piles and collections.

20. Heal The Earth - Julian Lennon

I have to be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one. My kids love it, and it straightforwardly explains a few major issues our planet is facing, but I worry that it gives my kids a sense of an easy solution. All you have to do is press a button, and the coral reefs are fixed! Still a great one if you want to start introducing issues without freaking your little one out.

We have found even more amazing nature books since writing this post! Here are our new favorites:

Easy Peasy Gardening for Kids - Kirsten Bradley

A gorgeous little collection of projects and ideas for kids to try in their garden, from making their own potato man to a bee hotel to pollinator gardens. We are all about these projects right now.

The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth- Chris Burkard

We got this book at a National Park, and the experience of reading it for the first time really helped my kids practice mindfulness in big natural spaces. We got to talk about all of our senses, what we loved in nature, how it felt to be at the ocean vs a forest vs a desert. I think it helps establish skills we will keep using to try to be more mindful in nature.

Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature - Rachel Williams

This book is another beauty that might make a really lovely bedtime book, creating a practice to slow down and appreciate nature. It just feels really special.

20 of the Best Picture Books to Teach Kids about the Environment

Ok, the beauty of books is that there are just so many amazing ones out there, so I know I am missing your favorite book about nature. Please comment with it!

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These are a Few of my Favorite Green Things (and How we Shop Green and Save Money)

by balfeo - Saturday, April 22, 2017

made by Sarah Lazarovic from ecouterre

It's Earth Week! Which, as you might imagine, is a pretty exciting time in my neck of the woods. It's a good time for all of us to look at our own impact, and I love seeing people come up with great ideas of how to celebrate the day in a positive way for the environment (let's plant some trees, peeps!). One of the ways we can do this is reconsidering how we shop and what we buy.

It all comes down to how you spend your money. In America, most of us shop. And the shopping is closely tied to our time, our interests, and our identity. We gauge our success by how much we have, and stores try to produce and feed a constant hunger for stuff, especially for brand new stuff. You need the off the shoulder dress. Your child needs that new toy all their friends have. You need the best phone. It just goes on and on and it never stops.

But, no matter who you are, you can start taking baby steps out of this cycle. The more of us do it, no matter what our walk of life, the more we can make our own lives and the planet better. We just need to buy different- buy less, buy used, buy recycled, and buy as local as possible.

For the record, these links are mostly Amazon, because I am an affiliate there and because it's easy, but I highly recommend you find these brands where you are when you can. Also, excuse the sometimes ugly pictures, I am just showing we actually use these items every day.

So, what are my favorites out there? Which things have we bought that we would never go back on?

Lifefactory Bottles

If you only buy one green thing in your life, let it be a reusable water bottle. No more single use water bottles! We have a couple, but my favorite are the ones that aren't plastic- our lifefactory glass bottle and our liberty bottleworks ceramic and metal bottle. Both manufacture (lifefactory only in part) in the US, and they don't taste funny like metal or plastic can sometimes.

As a bonus, Lifefactory makes the best baby bottles. I would recommend glass bottles to all parents- we know that plastic can mess with adult hormones, so it may have an even more profound effect on babies. Glass is a bigger investment upfront, but you never have to replace them, and you can pass them on basically forever. Plastic bottles don't last very long before they aren't safe. If you have a baby on the way, glass is worth it.

Preserve Toothbrushes

These toothbrushes are made of recycled food safe plastic and it is completely recyclable in their mail back system. I admire this company, who also makes kitchen goods, and their toothbrushes work great. They also make you wonder why all toothbrushes aren't made of food-safe plastic (seriously, what have we all been putting in our mouth?).

Best Manufacturer's Whisk

Nothing too exciting, this whisk is just made in the United States and built for a lifetime of pancakes. Nothing overly fancy, but one of my favorite green purchases.

Tranquilo Paper Straws

These paper straws still bend, are biodegradable, and give a portion of their proceeds to ocean conservation. Not for everyone, but if you can't do without straws, this might be a great option. Another great option? These glass made in America straws.

Herb's Furniture

Etsy furniture made of reclaimed wood makes me feel better about the universe. You can find any piece in any style. We splurged this beautiful island from Herb's Furniture- simple, beautiful, and totally reclaimed wood.

Green Toys

We have a growing fleet of Green Toys, mostly given as gifts (thank you to all who gifted them, because we love them oodles). Made in America, out of recycled food-safe plastic, in recycled packaging- truly, my love for these toys can't be fully put into words. More importantly, our kids love them too.

Also Awesome- RePlay makes all the sippy cup, kid forks, and plates. All in the US. All recycled. They sell them in Walmart, so no one has an excuse. We love the snack stack, which is the perfect size and super hearty to stand up to diaper bag madness.

Epicurean

I love everything from this Minnesota company- especially their cutting boards which can be made of wood composite or recycled plastic (14 milk jugs per board). If you haven't yet, also check out their turners. All kinds of awesome, local, and sustainable.

Pilot's Bottle 2 Pen

The name is terrible, but the 86% recycled water bottle pens are no joke. Why aren't we making all of our pens from recycled plastic? Also, they write really smoothly and last a long time.

Bulk Recycled Paper Goods

We buy our paper towels, toilet paper, napkins (we use cloth when it is just us and paper for parties) all in large quantities and recycled. We mostly did Seventh Generation (who have since been bought out by a bigger company), but there are plenty of options. I am less attached to the brand than the strategy.

Paper Culture Christmas Cards

Paper Culture's modern and simple cards are made on recycled paper AND they plant a tree for every order. One of my best finds from last year, and a steal if you wait for sales. My new spot for cards.

The Boy/Girl who Lost their Name Books

The Bub's beloved Emilie bought him this book for his second birthday. Not only is this book ridiculously cute and personal (and teaching him to spell his name), they are also printed in America on recycled paper. Too cool!

Kiss my Face Soap

Just a paper-wrapped regular bar of soap. But it's olive oil and simplicity has actually done wonders for my face. It is so smooth now!

Want to Shop like I Do?

In 2 years, I have written hundreds of shopping lists. Everything from stocking stuffers, to toilet paper, to school supplies. I also changed how I shopped and saved literally thousands of dollars (not to mention cut down on our family footprint, minimizing our waste, and made a positive impact on the world) by changing up my strategies. I have a few hints for how to spot something truly great as opposed to greenwashed (jacking up the price because the product is "green").

First, in most cases, what you already own is the greenest option.

Thinking of a new phone? A new Christmas tree? A new chair? If you can come up with a way to make what you already have work, you are making the greenest possible decision. It is also very often the cheapest (a little super glue to fix a toy r computer is a lot cheaper than a new one).

Buy one great gift, not three ok ones. Buy the more expensive appliance if it has proven to last 3 times as long, because it will pay off. Buy one great coat, not four (you know you mostly won't use them anyway). Buy the food you need for this week's menu and USE what you buy before you buy more. It all seems obvious, but it's actually pretty hard to stop those habits.

Another easy step? Stop buying things at first glance. We have all gone to target for soap and come out having spent 100 dollars. Keep a list on your phone. If you see something you want, just write it on the list. If you still want it the next time you shop, get it. But let go of impulse buys and live life with a plan.

Also, some things can be made. Soaps, detergents, etc can usually be made in bulk for much cheaper and using way less packaging. With food, the more you can make from scratch, the better, and some things (like frosting) really take no time at all.

Second, get it used.

You can often ask for things you need on groups like Buy Nothing or Freecycle. And then you get what you want for free. And you meet a neighbor. It may seem like not much at first, but two years into Buy Nothing, I can say it really adds up. If your neighborhood doesn't have one yet, team up with a friend and start one. It's worth it.

If no luck there, you should also try your local consignment stores. Find out what is available- you may have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for building supplies or cheap antique stores for furniture (why buy a new wood chair ever? There are so many already in the world!) Depending on your stores, most clothing and kitchen goods can be bought secondhand. Go look and be surprised. When you can't find what you want there, check out sites like Thred Up.

Shopping secondhand had a lot of stigma around it a generation ago, but now we should know better- secondhand stuff keeps things out of landfills (we can all buy the same plastic-t-ball set, or we can reuse a thousand times over for different kids), it cuts down on waste (a new shirt probably came to the store wrapped in plastic- not so for secondhand clothes), and it usually comes from people nearby, so it uses WAY less fossil fuel to get to you.

For everything else, know your priorities.

Do you get the recycled plastic or wood option? The bamboo made in China or the plastic made in the US? Compostable plates or wash 100 plates? We could spend a lot of time parsing the exact cost/ benefit in every situation, but the real truth is that it depends what you care most about.

But first you have to think about what that even means to you. Do you want to keep your money (and jobs) local? Do you want to be zero-waste? Cut down on fossil fuels at all costs? Once you start to think about this stuff, all shopping becomes a fun challenge not about what you want or like the best, but how you can make the world the best you can. Trust me, that feels better than any deal.

If the company is doing something right, they will tell you so.

Check the Package. Check the Tag. If something was fair trade or made in the US, you will find that information right on it. The less they tell you, the more it is worth being suspicious. The key is to slow down and really look- you will see patterns emerge, and sometimes you can find a better option just by looking.

Look out for shifty language.

"Designed in" and "Distributed by" are two of my favorites, but companies will do anything to make themselves seem more American, local, or ethical than they actually are. Look at your food. Companies like Kraft have their own address but they won't tell you where your cheese was actually made. If someone came to your house and gave you something but refused to tell you where it came from, would you eat it? Wear it? Let your baby put it in their mouth? You do it every time you shop. Time for a change.

Buy Local to You

If you can get it made near you, do it. Especially when it comes to food (because every region still has food growing nearby). If you can't get it made in your town, look at your state. If you can't get it made in your state, buy it made in America. If you aren't in America, ignore me and check what is available in your country. It helps keep jobs nearby and puts your money to use where you live. It also cuts down on how far your things have traveled, minimizing fossil fuel usage. No, this doesn't necessarily work if only one person does it. But the more people catch on, the less they will have to ship far distances.

When all else fails, avoid plastic.

Ok, so you need American cheese, but you don't see a good option and you aren't sure what to do. Which cheese can you get that isn't individually wrapped? Which spaghetti sauce comes in a glass jar? Can you get napkins in one bulk package instead of buying them 100 at a time wrapped in plastic? This is the bare minimum you can do, and it is better for you too. More and more studies show that plastics leech unsafe and nasty chemicals into everything in our life.

It is going to be the asbestos of our generation and we will all be kicking ourselves, trying to figure out what we were thinking wrapping our food in petrochemicals. Just stop now.

You don't have to shop perfectly (goodness knows we don't), but the shift isn't as hard as you think, it is always nice to have a little extra money, and more and more it just feels like a fun challenge. You can do this!

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40 Quick and Easy Switches to Save the World for Earth Day

by balfeo - Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Earth day is coming up this week and it seems that more people than ever are getting invested in the state of our world and what they can do to help. Thank goodness for you and thank goodness for caring!

Talk of the environment is everywhere! The problem? It can be kind of vague- pictures of plants or watering cans, mentions of Leonardo DiCaprio, etc. The environment is this place out somewhere- an iceberg we have never seen or a rainforest we have never experienced. That abstract thinking certainly has it's place, but it isn't all that specific, and I find specific goals make a lot more traction than abstractions.

It can be hard to start, because resources are scattered and if you aren't going absolutely "zero-waste" you can get stuck in the cycle of "not doing enough." You have to not let these setbacks keep you from doing something.

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

1. Skip the plastic straw

The worst kind of trash that pollutes the water and hurts the sea life in it. They are also completely unnecessary if you aren't a toddler. Just say "No straws, please" when you are ordering your drink. Already cut the straw? Here are more ways to cut plastic out of your life.

Want to do more? The city of Seattle is outlawing plastic straws. Why couldn't your community do it too? And ask your favorite restaurants to change their policy.

2. Get Less, Get it Used, Get it Local

Just buy less. So simple, but we all have way more stuff than we need!

Yes that toy looks great- don't buy it.
Yes, that top is on sale- don't buy it.
If you don't need it, don't buy it.

And when you do need something, try to find it used. If you can't, find it as locally (or made in the US) as possible. You can do it- choices are available! We waste excessive, massive fuel and energy shipping stuff, most of which we don't need.

3. Plant Something

4.Small is the New Big. Less is the New More

We get the message over and over that we need the newest, biggest, best thing or we won't be happy. But who says? Change your ambitions about stuff- change the world. We need to let go of the McMansion dreams of previous generations and figure out how to be happy with what we already have.

5. Be Eco-Lazy

Don't run the dishwasher or laundry machine until it is totally full. It's not procrastination- it saves energy and water! Bonus points for every load of laundry you air dry.

we got this table on buy nothing for free!

6. Join a Buy Nothing or other Local Sharing Group

Buy Nothing Project builds hyper-local communities by creating a venue where people can ask for what they need or offer what they already have, 4 babies other than our own have used our Rock n' Play. That's 4 fewer sold and 4 fewer in the landfill later. I also know ten times as many of my neighbors as I would without it. Buy Nothing is the bomb, and if your neighborhood doesn't have one, take the leap and start one.

7. Only Recycled Plastic

8. Collect Water

9. Shop the Outside Edge of the Grocery Store

The healthiest and most eco-friendly (see: way less packaging!) food all lives on the outside of your store, where they can keep things cool and not frozen. Healthier than Healthy Choice? Fresh vegetables. Healthier and way less wasteful than the devil's baby snack pouches? An orange. The less packaging your food comes in, the more you can keep nasty (probably cancer-causing) chemicals out of your bod.

Want to do more? Ask your local store to carry more items with less packaging. Choose stores that use less plastic.

10. Carpool or Walk, Even Once a Week

Do you have public transit nearby? Can you walk to what you need? It may seem silly in less populous areas, but even when you aren't saving time with a carpool lane, you still keep that much less junk out of the air, even if you only do it occasionally.

11. Extend the Use of What You Already Have

If you will spend money on tupperware, why just throw away those plastic yogurt containers? They are the same thing! Why buy cleaning cloths if your used up clothes and towels make perfectly good rags? Try to make the most of what you already have. Every object has a use life and a waste life. For example, an apple can be used to be eaten, and then has a second use life becoming soil. A plastic container has the use life of a week or so. Then it is trash for 400 years.

12. Strategize, No Impulse Buys

You see it and want to buy it? Don't. It sounds easy, but I know it sometimes isn't. Instead, start a shopping list. When you see something you need "hey, we could use that fan!" put it on the list. You can easily check to see if there are recycled plastic ones (yes, there are) or made in America ones (yep, those too) available. You can also go to your local thrift shops and check there! A better choice is out there if you slow your roll. If an object sits on the list long enough, you know you probably didn't need it- time to move on.

13. Use a Smaller Garbage Can

It sounds crazy, but you throw out less if it accumulates quickly. Sometimes those huge cans make us numb to just how much we toss. What to do with the old can? Make it your recycling! You'll be amazed at how it makes you rethink your garbage strategies.

Want to step it up? Look at how your local government deals with garbage, compost, and recycling. Encourage them to do better.

14. Bring Your Mug to Coffee

Buy a travel mug. Even better, buy an adorable, Made in America travel mug. Then stop getting those little coffee cups that are one time use instant garbage. Most places will put that coffee in your mug, and you could be saving hundreds of pieces of garbage from the landfill a year (depending on the severity of your addiction).

Want to do more? Ask your regular coffee spot to change their cups to something good for the environment. Sign this petition right now.

15. Make a Grocery List

When you leave to shop, even for groceries, have a plan in mind. This is not my strong suit, but my method of shopping ("hey, this scallop looks good! Hey I think I tried these cookies once!") makes for lots of extra waste. Food waste is a huge source of waste and greenhouse gases, so we need to get our food consumption under control to help slow climate change.

16. Hello, Vintage

17. Buy Recycled Paper Towels

Why should trees come down for your messes? Try something like Seventh Generation's recycled paper towels instead, and cut down the number of trees that have to be cut down! Need more recycled paper inspiration? Check here.

Want to go even bigger? Buy unpaper towels instead. These cloth towels snap together and use them for all the paper towel jobs. You can just wash and reuse them for a long time, saving you money and the Earth trees. You can read more about them here.

18. Refurbish Old, Used Furniture

19. Recycle

Seems obvious, but not everyone is doing it. Not available right where you live? Time to check out what your options are.

To do more? We know that recycling is going to be a MAJOR problem in the US this year, as China has refused to accept more of our garbage. Consider where you make the most plastic waste and write those companies to complain.

20. Switch to Bar Soap

21. Break Up with Disposable Water Bottles (For GOOD)

It's over. No seriously. There is nothing worse than those cheap plastic water bottles.

Remember when people thought it was a really good idea to build houses out of asbestos? I am certain that's how we will feel avout plastic water bottles- you pay for something you can get for free, so almost cartoonishly evil companies like Nestle (I kid you not, they are really that bad) can steal it, pit it in toxic and wasteful containers, and sell them to the public. Buy one water bottle we are all about ,Lifefactory, Liberty Bottleworks and even this Nalgene) to hold all your water and kiss one time use plastic bottles off forever.

22. No More Palm Oil

Horrible for the rainforests and our planet's biodiversity, but apparently great for shampoo, because it is in so many of them. You also find palm oil in tons of preservative-rich foods. Look out for palm oil and help contain the ripping down of the rainforest. You can read more about this issue here.

23. Use Natural Light

24. Use Reusable Bags!

25. Skip the Plastic Produce Bags

26. Stop Your Unwanted Mail

You can do this! Lots of sites and numbers will help put a stop to all of that junkmail, and that's good for your sanity and your household's overall use of paper. Save the Earth, stick it to Oriental Traders, kind of makes sense.

27. No More "Made in China"-

Could you go a week without buying anything made overseas? How about a year? Try taking the challenge or at least cut down! Made in China feels inevitable, but it rarely is, and it wastes resources, almost guarantees mistreated workers, and is not so great for our economy. You should get to travel all over the world; your stuff should be from nearby.

28. Cut Down on Your Meat

Meat, especially beef, is responsible for a shocking amount of our water and energy consumption as a country. I would never ask you to give up your hamburgers (The Boy might leave me) but maybe only once a month? Once a week? The less red meat we eat, the better we will feel, so it is a big bonus for you as well.

Consider joining this blog on our Meatless Monday quest. We have a vegetarian meal at least once a week, slowly sliding more and more meat out of our diet.

29. Don't Toss It- Donate It!

Just because it is junk to you doesn't mean it is to someone else! Faded toys, pilled clothes, janky old furniture- they might be just the ticket for someone else. Set a really wide net for what counts as part of your donate pile.

Check the blog for tons of ideas for where to donate things. Almost anything you have could still be useful to someone!

30. Buy One More Food Item Locally

Even better if it is something fresh and seasonal. But much like our stuff, our food is traveling way too far. Every mile it goes, someone takes it there, so whatever you can find made nearby is much better for the environment. Sometimes easier said than done, but you might by surprised at your find and you can definitely save local jobs!

31. No More Dryer Sheets

Use the 1000 times over reusable dryer balls instead. Also popular with toddlers.

32. Switch (even partially) to Cloth Diapers

If you do one cloth diaper a day, you will save 365 diapers in a year. Multiple that by the number of years in the diaper, and you have saved 1000 diapers from going to a landfill. That's awesome!

33. Cloth Napkins, Unsponges, and Washclothes

34. Write one Business a Letter

Noticed a company, restaurant, store, or business not really up to environmental schedules. Stand your ground and let companies know what they are doing isn't right and needs to be addressed. The more they get the feedback that you are paying attention, the more likely they are to change. Here is an old letter I wrote to McDonald's if you need a starting place (they just switched to paper straws in the UK, so they must ned more encouragement to do the same in the US).

Where are the places you shop most? What could they be doing better? Tell them you notice. We need this chorus to keep getting louder.

35. Turn Your Computer Off at Night

One of the one's I am going to start trying. It sucks energy, you should just turn it off. Unplug electronics, because even if they are just plugged in, they suck energy.

36. Pick a Environmental Organization and Donate Something

travel map- how far does your stuff travel?

from factcoexist.com

37. Think about How Far your Stuff Travels

38. Go Meet your Neighbors (Human and Otherwise)

Fostering community is good for your life, good for everyone around you, and good for the environment. The more we feel we belong to this world, the more likely we are to get involved.

This is also the perfect reason to get outside more often. Go learn about your local flora and fauna. Go watch the birds. Start going on walks. Get out into the nature you live in. The problems its facing will seem so much more important once you have really gotten out there and explored. Bonus, it helps you with your focus, happiness, and your health!

39. Change your Toothbrush

No more plastic toothbrushes! Those plastic brushes are bound for the garbage as soon as you take them out of their excessive public packaging, they are already waiting for the bin. I love Preserve's recycled brushes and Tiny Yellow Bungalow's bamboo option. Simple switch, huge difference! Especially if you stick with it!

Want to do more? Ask your dentist why they keep handing out plastic brushes. Encourage them to look into greener options as well.

40. Travel Sustainably

Bring your own shampoo and conditioner, so you can skip those stupid tiny bottles. Use public transit. Bring everything you need to the airport. Buy all of your souvenirs made in the place you are at. This can be crazy to find, but I am sure you can handle it. I have faith in you.

So many options that I am excited about! What do you want to switch for Earth Day?

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