Eight Great Ways to Get Involved in Earth Month
I love a good reason to celebrate, and what could possibly be a better reason than this awesome planet we all call home? April is Earth Month, and if you’re looking for a great way to party it up with the globe, I’ve gathered some fun ideas for you to consider.
1. Take a hike (not in the grumpy, get outa’ here sense but, literally, take a hike). Maybe you’re not just a 20-minute drive from beautifully groomed and easily accessible mountain trails (perks of living in Utah), but chances are that with a little digging, you could find some nearby nature to trudge through closer than you thought. Your local park and recreation organization may even offer guided hikes or opportunities to join a hiking group.
2. Get your garden on. Here in UT, we swear by the rule of no unsheltered planting before Mother’s Day (seriously, I’ve lost more than my fair share of fledgling plants by ignoring this advice). But if you’re a go-getter and have a good sunny window it’s a great idea to start your fruits and veggies from seed in early spring. If you’re lucky enough to live in a milder climate, spending some quality time with a trowel and a patch of dirt could be just the thing for helping you appreciate the ground you’ve got.
3. While you’re in the planting spirit, consider spreading some native seeds. If you’re not a natural green thumb, native plants are a great way to go. They can’t help but want to grow where they’re planted, and your local pollinators will thank you for your efforts.
4. Commute creatively. Walk, bike, run, scoot, roller blade, unicycle, whatever your preferred method of movement is, use your body’s own energy to get where you’re going. It doesn’t have to be to work; it could be to the grocery store, the park, the library, or even to the utility company to pay your water bill. Just get creative and choose a method other than driving to get around for a bit.
5. Check your air filter. Did you know that a dirty air filter could reduce your fuel economy by up to 10%? Gas isn’t cheap, and I know I don’t want to be wasting that kind of fuel! Don’t know where your air filter is? Just ask YouTube (or my husband, he’s a whiz with that kind of stuff).
6. Clean up your local environment. Let’s face it, humans are messy. If you live anywhere but the middle of the woods, chances are there are areas nearby that could use some help getting rid of the litter. If you’ve got a trash bag, and some gloves or one of those handy extended grabbers, consider spending some time helping clean up the debris.
7. Spend some time under the stars. My friends and I laugh about how much effort it takes to camp. We pack up the tents, the coolers, the bug spray, the camp stove, the flashlights, the camp chairs, the sleeping bags, and the overly excited children and head out into the wilderness to live in the dirt for days at a time. Where’s the sense in that, right? But there’s something pretty magical about sleeping out in the open, and seeing the stars. If you’re not into all that camping prep work you could just wait for a clear night, find a nice patch of ground and a blanket and take some time to stargaze. You won’t regret it.
8. Support your local farmers. There’s a farmers market here in Utah during the summer that is 100% my happy place. I’m convinced that nobody, not one single person, can be crabby while they’re meandering through booths of local produce, handmade jewelry, local honey, art and pottery. Seek out ways to support the local farmers in your area, and you may just find your own happy place in the process.
If your parks and recreation organization is looking for ways to help get your community involved in earth month, Sportsman Software can help. We’ve got solutions for online registration (for those expertly guided hikes), event ticketing (for your earth day fundraiser events), facility scheduling and reservations (farmers market anyone?), and so much more.