Since 1970, Earth Day has become an international movement and has engaged over 1 billion people in actions on April 22. Indigenous and BIPOC led environmental conservation and preservation work pre-dates Earth Day by many generations and in may ways built the framework of modern conservation work. We believe that April 22 shouldn't be the only day of the year that we think critically about our individual and community roles in things like climate change, environmental racism, and habitat loss. The good news is that each of us can individually and collectively do the work to promote the health of our planet and ourselves. Here's 6 ways to start doing just that:
1. Green up your community!
April 22 shouldn’t be the only day that we clean up our roadways, sidewalks, and public spaces. Can you commit to cleaning up wayward trash in your community on a regular basis? Invite your friends and make it a collaborative effort!
2. Plant Perennials
Perennial landscapes can help promote carbon sequestration and can be food sources for people and pollinators. We’re currently propagating and tending black walnut trees, elderberries, apples, hazelburts, currants, seaberries, and over 15 perennial medicinal herb species on our farm. No access to land? Contact your town or city to see if they’ll commit to adding more greenspace with perennial food and pollinator species to your community.
3. Be an Informed Wildcrafter
The wild food and farm-to-table movements have gotten a lot of us excited about ephemeral foods, like ramps, fiddleheads, and various mushroom species. Unfortunately, not everyone is equipped with the knowledge to be responsible wildcrafters and some our wild spring ephemerals are increasingly at risk! Thankfully, United Plant Savers offers a ton of educational programming on how to be a responsible steward of wild landscapes. If you live in the Northeast, check out Patchwork Plant’s recent Instagram post about alternative, more sustainable spring delights of the Northeast you can enjoy this time of year.
4. Watch the “We Shall Breathe” Virtual Summit
Produced by the Hip Hop Caucus, this BIPOC-led virtual event examines climate and environmental justice, connects the climate crisis to issues of pollution, poverty, police brutality, and the pandemic, all within a racial justice framework. Write down a few new things you learned, how do they relate to your daily life? How can you be a better activist and ally? Watch the summit here.
5. Take "Zero Waste" Challenge
Do you know how much plastic and non-reusable materials you encounter on a daily basis? See if you can make it even just one day without creating any waste. Slowly but surely you'll start to see where you can cut out unnecessary packaging, excess waste, and more. We like to reuse our Hillside packaging in a variety of ways, and you can too! Here’s some ideas:
Sterilize your salve tins and use them for travel jewelry cases, make a small sewing kit for on the go, keep some training treats on hand for walks with your dog, or make your own salve!
Wash out those CBD oil tincture bottles and use them for our own personal tinctures or use them as tiny flower vases.
Wipe excess tea residue out of your empty tea bag and use it as a snack pouch, store rubber bands and twist ties, or collect that random change that always shows up in your car.
6. Learn more about conservation work locally and globally!
Educate yourself about local and national environmental conservation and regeneration work, like the Pollinator Partnership. In addition to administering the Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) certification program (see our previous post on becoming BFF certified!), the Pollinator Partnership offers a ton of resources on how individuals and businesses can help protect pollinators all around the world.
Wherever you find yourself on this day, ask yourself, what can I do to protect people AND planet?!