Maintaining the planet for our children is a very important task. We do not take the time to realize that our actions will be directly impacting our children, our grand children, and even our great grand children.
Even though we may not share the planet with them once we are gone (depending on your belief of death that is) we should still keep the planet as clean and safe as we can for future generations. We love our children dearly, why would we pollute their living space?
After putting much thought into this, I have found several different easy, and simple ways that we as parents, grandparents, and even just concerned citizens can all do our part to help the planet.
- When going grocery shopping, re-use your bags, purchase the canvas bags that the majority of stores sell, and avoid using plastic bags. One plastic bag, takes between 10 and 20 years to break down.
- Cloth diapers! Yes, those old fashioned cloth diapers that our parents used, and so did their parents. Did you know it takes over 75 years for one disposable diaper to break down? Cloth diapers today are much more user friendly than they were in our parents era. They are also much cuter!
- Purchase eggs and milk in cardboard containers which can be easily recycled and re-used.
- Take showers instead of bathes to help save water and energy. If you have more than one child around the same age, bathe them all together at the same time, or jump in the tub with them yourself.
- Use a clothes line to dry your laundry! When a clothes line is routinely used during the acceptable seasons, it can greatly cut down your power bill as well as energy usage!
- Re-use aluminum foil or plastic sandwich bags when packing lunches.
- Only run your dishwasher when it is full, or turn off the water while you are washing dishes. Do not let the water continuously run. I know as a Mom, when I have a half full dish washer, sometimes I want to throw it on just to get it out of the way, but waiting for those couple dishes or plates really pays off. Not just in saving energy, but also on your bill’s!
- Buy in bulk to avoid over packaging.
- Plant a tree, or get involved with local tree planting efforts in your community.
- If your community already does not offer a curbside recycling program, contact your local town hall and find out how you can help start or urge the effort in your area.
- Start your own organic garden. You do not have to have a large yard, or even have a yard at all to start a small garden. Nothing is fresher than produce you have grown yourself!
- Don’t litter. I know many people are often tempted to throw a small wrapper or cup out the window while cruising down I-95, but by not throwing it, you are doing the planet a great service. Also, if you see trash thrown on the side of the road or on the ground, pick it up. It doesn’t hurt you, or take much time, and it makes a big difference!
- Call your local humane society or pet shelter to see if they could use your old newspapers or towels to use as bedding for the animals housed in the shelter. Also, consider adopting a pet from a shelter instead of a petstore. Give the pets already in need of a home a loving family. You will not regret it, often shelter pets are much more well behaved and loving.
- Take your own coffee cup to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks instead of using their disposable cups.
All of these little steps are so simple, and do not have a large impact on your life or your convenience factor. Do your part, chip in and help make the planet a better place for all of us, especially the children!
