April is Earth Month, while Saturday, April 22, 2023, is Earth Day! Earth Day is dedicated to our beautiful Earth: celebrating it, enjoying it, and of course, considering ways to protect it. However, you can start new year-round habits that will have a long-lasting effect on the planet for generations. Consider:
Reducing Waste
Small actions can add up to significant changes over time:
- Conserve water when you can, like turning off the faucet as you brush your teeth and turning it back on only to rinse.
- Use reusable bags when shopping to avoid plastic bags that will end up in the trash.
- Buy a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottled water, where the plastic will end up in a landfill.
- Go digital with your statements. Paper often ends up in the trash and requires cutting down trees.
- Buy food that uses less packaging, and use all of the food you can versus tossing food that’s still good!
Planting Trees
Since Earth Day roughly coincides with Arbor Day (April 26), now is the ideal time to plant trees. Trees help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean pollution, and keep soil in place to prevent erosion. They literally support life on Earth.
Remember that Chapters across New York State can participate in the Plant for the Future Campaign in partnership with The Tractor Supply Company. Join other TU members to help plant trees in your community. Tree planting and stream cleanup events are posted on the Events and Happening page on this website Events and Happening page.
Reducing Emissions
Carpool. Take public transportation. Bike or walk to your destination. Emissions are a contributing factor to global warming, and by driving your vehicle less, you have the opportunity to make a massive difference for our planet!
Joining Trout Unlimited
If you aren't a member, Trout Unlimited is the largest coldwater conservation group in the world that also focuses on environmental protection. Trout Unlimited's mission is to conserve, protect, restore, and sustain coldwater fisheries and their watersheds throughout New York State and the Nation. The philosophy is taking care of the fish will enable the fishing to take care of itself. Click to join.
Volunteering at Your Local Chapter
If you are a TU member, become a volunteer in your Chapter. You'll undoubtedly make new friends who share your interests and can work on critical projects.
Shopping Locally
Local stores, farmers, and gardeners are much more likely to make a smaller footprint producing the goods you buy versus big box stores. Plus, this helps stimulate your local economy. Local stores or farmers don’t have to travel far to get the food to you, helping to reduce air pollution and carbon emission.
We only have one planet, and how we live and interact with, it shapes the future of our world. The necessity to focus on saving our Earth is an ongoing need. Preserve our beautiful planet, and it will take work from everybody.
