Editor's Note: Tiffany Sprague is NRRI Sustainability Coordinator who helps us live out our best sustainable lives at work and at home. This is her monthly blog.
Some say love is fickle and fleeting (Morgenstern). Others claim love to be divine (Akita). And a few may claim you need to put a ring on it, especially if you really like it (Queen B aka Beyoncé). But how does one go about putting a ring on our one true love, Earth?
I’ve been pondering other ways we can show Mother Nature our love for her and this ball (yes, a very round -- not flat -- sphere) we get to call home. So while you’re shoveling your face with chocolate this month (ethical chocolates of course), crafting homemade Valentine cards and regifting goodies someone else will adore, let us ponder the ways we can pass along some of that hunka hunka burnin’ love to planet Earth.
Less Stuff
One of the easiest, and cheapest, way we can express our love of Earth is to put less pressure on the resources we need by requiring less stuff in our lives. If you need the thrill of swiping the card and doling out the cash, thrifting or shopping second-hand reduces use of raw and new materials. It may also offer an opportunity to welcome a unique and funky sense of style to your wardrobe or decor.
The street I live on is, unfortunately, a bit of a snooze alert. But I’ve heard of cool neighborhoods where families and friends jointly purchase lawn equipment, such as snow blowers, ladders and tree pruners, and everyone gets dibs. I understand this involves a degree of trust and open communication (I know how much Minnesotans love strong, direct communication… [smirk]), yet if this may work for you, imagine the reduction in raw material use! As a side note, you should always check with your local sanitary district to appropriately dispose of lawn and small engine equipment; most of it, notably the metal, can be recycled.
The challenge: Remove yourself from three junk mailing lists. Call ‘em up, tell ‘em no thanks, and feel good about reducing the pressure on our beautiful forests and whatever goopy chemicals go into ink.
Switch to Reusables
This isn’t the first -- and it won’t be the last -- time I proclaim my love of linens and reusable bags of all types to replace single-use, throw away equivalents. I know it is nearly impossible to eradicate all trash from our lives, but the less single-use items we use and eventually discard, the more space we have in Earth’s limited landfills to dispose of items with no other end-of-life option (within the limits of current technology and economy, that is).
The challenge: Replace one item you typically throw away with a reusable option -- napkins, paper towels, feminine products, plastic bags, cotton balls -- your options are nearly endless! And again, check your local thrift or second-hand stores to see what goodies are there before buying new.
Improve Home Energy Efficiency
I understand the impact from a household doesn’t even come close to that of companies and mega-corporations. But we shouldn’t choose defeat. Instead, we should still pursue the best energy efficient options possible -- within our individual means and capacity, of course! For some, that may be a whole home energy audit, with full home insulation and window upgrades.
The challenge: Switch older light bulbs to new LEDs. Check with your local power company to see if they offer rebates for purchasing energy efficient light bulbs - MN Power does! What energy efficient choice(s) are you going to make this month to show Earth some lovin’?!
Get Involved
Maybe you’re already an environmental diva - rockin’ your 90s NASA shirt you found at Goodwill, reading by candlelight in the evenings, with a bum that hasn’t touched toilet paper in years. (Did that go too far for some of you? Google it.) Maybe you’re itchin’ for your next Captain Planet moment; or, you simply love doing and you’re motivated to part with that plastic-wrapped cheese string. Whatever the situation, all of us come to this space with something to offer, and getting involved in your local community is one of the best ways you can show Earth all the love.
The challenge: Join a local group passionate about Mother Nature in one form or another. Here are some ideas:
- a climate-focused group
- a book club
- a beach, trail or street clean-up event
- a community solar or food garden
- a citizen or community science research opportunity (my favorite!)
Researchers across the world are actively engaging with the public to increase their capacity to learn more about our planet and its many wonders. This research can help us discover new and innovative ways to protect and manage our natural resources. Citizen and community science also helps to educate folks on the challenges our resources face, and how they can improve their land and resource stewardship.
If you’re pretty amped up right now to do some citizen science, and you live in Duluth or Two Harbors, Minnesota, and you are passionate (or even mildly interested) in streams and Lake Superior, send me an email (tsprague@d.umn.edu). I have an exciting opportunity for you to get outside this summer and send NRRI scientists all.the.data!
Did Tiff just take the opportunity to use this article to also advertise a citizen science project she is leading in 2022?! Yes. Yes I did. I look forward to hearing from you. #NoShame
Until next month,
Tiff