This year is one of the most unique ones that we’ve had in a while. With the coronavirus self-isolation policies currently in place, 2020 marks one of the most unique Earth Days ever.
Though for humanity it is a dark and dreary time, the one silver lining — if there is any — is that science is pointing toward the Earth healing itself. As fewer and fewer people are out using transportation, humans have been making significantly fewer emissions. In fact, Reuters is reporting that carbon output could drop as much as 5% this year as compared to last year. Reports of improved air pollution are already coming in. So the happy note to focus on here is that the Earth is, arguably, thriving during this very, very different time.
That’s not all — the polluted water of the Venice Canals in Italy have also changed. The water is clear for the first time in years, fish are now visible in the canals, and even the swans have returned.
Every April 22nd, people celebrate Earth Day globally — planting trees, organizing beach clean-ups, picking up trash in their community, and so much more. While most of these Earth Day celebrations are often completed in groups, it’s still possible to celebrate Earth Day and make a difference from the comfort {and safety} of your home.
See More: Earth Day Artwork from 16 Hoboken Elementary School Students
You might be wondering, “Well, what can I do to help? What can I do to celebrate Earth Day this year without leaving my home?” There’s a lot you can do! First, remember that we can still go outside. So, if you have a backyard area, you can still plant some seeds and de-leaf the garden, a fan-favorite Earth Day activity.
You can also still pick up trash, plant flowers, and recycle — just make sure to do it solo or in very small groups in which people are mindful of staying six feet apart, as per social distancing guidelines.
The biggest, most significant thing you can do to celebrate Earth Day? Honestly, nothing. Stay home and don’t use too much electricity or water. Other things you can do include going for a walk or a bike ride alone, sitting outside, cooking a plant-based meal, switching your plastic items for glass {which can be recycled infinitely} — easy, simple things that don’t cause harmful carbon or other greenhouse gas emissions.
Other than that, here are eight things you can do to celebrate Earth Day from home.
Switch to Eco-Friendly Bulbs
{Photo credit: GE Lighting}
Switching the lightbulbs in your home is an easy and inexpensive thing you can do on Earth Day. GE Lighting makes a ton of different LED bulbs that not only save you money, but also use significantly less energy, making it a win for both you and the environment.
Any energy-saving lightbulb will do, of course, but what’s particularly cool about GE is that they make bulbs for different purposes: their grow lights actually help plants grow, speaker bulbs play your favorite music through a built-in speaker, C by GE Smart Bulbs actually change the temperature of the light as to better impact our sleep and wake cycles, and the LED+ Dusk to Dawn Bulbs are outdoor lights that reduce energy consumption by turning off automatically when the sun rises.
Start a Backyard Compost
Since many of the traditional services we’re used to may be on hold right now, one environmentally-friendly thing you could do is start your own backyard compost. Now, you may not have a ton of land to be working with here in Hudson County, but that’s okay.
Amazon has worm bins and composting bins available, some for under $100. To start your own backyard compost, you’ll need one of these bins, but you will also need food scraps. Eggshells are good because they supply much-needed calcium to the compost, as well as paper and cardboard. Compost also needs fruit and veggie scraps! Stay away from adding meat scraps and feces into your compost.
Make a Wildflower Seed Ball
The Student Conservation Association {SCA} is hosting a virtual Earth Day this year and one of their at-home DIY ideas is to restore pollinator habitats by making wildflower seed balls.
Wildflower seedballs are a cluster of seeds wrapped up in a ball of soil and clay. They’re super helpful to the environment because once you make them, you can toss it in a plant or just anywhere in your backyard. Then, the pollinators will come.
Pollinators are the bees and butterflies that pollinate our wildflowers. They’re really important to our ecosystem, but a lot of traditional human practices actually wipe out their natural habitats. Making a wildflower seedball can really help restore habitats for bees, butterflies, and other crucial pollinators, providing both food and shelter.
Watch a tutorial on how to make a wildflower seedball on SCA.
See More Everything You Need to Know About Composting in Hoboken
Tune in to NASA Science Live
{Photo credit: @nasa}
You may have already noticed that NASA has been celebrating Earth Day earlier this year as it’s actually the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. But on Wednesday, April 22nd, NASA has something really special planned — the “NASA Science Live” broadcast will feature experts discussing how science and tech can improve the environment.
You can watch along on NASA TV, YouTube Premium, Facebook’s Watch Party and Periscope/Twitter at 3:00PM ET.
Start on Your Diving Certification
We know what you’re thinking — um WHAT?! How could you possibly get started on a diving certification in the midst of COVID-19 sheltering in place? Well, COVID-19 has challenged so many businesses in so many ways, causing them to adapt their businesses virtually.
PADI is the world’s largest scuba diving training organization and believe it or not, you can get started on getting diving-certified right now. PADI offers eLearning scuba diving courses to get you started. As part of the eLearning course, you’ll watch, listen, learn, read, and interact with the program, get access to the material for one year, and then, once all this is over, you’ll be able to get in the water quicker with a PADI instructor for a dive.
PADI has two local centers in New York City, so once sheltering in place is over, you can book an exploration appointment at either of their two locations.
Send a Biodegradable Card
{Photo credit: Thoughtful Human}
Amidst all this social distancing, each and every one of us could use a little socializing by now. Even if it’s just by the way of good old fashion snail mail. Thoughtful Human makes biodegradable cards made of seed paper, so you don’t have to feel even remotely bad about sending your friend, family member, or loved one a letter. Whether you want to wish them a Happy Earth Day or just say, “Hey” in a safe and environmentally-friendly way, letter-writing is a meaningful Earth Day practice.
Read More: How to Practice Zero Waste in Hoboken + Jersey City
Grow Food at Home
Getting to the grocery store right now — or even getting a delivery, for that matter — is a pretty hefty task. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you could grow some of your own food at home? Well, this Earth Day, you can!
If you have some seeds at home, you can plant them in mason jars, upcycled egg cartons, or an upcycled aluminum can. Or, if you need a bit more help than that, you can try something like Back to the Roots, which offers different packs of seeds — from your standard herb and mushroom-growing kits to aquaponics.
You don’t have to cook your own food from scratch just yet. But a meaningful way to get started is to plant your seeds or order your kit this Earth Day.
Make Recycled Art
This Earth Day, Waste Management is providing some recycling art activity ideas for kids. After all, Earth Day isn’t just for grown-ups; it’s important to get your kids to participate, too. {You can download the PDF on wm.com.}
You can make recycled art projects out of just about anything —turn cereal boxes into school folders, transform a toilet paper roll into a napkin holder, and repurpose a milk carton as a pen holder, just to name a few.
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