| | Earth Day, Sunday, April 22nd Arbor Day, Saturday, April 28th God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15 The end of April points our thoughts toward our God-given responsibilities as inhabitants of this beautiful world. I always get to feeling a bit guilty, myself. I’m so horribly bad at recycling and taking care to clean up even my small yard. However, there is no time like the present to fulfill one of God’s very first commands to us and become active in taking care of our planet. Earth Day possibilities: · It is most important to set some environment-friendly goals with your family today. If you are new to the idea of keeping the world “clean and green,” consider basic beginner goals like turning out the lights when you leave the room, recycling, and turning off the water when you brush your teeth. If you have already been doing simple things like these, try starting a compost pile, reusing “trash” for crafts or storage, or switching to rechargeable batteries. If you are seasoned in the art of saving the environment try planting a certain number of trees this year, buying all your books or media used rather than new, and cutting your shower times by one minute. · Practice grocery shopping with the three Rs in mind (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). First, REUSE your old grocery bags – bring them along to the store and bag your groceries in them instead of new bags (if your bags are getting worn, busy some sturdy canvas bags for grocery shopping). Then, as you shop, REDUCE by buying things in larger quantities and attempting to keep from buying things in plastic containers. Lastly, when you get home, RECYCLE by placing empty food and beverage containers in a recycling bin. · It is amazing how many pollutants we release into the air and water every time we CLEAN! Look in the store for “green” cleaning products, or make your own – you can find recipes for chemical-free soaps, all-purpose cleansers, window cleansers, dusting solutions, dish detergents, laundry detergents,. . . Be easy on yourself though. Try one new green cleaner at a time, especially if you decide to make your own. · Get your kids to make some “treasures” from “trash” today. Gather up all your used boxes, plastic containers, toilet paper tubes, milk jugs, paper bags,. . . and have fun crafting things like photo boxes, rattles, pencil holders, bird houses and piñatas. If you are very brave, you can try making your own recycled paper. · Go outside and collect nuts, flowers, seeds, twigs, and leaves and make an Earth Day nature collage. · Spend some time today cleaning up your yard. Or, you can volunteer to clean up a local park or highway. Arbor Day possibilities: · Explain to your children the importance of trees. Trees provide us with shade in the hot summer, protection from wind in the fall and spring, oxygen to breathe, and sometimes food to eat. They also provide wood used to build houses and make paper. Animals also benefit greatly from trees. Squirrels and birds, for instance, get both shelter and food. · Plant a tree in your yard, of course. · Take a walk through a forest. Look at the different types of leaves, nuts, and berries. Look for animals up in the branches of the trees. · Tree crafts! Hand-print trees, blown-paint trees, or trees made from real leaves glued on a brown paper trunk, for instance. · Have a fruit tree fruit salad at dinner. Include fruits like apples, peaches, bananas,. . . you could also include nuts like pecans or add coconut. Here are some more Earth Day and Arbor Day resources for you to check out: |
