EARTH DAY is April 22, here are 10 ways to celebrate

All around the globe, people are celebrating the pale blue dot. Earth Day began in 1970 when a senator from Wisconsin thought it was time to raise awareness about the fragile ecosystems of Earth.

When NASA astronauts sent back photos from space, we were suddenly aware of the beauty of our planet, and people looked at our world differently. That iconic image of Earth floating alone in the vast darkness of space reminded us just how precious and vulnerable our home truly is.

Today people celebrate Earth Day in a variety of ways but perhaps we should all aim to make these nature-focused holidays like Earth Day a cherished part of our family traditions, passing these values down to younger generations so we might build a culture of stewardship and mindfulness that can last for decades. The more we focus on these kinds of celebrations, the more likely we are to take active steps to help our planet thrive.

Here are some of the ways you can celebrate this day:

Visit a local beach or lake and look for trash. (It won’t take long to find it.)

Hide the car keys. Spend a day without using your vehicle. Ride a bike or take a bus.

Visit a farm. Remember that 96% of the world’s animals are either raised for food or living in captivity. Choose to eat pasta or salad on this day.

Visit a natural history museum. Take time to marvel at the evolution of our world.

Build a birdhouse or bird feeder.

Check the trash. Dare to look in your garbage can for items that could be up-cycled.

Use natural pest control agents — eliminate the “Raid” or other insect repellents and replace them with natural ones.

Share the bounty. Invite friends over for a Mother’s Table. Fill your table with Mother Earth foods — those that grow in the Earth, on a tree, or in the ocean (seaweed). Encourage everyone to share a recipe that features that food.