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So today is Earth Day. What's that mean to you? Personally, I'm glad we have a day set a aside every year to raise awareness regarding environmental issues and the ongoing struggles and assaults on our planet. That being said, I do not support or enjoy attending huge waste-producing Earth Day festivals. I used to, but one year I was in line for some food and I was given a Styrofoam to-go box with a plastic fork and knife and said, forget this! This is ridiculous. It's so counterintuitive. Here is a massive event "celebrating" the earth with information about what materials are damaging to the earth and yet they are serving food on these very materials. Not to mention the thousands of plastic drink cups and straws, and cans thrown out, and everywhere you turn there are overflowing trashcans full of landfill waste. Terrible. No-waste events are TOTALLY possible. In fact, I attend one every year here in my town. Check out last year's Whole Earth Festival, a ZERO waste event. It can be done my friends.
Our family treats everyday as Earth Day. If you follow my blog, you know a portion of the information offered on this blog is green-related and environmentally mindful. I have a low-waste, green kitchen. This means I do not use any disposable plastic, foil, or paper products. You can read here on how to decrease kitchen waste, and here for part 2. Some examples are bringing your own container to the store for your meat, freezing fruit for smoothies, and purchasing reusable fabric lunch bags. It's all about decreasing waste.
Here are environmentally minded blogs that inspire me
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1. My Plastic Free Life
2. The Plastic Free Chef
3. People For a Plastic Free Planet
4. Going Green Mama
5. Non-Toxic Kids
6. Green Kid's Guide
7. Safe Mama
8. Good Girl Gone Green
Here are my favorite environmentally mindful resources
1. Earth 911
Have something to recycle?
Find out HOW and WHERE!
2. TerraCycle
Where to send ALL your wasteful packaging
from packaged foods and other items
3. Plastic Free
(a book) by Beth Terry
4. How To Store Produce Without Plastic
A great post with great suggestions
5. Buy Green
A trusted resource for green products
Additional Information
If you're interested in more resources and information, you can follow my Pinterest Page dedicated to environmentally-mindful information.
I also encourage you to get out there and garden
And I also have a Pinerest Page dedicated
to all-things gardening.
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Happy Earth Day from The Tasty Alternative
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Shared on: Fat Tuesday
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Shared on: Fat Tuesday
Amber, interesting point! I have never thought of these festivals from this perspective, but its true. One would think that festival organizers would be mindful of selecting earth friendly vendors, but I guess this isn't always the case! Please keep up your kitchen friendly tips, they are great and written in a very non-intimidating way. I'm still working my way to someday being as green as you and your tips are helpful. I am proud to say we are now a paper towel free house and have been for some time. :)
ReplyDeleteFor years, we heard how, as a family of six, we were stomping out the very ground we were living on, and we were the major factor behind all of the waste on the planet. Interestingly, our garbage can contained much, much less junk than some of our attackers, who were in families of 1 or 2. No pizza boxes in our can. A compost pile sure helps, as does cooking fresh, as you observe. Now, if I can figure out a way to eliminate the paper junk mail!
ReplyDeleteOh Amber, I love this! You are so right on the festivals and really everyday should be earth day! I'm now following you on pinterest too! I'm always looking for more earth friendly info! Thank you friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarena! :-)
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