Every year on April 22nd, we celebrate the incredible planet we call home – Earth. And each year, special activities are offered on that day or another time during the month of April to help engage individuals and communities in actions. But what about the rest of the year?

In this post, we are going to talk about ways that you can show the planet a little extra love throughout the year.

Community/Citizen Science – (Don’t) Leave It To The Professionals

One of my favorite new uses of technology is our ability to collect and share data. If you spend time in nature or walking around your neighborhood and enjoy taking photos of plants, animals, and fungi – then we need your help! Using apps like iNaturalist or eBird, you can upload pictures of you took along with information about when and where. This data can then be used to track species and can even be used by scientists for research. And if you’re in search of a particular species yourself, you can use these tools to find where it was last seen near you. For iNaturalist, you don’t even have to know exactly what you saw. Community members will help you better identify the plant, animal, or fungus.

Tools like this can also be used as part of a Bioblitz – a large community effort to record a list of the living things in a particular area. These are often run by local organizations, but may be part of a larger program like City Nature Challenge. You can also look for opportunities to help community organizations who are collecting data about particular species. Here in the Portland area, there are opportunities to learn about beavers, amphibians, birds, pika, and more.

Support your Local Pollinators (and other insects)

For those who like to grow plants, selecting plants that are native to your area can be a great way to support your local ecosystems. Native plants often require less water and have deeper roots than those that grow elsewhere. But one of the more amazing benefits is that they can provide food and habitat for pollinators and other insects. These help local flowering plants thrive and can provide an important source of food for birds and other animals. And for those who can’t easily grow plants around their home, offering fresh clean water can be a wonderful alternative. If you have a small dish filled with rocks or marbles, this can provide bees and other insects a place to rest safely and get a much needed drink.

Great resources can be local gardening or backyard habitat programs (or check to see if there are seed libraries near you). I also recommend Douglas Tallamy‘s book “Nature’s Best Hope” which talks about the benefits of having neighborhoods of native plants and the impact they can have. Choosing local oak species can have a particular impact on ecosystems by supporting thousands of species over the course of their lives.

Reduce and Reuse

So many of us are aware of the benefits of recycling. But taking the time to select purchases with more care when possible can have a big impact. Consider whether you really need to purchase that new thing and maybe pausing a little longer to consider the possibilities. This is something that I am still constantly working on for myself – learning not to fall for the “shiny new toy”. Also thinking about ways to reduce food waste which in the US account for 30-40% of the food supply change (133 BILLION pounds a year! – USDA). And for those who do garden, you can see if any waste could find a second life as compost to feed your flowers and plants.

We can also find ways to reuse materials that have finished their original intended use. Participating in clothing swaps and thrifting allow clothing to extend their use through multiple people – which can be even greater for quality items. For those who like to craft, clothing with holes or food packaging can provide a continuous source of materials.

Leave No Trace

For those who like to hit the trails, this may be a familiar idea. But when we take these practices wherever we go, it can have a big impact on the land around us. If each of us cleaned up the trash we brought with us and returned home to dispose of it, it would cut down quite a bit on mess. And though views can be tempting, sticking to established paths helps to protect sensitive plants and animals. We all deserve the chance to enjoy our beautiful planet, which starts with taking care of all of its inhabitants!

Start Small

Sometimes, the need to protect our planet can feel overwhelming. With so much that needs to be done, where do we even start?…So start with what feels achievable to you. If each of us makes small changes, it can create ripple effects that create even bigger effects over time. There is no one right way to engage in stewardship, because
– if you are able to offer time to volunteer for a cause
– if you are able to advocate by writing in support of a local or national issue
– if you are able to keep your own area a little tidier or a little more full of local plant
– if you are able to leave green spaces the way you found them
or any other form it might take, then you are doing the work. My one final encouragement is to seek out those in your community who are working towards similar goals because in the end, we are all connected.

Happy Earth Day!
Kirsten, the NW Naturalist