Every Day is Earth Day

Out and about on April 22nd makes my post a little late in hitting your email inbox, but really, every day is Earth Day and we all need to ramp up our awareness and mindfulness of how we're doing our bit, large or small to mitigate our individual, family and group's carbon footprint with regards to taking care of our beautiful planet and slowing & mitigating the reality of global warming.

I borrowed & adapted this simple list of practical ways to make a difference, but I was saddened to see that drying more of our household laundry on an old-school washing line, drying rack or European-style spinning clothes dryer  seldom makes the list. When I first moved to the States, I recall being informed by a neighbor in the apartment complex we landed in that hanging one's laundry outdoors was simply not done. Well, I never took any notice of that particularly silly piece of advice and I still don't. I've hung a washing line on a deck, between trees or wherever it worked best in every home I've lived in since and, weather permitting, its number one purpose has been to line dry and air scent bedding. Sheets and duvet covers and blankets don't need ironing, last longer and they smell so great when they've had a few hours of outdoor airing after a wash. 

Occasionally I've left things on the line too late in the day and the evening fog delays the drying process, but which ever one of my family members is around, generally hauls the load indoors before bedtime. And if it takes an extra airing the following day, then it's just a matter of slinging a sheet or two back over the line! 

I hope that this will inspire you to air dry at least some of your household's laundry in the future. Every time I throw a load of laundry into the dryer I think, guiltily of my European friends of family who take the time daily to dash out into their backyard at the sign of a sprinkle of rain, laundry basket in hand. Imagine how much power we'd save collectively if we all reduced our reliance on heated clothes dryers. 

Here are 26 more simple steps we can take to lead a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Thank you in advance for caring for our planet.

1. Plant a tree
2. Plant a vegetable, herb or flower garden
3. Participate in a local clean up
4. Go meatless for one day a week
5. Refill: kick the bottled water habit
6. Recycle or donate: think before you trash it
7. Skip the straw
8. Reduce the load: power down and unplug
9. Donate food locally & share your garden bounty
10. Remember to bring your own reusable bag
11. Flip the switch and save: lights and equipment
12. Buy local and sustainable
13. Detox the mailbox and stop junk mail
14. Carpool and save fuel
15. Park the car: walk or ride a bike
16. Give back and volunteer in the community
17. Select save instead of print
18. Print double-sided
19. Save one drop at a time: fix leaking faucets
20. Get outdoors and connect with the natural world
21. Choose a reusable coffee cup
22. Take the food waste challenge and reduce waste
23. Read the label: eat for health and nutrition
24. Power up using alternative fuels/go solar
25. Donate to a local green organization
26. No more power washing this year