While your relationship with the earth may not be one you have given a lot of thought to in the past, it is an important one just like your relationship with your partner or your children. Connecting to the higher power of the earth grounds us spiritually, mentally, and even physically (ie. gravity). Furthermore, the earth literally provides us with life itself by giving us water to drink, food to eat, shelter to keep us safe, air to breath, and beautiful landscapes to enjoy. These are gifts we too often take for granted and are luxuries we won’t enjoy forever if we don’t all do our part to nurture our relationship with and care for Mother Earth.
If this is the beginning of your journey toward giving back to Mother Earth, “going green” may feel a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. As a foundation remember these three simple rules: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
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Reduce Waste
You may have never given a second thought to the trash you take to your dumpster day after day, but did you know that Americans generate over 253 million tons of trash per year, an average of approximately 4.40 pounds of trash per person per day? (2016) While it may seem to be “out of sight, out of mind,” all of this trash is polluting our earth. By reducing what you use, you help limit the trash sent to landfills.
Take a moment to think about your average day. What do you throw away? What could you do to decrease that waste? Here are just a few examples: Consider using a toothbrush with a replaceable head so the handle doesn’t go in the trash each time you need a new toothbrush. Swap out disposable makeup wipes for a washcloth. Use a metal razor handle with replaceable, recyclable blades. Opt for cloth napkins instead of disposable ones. These are all little decisions that make an impact.
Reuse
Too often as a culture we have placed convenience over being good stewards of our planet. Just today in the United States, over 70 million disposable water bottles will have been used (Franklin), and 86% of these water bottles will end up in landfills or litter our streets and oceans (Arnold & Larsen, 2006). This is just one example of an area where being a conscious consumer can make a huge difference for the planet. Rather than buying single-use water bottles, opt for a refillable bottle and carry it with you throughout the day. If you’re looking for a great refillable bottle, we love the reusable water bottles by the company 4 Ocean. The use of these water bottles supports the ocean cleanup movement and helps prevent the use of single-use plastics. The same principle of reuse applies to other areas as well, so get creative and choose to reuse rather than go for earth damaging disposables.
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Recycle
Reducing waste is always the top choice, but in situations where you can’t reduce or reuse something, try to recycle wherever possible. Recycling decreases the amount of trash being sent to landfills, conserves natural resources, prevents pollution, and creates jobs. When recycling, remember to avoid contamination and know your area.
Avoid Contamination. If trash or a contaminated piece of otherwise recyclable material is put in with recycling, the whole load is ruined and will be dumped in a landfill. (Franklin) Do your part to help prevent contaminated recycling by learning the rules of recycling, such as cleaning food out of all containers, rinsing and drying bottles, and flattening boxes. And remember, greasy pizza boxes can’t be recycled – the grease contaminates the load (Franklin).
Know Your Area. Recyclable items can vary based on location. Visithttps://www.republicservices.com/recycling-guide?tab=facility#recyclables to learn what is recyclable in your area and download the materials guide for unaccepted and accepted recyclables in your city. There are so many amazing resources online to help you learn all the basics to successfully recycle, so don’t be afraid to dive right in!
With over 7 billion people on earth, your green choices to avoid plastic drinking straws, buy organic, or use a reusable shopping bag may not feel like they matter very much, but together we can make a change. Together we can make an impact. Strengthen your relationship with Mother Nature today by caring for her the way she cares for you.
This week, nurture your relationship with Mother Nature by trying out one of the 3 R’s listed above!
Aubrey Hartshorn is from Weiser, Idaho. She is happily married to her husband Joseph and is the proud mamma of a beautiful little girl. She recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Family Studies. She is passionate about mindfulness, minimalism, and motherhood.
This week, nurture your relationship with Mother Nature by trying out one of the 3 R’s listed above!
