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Community Corner

17 Ways to Honor Earth Day

Taking care of the environment doesn't need to be overwhelming. Here are some easy ways for your family to save money and celebrate Earth Day by going green.

Monday marks the celebration of Earth Day, which was founded in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. Nelson was inspired in part by the anti-Vietnam war protests and wanted to inspire a similar level of activism against environmental destruction. Since then, Earth Day has become a global event that has raised awareness of many environmental issues including deforestation and global warming.

In honor of Earth Day, here is a list of 17 things you and your family can do that will help the environment and often save money in the process. 

1. Bring your own bags when you go grocery shopping.

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2. Have your kids make their friends’ birthday cards and bring gift in decorated paper bags or a cool reusable bag. Kids love getting a handmade card — as do adults.

3. Shop at consignment and resale stores in Novi like Smart Chicks Consignment at 43039 Grand River Ave.

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4. Rip out some lawn and create a garden bed where you can grow your own food this summer. 

5. Dispose of your hazardous waste properly. A variety of tips for what is hazardous and where to dispose of it properly in Oakland County can be found here.

6. Buy a share in a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm, support local, sustainable farming and enjoy weekly fresh veggies. 

7. Ditch those dreaded sandwich bags and get some washable containers or bags. I like ReUsies, created by two Seattle moms.

8. Donate your gently used books and magazines to the Friends of the Library group at the Novi Public Library. The group will resell your donations and the sales will support local programs.

9. Look for an environmental service project you can do with your children, such as removing trash and non-native plants and planting trees. Volunteer Match is a great website that helps volunteers connect with local projects.

10. Get some chickens and have fresh, free eggs every day. Get support and ideas at the Urban Chicken Blog and from your local 4-H group.

11. Need wood chips for your garden or some firewood? Arborists often will be happy to provide it to you for free. They can also help you select and  plant trees to provide privacy and shade and even years of fresh fruit. Find a certified arborist in your area through the Michigan chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture

12. Dump your bottled-water costs. Buy snazzy metal water bottles for everyone in the family and a personal filter for your kitchen faucet, and you could save hundreds of dollars. 

13. Organize a Halloween costume swap in September. This can be a great service project for a Girl Scout troop. Reserve a room at the library and publicize to local parenting groups.

14. Replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. They last 15 times longer and use 75 percent less energy. Find stores with bulbs here

15. Expand your hand-me-down circle. Organize a clothing swap for your co-op preschool or a group of friends. Everyone brings gently used and clean kids’ clothes to your garage; parents take as many items as they donated. The rest goes to charity.  You can also swap toys and books.

16. Replace your showerheads with low-flow models. Low-flow showerheads can save you up to 15 percent of water-heating costs and reduce your water usage by as much as 20,000 gallons a year.

17. Save up to 30 percent on your monthly heating bills by having a home energy audit done by a professional.

What are your ideas for helping the environment? Tell us in the comments. 

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