Greener Days Prevail

The long weekend is almost here! Whether you’re planning a day trip, heading to the cottage or getting things done around the house, here are some easy practices you can do that keep the planet in mind:

Take Your Trash

This seems like a no-brainer, but if you go to any big, outdoor event or public space, you’ll notice people will always leave their trash behind. Even though most trash ends up in a landfill, it at least diverts it from our local ecosystems. So, always make sure you take and dispose of your trash properly—and even better—pick up a few pieces of trash you find on the ground as well. When we lead by example we often inspire others to do the same!

Reusables Over Disposables

Building on the last point, opting for reusable items over disposables is—of course—a great way to reduce the amount of trash we send to landfills. Most of us need the convenience of some prepackaged foods when we go away for a day or weekend, so we can balance that by making sure to pack our reusable water bottle for our hike, opt for reusable cutlery and plates for our picnic or pack other food for the day in reusable containers and bags instead of their single-use counterparts.

Skip the Fireworks

I’m not going to fault anyone who goes to watch fireworks with their family or friends, however, we do need to understand how incredibly detrimental fireworks are to the environment. Apparently, more eco-friendly fireworks do exist (though they are harder to come by), and I have seen some incredible videos of drone shows, which makes me hopeful that we will transition to more sustainable alternatives for traditional fireworks. To learn about the environmental impact of fireworks, check out this article.

Support Local

Supporting even just one local business this long weekend is a great sustainable action we can all take and helps to strengthen the local economy as well. Getting your garden ready this weekend? Visit your local garden centre instead of a big box store. Up early for a road trip? Stop by a small coffee shop for your morning fuel. Heading out for lunch or dinner? Skip the chain and try a new, local restaurant instead.

Take a Hike

No, really. Get outside and go for a walk in the forest. Now you might be rolling your eyes at this one, but hear me out. On top of the obvious (low environmental impact and mental and physical health benefits), getting out in nature really does help to connect us with the Earth and appreciate the wonderfulness of it all. I know anytime I go on a hike I leave with my mind feeling clearer and my environmental awareness feeling more heightened.

I hope whatever you get up to this long weekend, you keep some of these simple practices in mind. Remember we are always striving for progress over perfection when it comes to the climate movement, and even the smallest of actions still amounts to more than no actions!