The first Earth Day was created in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson to force Congress to address the environmental issues Earth was facing. Twenty million Americans participated in the first celebration by taking a stand against environmental ignorance and demanding change for our planet. By December of 1970, Congress authorized a new federal agency, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, aimed to address environmental issues. Over the past 51 years, since the first Earth Day, environmental changes include planting hundreds of millions of trees, providing environmental education cleaning up plastic pollution, and much more. Join over one billion participants and take action this Earth Day.

There are countless ways to reduce environmental harm in your everyday life. From reducing plastic use and meat consumption to picking up trash on walks and requesting paperless billing, small steps made by everyone can create a huge impact on our planet.

•    Reduce paper towel consumption by using kitchen towels and washcloths to clean up messes.
•    Trade plastic baggies for reusable silicone ones or beeswax wraps.
•    Avoid single-use products and invest in reusable ones: totes, straws, water bottles, food storage containers.
•    Reduce food waste by having an “Eat Me First” food bin front and center, and freeze what you can before it goes bad for future use.
•    Turn off lights when you leave a room.
•    Take shorter showers. And keep a bucket in the shower to collect water while it warms up; use that to water your plants.
•    Create your own all-purpose cleaner by soaking citrus peels in vinegar.
•    Line-dry your clothes.
•    DIY confetti by hole-punching leaves.
•    Follow @wastefreesac on Instagram for localized tips on where and how to recycle, eco-friendly services, sustainable shopping, and more.
•    Plant a tree! Visit the Sacramento Tree Foundation (sactree.com) for tips.
•    Opening this spring, Village General Store in Roseville will offer a BYO container refillery (you can also purchase containers at the shop) for household staples like spices, pasta, beans, and cooking oils, plus bath and body essentials, cleaning products, pet care, and more.
•    Recycle this magazine or use it for craft projects. Scour Pinterest for ideas!
•    Buy local food to reduce the distance from farm to fork. (Better yet, plant your own garden and share the crop with your neighbors!) A few local farmers’ markets include…

Historic Folsom Farmers’ Market, 915 Sutter Street, Folsom, historicfolsom.org/farmers-market; every Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Mahany Park Farmers’ Market, 1545 Pleasant Grove Boulevard, Roseville, facebook.com/mahanyparkfarmersmarket; every Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

El Dorado County Farmers’ Markets, begins in June; check eldoradofarmersmarket.com for locations and times.
•    Shop secondhand. A few local shops include…

ReLoveIt Consignments, 1300 East Bidwell Street, Suite 125, Folsom, 916-984-6500, reloveit.us

Snowline Hospice, 616 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-984-5853; 3300 Coach Lane, Cameron Park, 530-676-8708; 3961 El Dorado Road, Placerville, 530-622-1710, snowlinehospice.org/help/thrift-stores.

Ways To Celebrate

The Forgotten Solider Program is hosting Earth Day 2021 on April 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Downtown Auburn. Join them for a street fair featuring performances, raffles, food trucks, and more. forgottensoldierprogram.com

As this issue went to print, the Environmental Council of Sacramento was still in the planning process of their annual Sacramento Earth Day event. Visit their website and Facebook page for updates. ecosacramento.net; facebook.com/sacramentoearthday

COVID-19 has continued to pause in-person events, so create your own celebration at home! Start with making your coffee from the comfort of your kitchen or asking your favorite local café to use your own reusable mug. If possible, bike or walk to work and reduce car pollution throughout the day. Prepare plant-based meals and utilize your reusable water bottle. Take a walk to simply enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer…and pick up some trash along the way if you can. Lastly, research and invest in more ways to create an eco-friendlier footprint and help the environment. In no time, this “celebration” will become second nature and our planet will thank you for it.

Let us know how you plan to help the environment! Email [email protected].