By Nanette Wiser
Eco-kindness and sustainability never go out of vogue. Advocate for environmental protection on April 22, Earth Day, at beach clean ups, Shred-A-Thon (Seminole SPC), the Green Thumb Festival (p. 46) with a billion friends around the globe who want to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation.
In 1970, 20 million individuals (10% of the U.S. population) mobilized to call for greater protections for our planet. This became the world’s first Earth Day. Pinellas County leads Florida with many innovative programs and research. USF and Eckerd College’s marine science and sustainability programs are working hard to fight climate change. Did you know that Pinellas County has 42 Gulf Coast reef sites made from environmentally safe discarded materials (concrete pipes, steel beams or ships), that provide valuable underwater habitats for marine life?
Go green now. In 2022, start by adapting some of our eco-friendly tips right now. Make a difference by taking part in activities (picking up litter, planting trees), supporting environment advocacy organizations and attending a local Earth Day event. Learn how to make our world a happier, healthier place to live. www.EarthDay.org
Relearn to Recycle: Recyclables should be clean, but not spotless. Know your local recycling rules on your city or county website. Dispose of electronics and chemicals safely. Switch paper billing to online billing. Encourage your schools, business, and cities to recycle.
In Your Kitchen: Cut down on food waste, use smarter storage containers and don’t run the water. Use refillable non-plastic water bottles, eliminate straws, and paper plates/napkins. Buy organic food to keep your body and the environment free of toxic pesticides Go meatless two days a week and reduce greenhouse gases. Go to www.harvard-foodprint-calculator.github.io to assess how your meals impact the planet.
At the Beach: Choose reef-safe sunscreen. Avoid ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and/or nanoparticles.
Yard Smarts: Sweep up yard waste and trash around storm drains to prevent it from being swept into our waterways.
Use Non-Toxic Cleaners: Consider homemade options and safe, non-toxic cleaning products. Avoid ionic surfactants, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs).
Avoid Plastic Pollution: Ditch single use plastics, bags, and bottles. Microplastics now show up in seafood and human blood.
Reuse & Repurpose: Turn a glass jar into a vase, repurpose a toilet tube to hold power cords and get crafty with Pinterest/ETSY.
Gently Used Treasures: Look for furniture, dishes and clothes at a local thrift or vintage shop?
Life’s A Gas: Without a car, that is! Ride a bike, take the BITE Trolley or rent an electric scooter downtown. Plan errands to minimize gas usage. Yay for Duke Energy, City of St. Pete for supporting electric cars, charging stations. We practice what we preach: Paradise NEWS is delivered by a hybrid car and the home/office is powered by solar power!
Better Bulbs: Use LED lightbulbs and for outdoor lighting, set a timer or motion detector so lights aren’t always on.
Upgrade Appliances: Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and air conditions that are more than 10 years old use more energy than newer, energy-efficient models.
Support Green Businesses: Book hotels with green certifications (Tradewinds, Don Cesar) and sustainable practices with conserving water and electricity. Ruth Eckerd Hall was certified Ocean Friendly by the Ocean Allies Group. Businesses such as Coke and HP recycle plastic into their products.
Reduce Water Usage: Turn off the water during your 20-second hand washes, brushing your teeth and washing your face. Take shorter showers. Limit flushing when possible. Water your plants early in the morning so you can water less.
GET ACTIVE Donate or volunteer with Tampa Bay Watch, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Audobon Society and support local vendors/farmers at Corey Avenue Market, downtown Saturday Market and others. Plant your own herbs and veggies, use composting food waste for fertilizer and plant native plants that support wildlife (UF/IFAS). Some of our faves for sustainable gardening, composting, and products include:
- Roots of the Sun www.rootsofthesun.com
- Mad Potter www.themadpotterstpete.com
- St. Pete Ferments www.stpeteferments.com
- Urban Harvest LLC www.theurbanharvest.com
EARTH DAY 2022 (Check Facebook for more details.)
4/22 Florida Botanical Gardens Self-guided scavenger hunts, games from TaleBlazer mobile app, instructor-led events from Growing Up Wild curriculum.
4/23 Ecofest Tampa Bay Sustainable experts, green workshops, STEM booths, garden expert sponsored Learning Gate Community School and MOSI.
4/23 Indian Rocks Beach Great American Clean-Up Hosted by www.GreentownKids.org (kid-centered environmental non-profit), the city of Indian Rocks Beach, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, and Action 2000 IRB.
4/23 Earth Day Celebrations Treasure Island, Sunken Gardens, Clearwater.
4/23 Interactive Earth Day – DIY Bioblitz This is part of a series of Earth Day events planned in TX, LA, MS, AL, and FL through Paddle the Gulf. Help identify species as you explore local coastal resources and waterways to find your #adventurewithapurpose using the iNaturalist app and help clean up trash.
4/23 Earth Day Sunken Gardens
4/23 Tribal Burn: EARTH DAY with special guest Amy Sigil (workshop 4/23), a benefit for Sacred Lands
4/23 Earth Day Mangrove Clean-Up Depart from Urban Kai Gandy Beach to clean up mangrove systems. Bring your own SUP/Kayak or rent one.4/30 Earth Day Pop Up Market Muddy Water Kava & Tea BOGO kava, earth-conscious food, art, vendors, + raffle benefiting local non-profit, live music and dog-friendly.