Earth Day is a great reminder that small, everyday actions add up to lasting positive change in our world. Here are a few simple ways to protect and celebrate our beautiful hometown!
Go Outside
The budding daffodils, the robins singing, and the adorable ducks at Rye Town Park fill me with awe for the natural beauty of Rye, reminding me to pause, appreciate nature, and recommit to protecting it.
Plant Something
The best part about gardening? You don’t need to be an expert or spend a lot of money! Whether you plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables, there’s something really satisfying about watching new life grow.
Join the Buy Nothing Facebook Group
If you’re on Facebook, check out the Buy Nothing Rye group. It’s a great way to give away items you no longer need, find things for free, and borrow from neighbors.
Pack Your Lunch
Instead of burdening our landfills with plastic, bring real silverware for lunch on the go, refill a reusable water bottle, and pack food with re-usable containers.
Wear It Again (and Again!)
Twenty-three years old! That’s the age of my fleece jacket. I still love it, and re-wearing clothing is an easy way to reduce waste.
Rethink Your Produce Choices
I’ve come to accept that when I buy baby spinach, despite my best intentions, I’m basically making a donation of wilted greens to my garbage can. Instead, I opt for longer-lasting produce like carrots and peppers, which actually get eaten! That’s also why I choose bananas, which come in their own natural packaging that also, btw, is completely biodegradable.
Compost Without a Composter
My friend Lucy Berkoff recently taught me that you can place fruit and vegetable scraps or eggshells in a brown bag and drop them off at Disbrow’s Recycling Center or the Highland Hall Lot (on the corner of Highland Road and Purchase Street). This keeps waste out of the landfill, and creates compost that the community can eventually use.
Whether it’s composting, packing lunches, or re-wearing clothes, our small everyday actions help make the Earth a better place — for our Rye neighbors and beyond. And, check out The Rye Record’s Around Town listings for Earth Day events happening locally!
Liz Woods is the founder of Ryemarkable Moms.
