So, on Sunday, I went into Target to fill my prescription and grab a few odds and ends. I pick up my prescription and they give me a FREE reusable shopping bag. Sweet! Then, I go to the checkout to purchase my odds and ends and they give me…ANOTHER reusable shopping bag. Now, I know that Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd. What I didn’t know is that many companies are celebrating this whole week as Earth Week! How wonderful that so many companies are recognizing the growing “green” trend and celebrating it not just one day per year, but for an entire week.
Another example. Since The Home Depot was having a Buy One, Get One sale on many of their herb and vegetable plants on Sunday, I headed on over to grab the herbs I love the most to start my container garden (yes, yes…I will be doing a container garden this year, which will be the subject of many, many, many posts, I am sure!). As I walked in, I was handed a weekly flyer, a green Guide and a FREE faucet aerator! After doing some research, I realize that installing this aerator can save water usage without affecting the water flow. Sweet!
Finally, I spent Sunday afternoon with my husband and the boys at our local science and nature center. To celebrate Earth Week, the center was having an all-day event filled with activities and “make and take” projects. First, we made kites out of recycled paper bags and twine. They were so adorable! We also took a nature walk, which included the boys running through open fields with bug catchers (however, once they brought me the spider they caught, I decided that project needed to end!). We participated in a drum circle where all the children used their hands to play drums and shakers and tambourines. There were many other activities including decorating clay pots for planting seeds, creating a “pizza garden” with tomato and basil plants, playing games that did not require anything other than hands and feet (think tag, relay races, crab walk races) and learning about the trees and animals/insects living in the woods.
Doing these types of activities with my children gives them the opportunity to learn about the great outdoors even though we live in a suburban jungle. I encourage you to find activities to do yourself and with your children that do not require electricity, driving your car or some plastic toys. It really is refreshing to get back to basics and traditional play!
What plans do you have for Earth Week? Here at The Going Green Project, we will be having a week filled with earth-friendly activities and projects as well as informational tips and advice about becoming more green in your everyday life. Please feel free to post a comment about your plans for Earth Week and Earth Day. I look forward to hearing everyone’s ideas (and may just incorporate some of them into my own journey towards a greener life!).
