We Aim To Slay

This upcoming Monday, April 22nd, is Earth Day! I’ve compiled several ways to get involved and live a more eco-minded life, including how I purchased the perfect birthday present for Hubby, helping the planet without breaking the bank!

Ways to Get Involved!

If you’re the type of person who likes to participate in hands-on activities, make sure to check your town or city’s website! Tomorrow I’ll be taking part in my town’s community clean up day, and I’ll be joining the Surfrider Foundation’s Connecticut chapter on Sunday for a beach cleanup! 

Two weekends ago, Hubby and I went to Boston to attend the first ever New England Youth Ocean Summit!

We learned about an underwater mountain range mere hours from our house – Cashes Ledge – and heard from those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our planet, included Gareth Lawson of the Conservation Law Foundation and Isha Sangani an EarthEcho Alumni.

As we progress into springtime in the Northern Hemisphere, many of us find ourselves cleaning out our closets. Don’t let your spring cleaning efforts go to waste; any and all gently loved items can be donated to your local shelters – giving your pieces a new life, while helping others! Last weekend, I brought a collection of clothing to F.I.S.H. (Friends in Service to Humanity) of Northwestern Connecticut, an organization working to eradicate homelessness and food insecurity!

You Can Get Help by Implementing These Everyday Actions!

• Beach, Forest, and Park cleanups
• Clothing donations
• Using reusable cutlery, water bottles, and shopping bags
• Recycling
• Turning off lights as you leave the room
• Using less water when cleaning or bathing
• Building and caring for a community garden
• Composting 
• Planting native trees or a pollinator garden
• Supporting local growers and farmers
• Volunteering with organizations such as;
  • EarthDay.Org
  • World Wildlife Fund
  • Surfrider Association
  • Surfers Against Sewage
  • Greenpeace International
  • National Parks Conservation Association
  • Jane Goodall Institute
  • Rainforest Alliance
  • Fauna and Flora International
  • Friends of the Earth International
  • United Nations Environment Programme

Eco-Friendly Shopping Made Easy!

An easy way to live eco-friendly is by implementing Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. This can be as simple as donating clothing or purchasing refurbished technology. Recently, my mother-in-law and I were able to purchase a refurbished MacBook Air for Hubby’s upcoming 30th birthday – for a fraction of the original price thanks to the TreeCard App!

Created by Jaime Cox in the summer of 2020, TreeCard is an app that has partnered with Ecosia, VeriTree, and Eden Reforestation Project, to combat deforestation! According to the TreeCard website, Ecosia has planted more than 150 million trees in over 32 countries!

“Together we are working to build an ecosystem of responsible alternatives to everyday services,” TreeCard.org explains of the partnership.

How Does it Work?

Once you have established your account, start walking! That’s it! For every 10,000 steps taken, TreeCard and Ecosia will plant a tree. 

When using the app, you’re able to view your “tree valley”, a visualization of all the trees you’ve helped to plant! You’re also able to change the kinds of trees you’re working towards, and each tree requires a different amount of steps – 10,000 steps for mangrove, fir, and acacia trees; 15,000 steps for palm trees; and 48,000 steps for banana and cacao trees! 

You are limited to only four trees per week through the steps program, but through their “roundup” and “spending” programs, you can earn more trees by donating change – via roundup – and by purchasing from eco-friendly brands – via spending.

One of my favorite jewelry and accessory brands, Pura Vida Bracelets, is an approved brand and you can use this link to save 15% off all of  your orders! 

For every tree you plant you earn 50 points, which can be redeemed for a wide range of environmentally minded rewards!  After activating the MacBook voucher, TreeCard emailed me a link with several laptop options to pick from. Once I had made my selection and purchase, I earned an additional 1,000 points and planted 3 more trees! These points and trees are added to your account once your tech is delivered. (The computer arrived within a week of placing the order!)

The points you earn can be exchanged for many reward categories including products, such as a discount voucher to Misfits Market Grocery Delivery; house plants; discount vouchers for green tech, such as the laptop or AirPods; impacts such as removing plastic from oceans (over these last few months I’ve helped to remove 120 plastic bottles from oceans!); and gifts, such as wildflower seed packets or wooden magnets! 

Don’t Forget to Get Involved!

How are you working to better your environment this Earth Day? And, how do you work to improve your environment in your everyday life? Let me know in the comments below! And, let me know if you try the TreeCard app!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!