Earth Day activities are everywhere. This shows that it is still an important mindset. We need to ask ourselves, are we embracing the true meaning of this movement or just checking the box? I have been wrestling with this over the past few days. There is cause for concern.
This year’s theme is Planet vs. Plastics. The call to action is clear. We need to elevate the conversation on how plastics affect our health, the community, and the future. If we phase out single-use plastic, we can reduce litter and increase awareness of cleaner, healthier communities. Plastic pollution is a real and present danger to ALL of us.
In Prince Georges County, Maryland, if you need a bag, bring your bag. The campaign of 2023 made it clear to bring a reusable bag when shopping or purchase one to carry your goods. Our law now emphasizes a war on single-use plastics and litter. This action encourages residents to bring a bag from home for shopping instead of the plastic bags commonly found along the roadways. The uproar of citizens who felt inconvenienced was disappointing. Some of the same people are angry when seeing trash and litter of all kinds along our highways and roadsides. Many people have reusable bags tucked in a closet, the trunk of the car, or inside a larger bag waiting to be reused. The time to wait is over. We need to use those bags NOW.
How many of you remember when baby bottles were made of glass? I do and it was not that long ago. Using glass bottles meant young mothers did not have to worry about BPA’s. At the time, this was the best way to ensure your baby had milk from a chemical/contaminant-free and recyclable resource. Glass baby bottles are commonly discovered in an older relative’s house or in thrift shops. If these bottles could talk, they would share the tales of generations past. I bet you would not think about doing that with the plastic baby bottles found today. Glass baby bottles require sterilization in a hot water bath, cooled down, and reused. Boiling the caps was a way to ensure no germs survived this process.
Do you notice how many plastic water bottles are on the ground? These plastics are everywhere except in the recycle bins where they belong. Every time I walk my dog, I see flattened water bottles everywhere…except where they should be. It is unsightly and irritating to know that some people do not care. I am certain by now most people have acquired a free water bottle from an event or purchased a cute one from their favorite store.
Did you know a water bottle or other plastic liquid container, can serve as drip irrigation? This is an uncomplicated way to show love to plants that require constant watering attention or those that love damp feet. The water will slowly drip into the pot, and you reclaim a few more minutes for fun, instead of watering plants.
As it applies to our gardens, we can reduce the number of plastic pots in the landfill by – you guessed it – reusing them. If you have ever attended a plant swap, plastic pots from seasons past are always in use. These pots are great for repotting and transporting plants to share. Larger nursery pots are great for inserting on the inside beautiful ceramic pots. Some garden centers will also gladly collect nursery pots for reuse. When schools or other public entities decide to beautify an area, digging up existing plant material always requires a spare pot or two. Asking around or posting on the freecycle sites is a fantastic way to prevent these pots from entering our landfills.
In today’s world and gardens, reducing the use of plastics is more important than ever. As we prepare for Earth Day 2024, please make certain any action you take as an individual or in a group continues beyond the day or even the month. Earth Day is a commitment to the future of this planet.
I practice what I preach. I minimize what plastic comes into my home, carry a recyclable bag or two, and have many cute water bottles for use anywhere. Oh yes…I have black plastic nursery pots that I donate or use for my gardening experiments and sharing plants.
Earth Day is a movement – not simply something to check off the list.
On a beautiful spring evening, outside on the front stoop at the Cottage in the Court, counting the stacks of nursery pots and wondering why they were not in CowPots. That’s another story for another day.
Teri, Cottage in the Court
NOT AI GENERATED…simply my words.
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