Guest Blogger: Katie Repsis. Fort Collins, CO
Photo: Harry Strharsky
Looking outside these past few weeks the sky has been so much clearer. Have you seen the pictures of the canals in Venice with clear water and a recent video of a jellyfish gliding through the water? India’s air quality has improved so much during the lock-down that the Himalayas have been visible for the first time in 30 years. It makes me smile knowing the national parks have been closed for a month, thinking about the animals roaming freely and letting trails grow again where they were trampled down by people.
I hope more of us see this pandemic as a wake-up call to the importance of protecting and preserving this fragile planet we all call home. There are things we all can do to be better advocates for this Earth.
I wanted to highlight a few environmental changes anyone can make while at home.
Reduce Meat & Dairy: Try reducing your meat and dairy consumption, even if you just start with one or two days. Quinoa is an excellent source of protein and is also a complete plant protein. It contains all 9 essential amino acids. It’s an easy ingredient to mix in with any meal and provides vitamins, mineral, protein, fiber and happens to be gluten-free.
Compost: Composting your food and organic material greatly reduces waste, creates healthy living soil, provides added nutrients to your garden/plants and reduces greenhouse gases.
Plant a Garden: Planting food even if it’s just a few pots is empowering and reminds us to eat healthier, it’s money saving, time saving, and teaches us the value of food.
Photo: Katie Repsis
Re-wear & Repair: Wear that outfit a few days in a row, before you toss it in the washing machine, especially if you’re at home. Repairing clothes is rewarding and when it’s a quick fix, is easy to do with a needle and thread.
Save Seeds: Save your old flower heads, seeds from past years, save seeds/roots from vegetable scraps to re-grow instead of buying plants.