The Earth-Watchers Plan

Earth-Watchers is not about feeling guilty or passing judgment. Earth-Watchers is about finding your comfort zone, then stretching it until the stretched area begins to feel comfortable. When it does, stretch again.



Each month earth-watchers members choose a more eco-friendly habit.
At the end of the month we discuss our successes and failures as group. We brainstorm how we can make our moves toward sustainability more practical for everyone.

In addition, we take a look at what changes can be done in our community to help others to adapt some eco-friendly habits. For example. it is much easier to eat local when your community has a farmer's market or CSA. It is also much easier to collect compost when your community has a convenient and accessible drop-off location.

Would you like to try the Earth-Watchers action plan? Below you will find a list of eco-friendly actions. Choose one and when it becomes a habit and not a struggle, (only you can determine when that is), choose another. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

1. Purchase only shade grown, organic fair-trade coffee(August article and guide)
2. Reduce your exposure to toxins(May)
3.Say no to paper and plastic bags at the supermarket.(April)
4.Make one in 10 food items organic and avoid the dirty dozen.(March)
5.Choose sustainably harvested seafood.(March)
6. Stop using chemicals to clean your home.(March)
7. Stop sending conventional flowers. Send plants, or organically grown instead.(February)
8. Commit to choosing vintage and recycled jewelry(February)
9. Choose locally grown fruits and vegetables. To find a CSA visit www.localharvest.org

Editorial-My First Earth Day

I celebrated my first earth day as a freshman on a Pennsylvania college campus. I had recently joined a group, known as GECO, Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization, and we were celebrating the success of our most recent project. We, along with many other schools and organizations around the country, organized a letter writing campaign to the big tuna sellers demanding they stop using nets which harmed dolphins. Victory came surprisingly easy. In what seemed like no time at all, perhaps because we were late to join the effort, "dolphin safe" tuna was born.

It was on that same college campus that I first learned about global warming. We were taught it was a definite and real threat requiring immediate attention. We anticipated the environment taking center stage in the next presidential election. Why not...we had an environmentalist (Al Gore) running for VP. We assumed people would embrace the necessary changes and would fore go their gas guzzling over consumptive habits and we could put a stop to the damage a warmer climate would cause. You could say we were green in more ways than one.
That was 17 years ago! This earth day, it seems the environment has finally earned America's attention. Hollywood has at least made an attempt, to go green at this year's Oscars, organic foods are as mainstream as Walmart(for better or worse), and Wall Street is finally recognizing the profits in going green.

While we all might not be as dedicated as noimpactman, this month, in honor of Earth Day I invite you to make one change for the planet. Perhaps you'll join me in taking the "neither paper nor plastic," challenge(see post), or dump(appropriately) your chemical cleaners. If anything, I hope this blog demonstrates that there are many benefits to going green and that each step need not require a major sacrifice.





Please share your story on one positive change for the planet by commenting on this blog. Nothing is more inspiring than learning that others share your commitment to a better world.

Earth Day Events in New York City

For more information on how your family can go green, check out this month's Time Out New York, Kids.

Earth Day weekend at Prospect Park
The park will host a number of activites, such as tree planting and recycling.
Saturday April 21st and Sun. April 22nd

Earth Day at Grand Central
Sponsored by Earth Day NY, more than 60 exhibits and booths that how to be more conscious of the environment. Kids can make cereal-box collages and "spoke flowers" with Recycle-a-bicycle. Be on the lookout for Burt's Bees giveaways.
Earth Fair inside Vanderbilt Hall; Saturday April 14th noon-7:00 and Sunday April 15th 11am-5pm.
Earth Fair outdoors on Vanderbilt avenue: Friday April 20th, noon-7PM and Saturday April 21st 11am-5pm.

New York City Grows Garden Festival
Saturday April 28, 9am
Adult and kid friendly workshops, food demonstrations, a prize drawing and more.
Visit NGA's website for more.

For Teachers : An Earth Day Guide

Participate in the Earth Day Groceries Project. Visit a local grocery store, borrow paper grocery bags, have students decorate them. Then, return them to the grocery store on April 22nd. Students will be proud to see their personalized Earth Day messages being distributed at their local grocery store. For more information, visit; http://www.earthdaybags.org/faqs.htm

Have your students make an earth day pledge. Since it takes 21 days to form a new habit, students can pledge to do something positive for the planet for 21 days. You can have them sign a statement, i.e. "I will bring my lunch in a re-usable container for 21 days," or "I will turn off the lights when I leave a room," or "I will turn off the faucet when I'm brushing my teeth." They can have two witnesses sign their pledge who will hold them accountable. Next month have them report back on how they did. Did their committment inspire others? Did they meet their goal? If not, what went wrong? Do they have any advice for others attempting the same challenge?

Make recycled paper with your students. To learn how visit: talkabouttrees.org. Be sure to demonstrate to your students that recycling paper uses a lot of energy and water. The best thing to do is use as little paper as possible and then recycle what you do use.


Have a "wasteless" competition. During earth week, if student desks are arranged in equal groups, tape a large garbage bag to each group. Explain to students they are to throw their trash in these bags for the week. Food waste and other perishables should not be thrown there. If you're concerned students may cheat, don't disclose your intention until the end of the week. On Friday, weigh each bag on a bathroom scale. The team with the lightest bag wins. Have students brainstorm ways to reduce their waste at school.
For more ideas, visit earth911kids

Start a garden
For advice and available grants on gardening visit nationalgardenmonth.org

April 14th, National Climate Awareness Day

This April 14th has been declared National Climate Awareness Day. People around the nation will gather for a variety of events to demand that Congress..."Cut Carbon emissions 80% by 2050." There are interesting events all over the country, to find one near you visit: http://www.stepitup2007.org/ and punch in your zip code. One particularly interesting event will take place in New York City's Battery Park, where protesters will line up to create a "sea of people." The rally begins at noon in Battery Park, then protesters, dressed in blue, will join hands as they spread out along Manhattan's east and west sides to create a visual representation of what Manhattan will look like under the 10-foot sea level rise scenario. For more on this event visit, www.seaofpeople.org. There are also several other events in New York City which you will find at the step it up website.

Take the Neither Paper nor Plastic Challenge

Inspired by San Francisco's recent ban on plastic bags, I've decided to ban my own use of non-reusable shopping bags over the next 21 days, since that's how long it takes to learn a new habit. By this I mean that I will attempt to refuse all non-re-useable shopping bags, both paper and plastic from all shop clerks. From that last minute stop to the drugstore, to the full on shopping spree for spring clothing, I intend to be bag free! I've actually tried this many times before, unsuccessfully. I've often found myself unexpectedly stopping to make a purchase with no means of carrying the items home without accepting a bag. This time, however, I have a plan and by making my intentions public, I hope I can stick to it.

Here are some tips:

1. Visit reusablebags.com. They sell a bag that folds up to a 2" x 3" x 2" pouch and weighs 1.5 oz. It can easily fit in a pocket or day bag. Then, when you need it, you can unfold it to 19"x16"x6". Pretty cool!

2. Toss a bunch of canvas bags in the trunk of your car. That way, if you make an unexpected stop you'll be prepared.

3. Leave an oversized bag by your front door. Mine hangs on my coat rack.


Please join me in banning grocery bags. Blog your experiences; from mishaps, to successes and advice for struggling environmentalists.