EarthCare: Doable Actions for a Healthier Planet
What does Compassionate/Nonviolent Communication (or NVC) have to do with the health of our planet? NVC cultivates life-serving awareness of needs like health, safety, peace, vitality, fairness, balance, and compassion; and seeks to meet these needs through peaceful and doable actions.
With this intention, NVC invites us to embrace the interconnectedness of everything, including the health and vitality of this extraordinary place we live in. There are many simple ways we can help support planetary health. Even small actions have a big effect when we consider the combined power of our community. We are sharing tips and events that can help us learn new actions we might take and remind us of ones we’d like to continue. Our focus will be to offer doable tips; even small actions make a difference!
Doable Actions
As we suggest EarthCare Doable Actions in our newsletters, we’ll compile the actions here as well for a complete reference. Do you have any tips you’d like to suggest? Email them to bryn@compassionatecenter.org. Also check out The Environmental Center for more tips, helpful information, and opportunities to participate in projects and events.
Recycle. Use your local area’s Free Stuff group on Facebook to recycle things no longer needed. … Reuse. Reuse any plastic bags from fruit and veggie purchases. … Repurpose. Use plastic containers for home or dining-out leftovers and for odds-and-ends.
On October 2nd, the Copc 1 dam was removed, and for the first time in 100 years, the Klamath River flowed freely. By October 3rd, the salmon had returned. Wow! …
If you go out to eat as much as I do, you might consider bringing “to-go ware” with you. …
For a fresh toilet without chemicals or bleach, add a cup of baking soda to the bowl once a week to absorb odors. …
Fast fashion is the quick production of low-quality garments following the latest trends. It comes at a great cost to the environment, wildlife habitat, and human rights. …
What if you could make food waste disappear by throwing it into a hole in the ground and walking away? Introducing: Solar Digesters. …
Did you know that 85% of all used textiles end up in landfills, where they generate greenhouse methane gas and leach toxic chemicals and dyes into the groundwater and soil? …
We’re always looking for suggestions on lessening our impact on the planet, including through our food choices.
“Most of us know by now which foods are optimal for our health, including plentiful vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. It turns out that a similar plant-focused diet is also best for the planet. …
Sometimes it’s just good to hear good news. We ran across this and thought you would enjoy learning about libraries where you can borrow/rent stuff instead of buying it! …
To share this EarthCare tip with you I must admit to something embarrassing. Until just a few weeks ago I hadn’t realized that nearly all the yarn I've bought over the years is made of plastic. That just wasn’t on my radar.
When a conversation with my son brought it to light, I thought, “Well, I can’t do anything about the past, but I can do something about the yarn I buy from now on.” …
Rather than tossing them (as I’ve previously done), I’ve been collecting old socks and sweaters with holes in them. After reading about the huge impact clothing has on our environment, I decided to fix the holes and keep the clothes. …
According to a recent report from the EPA, “Food waste comprises about 24 percent of municipal solid waste in landfills.”
Happily, luckily, and gratefully, many cities and local organizations in Oregon have started curbside services to help turn food waste into compost. …
“Showers account for roughly 20 percent of total household water consumption. And water is just the start of it. Your shower burns energy, too. Just under half of a home’s hot water is used for showering.” …
Here’s an easy way to always have a takeaway container with you when you go out to eat, plus a shopping bag for those unexpected trips to the store: …
Many of you know that I’ve developed a keen interest in creating good tilth for my garden this coming spring. I’m super jazzed about what I can do to foster a healthy biome in my own backyard.
Recently, I read how food waste contributes to global warming. … When I gave it some thought, I realized that I wanted to be part of the entire process of building good soil. I want that hands-on experience.
But how do you compost in the middle of winter? You build a worm farm! …
“To fight climate change, OSU researchers push novel plan: Educate more girls, eat less meat.” …
We try to limit our use of one-time plastic containers, especially those hard plastic clamshells that contain various specialty greens and cherry tomatoes. We struggle with this because the food appears to remain fresh and in better condition longer in the plastic clamshells. Argh! …
How is it that so many of the regular tasks of life like washing our hands, brushing our teeth, showering, washing the dishes, and doing laundry involve water? …
“What if you knew you could be part of the solution to climate change—and that you could save money in the process?” …
World Vegan Day is observed on November 1st each year. It marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of veganism …
Sen. Jeff Merkley, recently worked with Rep. Jared Huffman to introduce the bicameral Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act …
Although we would have preferred a little less judgment in the title, here’s an interesting article that debunks some common misperceptions about personal climate change action, and highlights high-impact actions. …
Instead of bagging fallen leaves, consider letting them stay or raking them into garden beds to shelter wildlife and feed the soil. …