Celebrate Earth Day

When you think of the Pacific Ocean - do you picture swirling with garbage? Scientists estimate that the ocean between the coast of California and Japan is the location of the largest garbage dump in the world! They estimate that it's twice the size of Texas and in some parts of the ocean is more then 90 feet deep. What's floating in this garbage dump you ask, well 90% of it is plastic (i.e. those super annoying plastic water bottles and bags) and as you can imagine this is affecting the sea life and the ecosystem in a negative way. About 80% of the garbage comes from litter on land that is either dumped in waterways or is blown across land into the ocean. Biologists have begun to find that Beluga whales have breast cancer because of the toxins in the plastic that they are ingesting, now if that doesn't catch your attention I don't know what will.

What are you changing in your life on this Earth Day? My 3 big things are growing a vegetable garden, start composting, and building a rain barrel (yes we are making it out of recycled materials instead of buying one thanks to my grandpa and dad). Now I recognize these are not little things but if everyone did 1 thing different it would make a huge difference. So if you don't know what to do take this suggestion - stop using plastic grocery bags and get the reusable kind and also stop using plastic water bottles. Did you know that only 1% of plastic bags are recycled? I stopped using those over a year ago and I rarely purchase plastic water bottles because it seems like such a waste.

Here's to cherishing Mother Earth today and every day and doing at least one thing differently in honor of her. Make every day Earth Day.