Many think “reduce, reuse, recycle” when it comes to protecting the environment. But there are so many other creative and helpful everyday actions “to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations” (Laudato Si’ 67). Here are some practical tips for preserving and caring for our common home.
1.) Plant a Mary garden
With May being the month dedicated to Mary, it is the perfect time to plant a garden to honor Mother Mary and care for Mother Earth. Cultivating a garden is an enriching way to care for the environment. Flower gardens provide space for pollinator plants, attracting animals and insects such as bees and butterflies that pollinate and support the world’s food sources. Vegetable gardens provide sustainable and organic produce. And gardening overall enriches the soil, cleans the air, and makes use of rainwater runoff. Plus, it helps beautify the world and offers a place of prayer and peace. (See related story, page 26.)
2.) Opt for reusable shopping bags
According to EarthDay.org, an estimated 4 trillion plastic bags are used each year worldwide. Keeping a reusable bag (or three) in the car to bring to the grocery store helps cut back on plastic use and keeps bags out of landfills.
3.) Go meatless on Fridays
Fasting has long been a part of Catholic life. While many Catholics nowadays abstain from meat only on Fridays during Lent, consider making meatless Fridays a part of the whole year. While being a sacrifice that benefits the soul and the spiritual health, fasting from meat may help the environment by cutting back on greenhouse gasses. Learn about other protein options, such as sustainable fish options at www.fishwatch.gov. And while you are at it, say a prayer to St. Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of fishermen.
4.) Enjoy your leftovers
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, food waste is estimated at between 30 and 40 percent of the food supply in the United States each year. Learn to love your leftovers and get creative in making your meals go further to cut back on food waste.
5.) Try composting
Try at home composting to make use of those leftovers you can’t consume. Along with diverting food scraps from landfills, composting helps enrich soil, promotes plant growth, filters and uses rainwater, and decreases greenhouse gasses caused by landfills. There are many compost ideas and options that accommodate even city living or smaller, yardless apartments.
6.) Frequent your local Farmers Market
Supporting a local farmers market is a tasty way to support and preserve the natural world. Food in the United States can travel thousands of miles before it ends up on the shelf, so shopping local markets reduces transportation pollution. Further, farmers market produce is usually minimally packaged, cutting back on trash and plastic bags usage. Plus, you are supporting local farmers and artisans in your community.
7.) Skip handwashing and run the dishwasher
Washing dishes by hand uses more than two gallons per minute of water. Instead, if possible, opt for loading dishes into a dishwasher, which uses only between 2 and 8 gallons of water per cycle. Plus, it saves time and is one less chore to do!
8.) Swap out toxic cleaning products for natural ones
Try substituting chemical household cleaning products for natural products. Along with posing health risks because of toxic ingredients, chemical cleaning products impact the environment as they are released into air and water sources after use. Consider switching to natural products, or even learn to make your own cleaners using household ingredients like baking soda, essential oils, lemon juice, and vinegar.
9.) Shop secondhand
Shopping secondhand can be a creative way to care for the environment. Along with conserving water – the World Wildlife Fund reports more than 700 gallons of water are needed to produce a single cotton T-shirt – shopping secondhand helps keep items out of landfills. Plus, it is easier to find classic, sustainable, and unique thrifted pieces rather than relying on the fast fashion industry that pushes cheap and ever-changing fads.
10.) Say Grace before and after meals
Remember always to thank God for the gifts of His creation and provision. Saying Grace before and after meals makes this gratitude a daily and consistent part of life, and rightly orients us in relation to the Creator as recipients of His blessings. Consider celebrating the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1 and marking the Season of Creation held each Sept. 1 to Oct. 4.
Find more actions ideas for individuals, families, parishes and schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Laudato Si’ Action Plan at adw.org/living-the-faith/social-concerns/laudato-si-action-plan/.
For more resources, visit:
- www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/index.cfm
- catholicclimatecovenant.org/
- www.earthday.org/
- www.fishwatch.gov/
- www.rainforesttrust.org/
