7 Creative Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
Nature is an inspiring and supportive resource for creative minds. Learn creative ways to celebrate Earth Day and support future creatives.
Earth Day is about celebrating and being grateful for what we have and building habits so future generations of creatives can also experience all that mother nature provides. Starting on April 22, 1970, Earth Day honors the planet and peace with hopes of reducing our negative impact on the environment. So this Earth Day and month, start habits that reduce your impact and inspire others through creativity. Here are seven creative ways to celebrate Earth Day.
With the effects of climate change being experienced more and more, there’s no better time to build better habits that support environmental protection.
Create Environmental Art With a Message to Inspire Change
Environmental art is where the creative uses the natural world to create ecological artwork. The style embraces an ethic of social justice to preserve, restore, inspire care and respect for nature, stimulate dialogue, and encourage the long-term flourishing of the social and natural environments in which we live. This art celebrates a relationship between the artist and the natural world.
It’s been around since Paleolithic cave paintings but grew into a movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Environmental artists like Robert Smithson saw it as a way to challenge traditional sculptural forms and escape the confines of the gallery. Another aspect of the art style is the collaboration that comes with it. Aviva Rahmani noted that ecological art often includes collaboration between scientists, city planners, architects, and others. This kind of collaboration is important in the art style because of the direct intervention in environmental degradation.
A recent development in this area is renewable energy sculptures in response to the growing concern about global climate change. Andrea Polli’s Queensbridge Wind Power Project is a great example that incorporates wind turbines into a bridge’s structure.
Tips
- 50 Most Amazing Environmental Art Examples
- Upcycle natural materials for art:
- Create and decorate a water catcher for your garden.
- Learn the Art of Balancing Stones
Spend Time Outside
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. This means that only 7% of the average American life is spent outdoors. It goes without saying, spending time in nature is good for you. From getting fresh air to inspiring creative thinking, nature is a powerful tool to strengthen the mind. But if we take it for granted, we won’t realize the harm until it’s all gone. So one of the best things you can do for your creativity and support the environment is to get outside and appreciate the natural world.
Humans have always had an intimate connection with the natural world. However, technology and modern convenience have broken this connection. It’s easy to go an entire day without being in nature. Celebrate this Earth Day by getting outside and remembering the importance of caring for the environment.
So how does re-establishing your connection with nature help the environment? The more that nature is involved in our daily lives and the national conversation, the more attention politicians, corporations, and communities will need to focus on its values to preserve and enhance. Also, if we’re not aware of what’s happening in the natural world, it’s easier for toxic deals and stripping of the land to take place. By getting outside, you can connect other healthy habits as well as educate yourself on the world around you.
Tips
- Take a break from work to walk or sit in nature to refresh the mind and support well-being.
- Challenge yourself to find new perspectives in the world through nature photography.
- Take your work outside – Changing your environment can spark fresh creative thinking.
- Take your brainstorming outside.
- Bring a bag to collect trash on your walk.
- Follow your curiosity by learning about nature.
- Join nature walks or other means like nature podcasts to learn about your environment while on a walk.
Volunteer
Volunteering is one of the best ways to celebrate Earth day and make a difference. Because of influential youths like Greta Thunberg that are fed up with adults not taking action, there are a growing number of ways to volunteer and help the environment. As mentioned previously, being in nature has a long list of benefits for health and creativity. Perhaps the most valuable personal benefit of volunteering is the collaboration that comes with it.
Volunteering is a great way to take literal actions to help the environment, but it’s also community building. Joining volunteering activities allows you to meet like-minded people, make new friends, and gain new perspectives to inspire creativity. People who volunteer have a shared passion, and when they take action, it can be infectious and inspiring.
Tips
- Find problems in your community that inspire you to act.
- Join/create community groups to meet like-minded creatives.
- Help grow a community garden.
- Pair community events with upcycling.
- Brainstorm how you can use your creativity to give back to your community.
- Protect public lands.
- Check out the National Park Service volunteer portal for year-round opportunities.
- Support wildlife:
- There are many wildlife rescue and rehabilitation programs, or find a wildlife rehabilitation near you to join.
- Stack this habit with other actions.
Create Art From Recycled Materials
These days most homes have recycling bins, and some communities even enforce recycling. However, many still don’t know what can be recycled and end up “Wish-Cycling.” It stems from the best intentions, but this ends up costing recycling companies more time and money. Besides educating yourself on what can be recycled, another great habit to build is upcycling trash into art and useful organization.
Tips
- Practice upcycling as a medium for experimentation and befriending failure.
- Discover Creative DIY projects.
- Turn junk mail and old magazines into collages and materials for artwork.
- Turn old clothes into blankets, bags, and clothes.
- Repurpose old furniture into art projects and other forms of furniture for a new lease on life.
- Turn bottles, boxes, and other waste into helpful ways to organize your creative space and home.
Green Your Commute
Transportation accounts for more than 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (2018). Passenger cars alone are responsible for more than 35% of that. Greenhouse gases have far-ranging environmental and health effects, from air pollution, respiratory diseases; to increasing wildfires and other effects of climate change. Making your commute more green is not only important for your personal health, but it also helps ensure a healthier planet for future creatives.
There are many ways to be a green commuter as well as opportunities to make your commute more creative. In many ways making your commute more green is a win-win for the environment, your health, and creativity.
Tips
- Explore new eco-friendly ways to get to work.
- New perspectives = Creative Inspiration
- Commute by bike for health benefits that also boost creativity.
- Many cities are also adding bike-share programs to encourage green commutes.
- Start a carpool that can boost brainstorming and collaboration.
- Ride the bus, subway system, or shuttle to have more time to read, think creatively, meditate, and meet people that can inspire new perspectives.
- Work flexible hours to avoid high traffic times, and lower the impact your car has on the environment.
- Work remotely when possible.
- Upgrade your car to a greener ride.
- Electric and hybrid cars improve fuel economy and are becoming cheaper.
Buy Locally Made Goods
Buy locally-made goods isn’t only a great zero-waste tip, but it also supports local communities including, creatives. Buying local foods and goods stimulates regional economies, reduces wasteful packing like plastics, helps create and retain valuable jobs, supports families, and strengthens community and culture.
Tips
- Buying local reduces the amount of packaging in your purchases.
- Buying local reduces the use of fossil fuels.
- Join a co-op or food-buying club.
- Personalize your shopping experience and support the local community.
Make Your Own Garden or Join a Community Garden
Supporting nature isn’t only good for the environment. It also has numerous positive effects on one’s happiness and creativity.
Studies have found a 120 minutes a week in nature is enough to improve your well-being. Other studies have found being in nature reduces stress and anxiety while enhancing creative thinking. These positive effects don’t even begin to express the other benefits of gardening, the healthy food you get from your garden, and more.
If you have sustainable zero-waste goals and also want to support your creative mind, start a garden. This gives you opportunities to learn about composting for better recycling and a healthier garden, as well as other opportunities to explore DIY projects for additional zero-waste projects and habits.
Tips
- Start a garden with your composting to get benefits from nature that fuel creativity.
- Art waste like cardboard, paper, and shredded newspaper can be put into the compost.
- Harvest your own water using water barrels.
- Return plastic pots to be reused and choose biodegradable pots for a healthier, more eco-friendly garden.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
