Five simple things to do on Earth Day

Often it’s the smallest changes — multiplied by millions of people — that have the biggest impact. Here are five ideas that The Nature Conservancy recommends for Earth Day and beyond: Know your carbon footprint: To effectively become “greener” in daily life, we each need to know our carbon footprint. Take five minutes (really, it’s that quick!) and use The Nature Conservancy’s online tool at www.nature.org/carboncalculator. Then, commit to using just a little less carbon. Time your shower: With the warmer months ahead, now is the time to start thinking about conserving our water. The next time you take a shower, time it. The next day, reduce that time by a minute or two. If you listen to music, shut off the faucet after two songs. Go for a walk: Even if it’s just around the block, getting outside is one of the best things to do to connect to nature. Bring the kids, too. A growing body of research suggests that a lack of exposure to nature is linked to rises in obesity, attention-deficit disorder and depression in children. Speak up on climate change: National legislation has been introduced to reduce U.S. emissions, which the Nature Conservancy believes is a critically important step in the fight against climate change. Let your legislators know you support it. Find a farmer’s market: Farmer’s markets — selling locally-made fare — abound throughout the summer and fall. Find one nearby at www.farmfresh.org and mark a date in your calendar to check it out. Or, simply opting for a PB&J instead of roast beef once or more a week is a great way to “green” your lunch.