When Earth Day was first conceived back in 1970, the environment wasn’t really a major concern of anyone in our government, except a forward thinking senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson.

Senator Nelson proposed Earth Day to call attention to how human actions were endangering the planet.  The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970 and approximately 20 million Americans took part in the inaugural awareness day.  On this first Earth Day those who participated gathered recyclable items, held “teach-ins” to inform people about environmental concerns and picked up litter.

As the consciousness of the American people has grown about environmental concerns so has the profile and popularity of Earth Day.  Celebrations are now held on a much larger scale and individuals are not only doing more on Earth Day itself, but they are also practicing more eco-friendly behaviors throughout the year.  So what can you do this year to boost your commitment to the environment, or to just show your support on the special day? Here are a few ideas:

1. Plant a tree – An estimated 3 to 6 billion trees are cut down annually.  So many in fact, that the number of trees cut down could fill a land mass the size of Ireland.  You can refer to the Arbor Society or local gardening clubs to determine what tree you could plant that would be best suited to the area you live in. Trees are essential to maintaining our planet’s eco-system, so although it may seem like a small gesture, planting a tree is one of the most important things you can do on Earth Day.

2.. Plant a vegetable garden.  Growing your own veggies has a great variety of benefits, not only does it save you money since you don’t have to buy your favorite vegetables anymore, but you are also reducing the use of dangerous chemicals and pesticides that some professional growers use. Even if you’ve never had a garden before there are many plants that even novices can grow. Lettuces, herbs, hardy greens like kale are pretty easy to grow in any location.  If you live somewhere with a lot of warmth and sunshine you can also grow plants like tomatoes, eggplants and a variety of peppers.

3. Plant a flower garden – Flowers are beautiful, but they also help keep our delicate eco-systems in balance.  Tulips, Daisies, and Azaleas are all wonderful choices to plant for Earth Day.