It all started with a flat of marigolds and a little sunshine.
On Saturday morning, Brenda called from the nursery asking for a plant recommendation. I didn't used to like marigolds, but now am attracted to their tidy, non-support-needing form, their resistance to pests, and the fact that they look good from now through October. So B bought a flat of marigolds. And asked for my garden-planning advice.
And since, if I ever write a gardening book, it would be titled "I Do My Garden Planning With a Shovel," Steve and I packed up Noah and some gardening clothes and headed out.
By Sunday evening, we had imported more than four yards of soil, shifted 50+ large rocks/small boulders, and divided and transplanted almost every plant in Brenda's front garden. And planted a few marigolds.
It was a fine way to spend Earth Day.
And here are a few things we can all work into our lives everyday.
Earth Day Canada's Top 10 actions to help your environment
Park It
Park It
Leave your car at home for a day (or a week or a month) and try walking or biking. If work is too far away to walk, take public transit or carpool. One city bus eliminates the emissions of 40 cars.
Shut Down
Turn off the lights, the computer and the TV when they are not in use. Using only highly efficient and money saving appliances can reduce the electricity consumption of an average household to one tenth of the US average.
Where's The Beef?
Try eating meat-free at least one day a week. A meat-based diet requires seven times more land than a plant-based diet. Livestock production is responsible for more climate change gasses than all the motor vehicles in the world.
Eat It
Choose foods produced organically, locally and in season. Support your regional farmers & farming industry: buying locally and in season is better for the environment than buying foods that have been shipped hundreds of kilometers to your local market. “Eating locally... may be one of the most important ways we save ourselves and the planet.” – David Suzuki
Let It Rot
Put a composter in your backyard or use your green bin to reduce household waste. Composting organics has two key benefits: it reduces the amount of waste going to landfills and when added to your garden, helps nourish soil and plants.
Don't Be Idle
Turn off your car's engine if stopped for more than 10 seconds. If every driver of a light duty vehicle avoided idling by five minutes a day, collectively, we would save 1.8 million litres of fuel per day, almost 4500 tonnes of GHG emissions, and $1.7 million in fuel costs each day (assuming fuel costs are $0.95/L).
Keep Your Eye On The Temp
Set your thermostat above room temperature in the summer (for A/C) and below room temperature in the winter. For each degree you adjust, you can save five per cent on your utility bill and one per cent on your energy use.
Bright Ideas
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). A CFL uses only 25 per cent as much energy as an incandescent bulb and lasts 10 times longer.
Don't Dump It - Blue Box It!
The simple act of recycling has more impact on the environment that the average Canadian thinks. The amount of wood and paper North Americans throw away each year is enough to heat five million homes for 200 years.
Tell Someone
Tell someone what you’re doing to make the world a better place. Support the cause. Encourage them to get involved too!
Ryan and Brenda 
All photos: Rod Frew
