By: Sophia Nunn
Happy Earth Day! Addressing the climate crisis and taking steps to protect our planet has never been more important. Here are four practical ways to help celebrate and impactful habits you can take with you into the future.
1. Start your own garden! Outback Community Gardens offers opportunities to grow your own garden and harvest your fruits and vegetables locally. Benefits to growing your own garden include, reducing carbon emissions, pesticide and fertilizer use and rekindling a connection with nature. Typically, there is a short waitlist for garden plot assignments. You can contact the Outback Communications Coordinator at as.outback.communications@wwu.edu to be given a plot or to add your name to the waitlist. When a plot becomes available, you’ll be contacted by the Coordinator. Here is a link to get started. https://fairhaven.wwu.edu/outback-community-gardens
Photos at the Outback Center. Sophia Nunn // Wavelength
2. Shift to a vegan lifestyle! According to the World Health Organization, livestock herds are the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide, not to mention being the major contributor to deforestation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Not only does eating plant based reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change significantly, but significantly improves our overall health. Not sure where to start? Choosing plant-based options on campus doesn’t have to be a challenge. Check out our “Trying Every Vegan Option on Campus” series for more information! Additionally, food pantries are available across campus including WHOLE, located on the bottom level of the VU and at the Moss Adams Student Success Center (PH 045), where plant-based foods are available.
3. Have a litter clean up day with a group of your friends and pack a picnic to celebrate afterwards! Waypoint park, Whatcom Falls Park, Lake Padden Park, Boulevard Park are all great places to start. Not only do you feel a sense of accomplishment, but an evening to go outside and appreciate the scenery around you.
A set of photos of Sophia at the park, picking up trash and then celebrating with a picnic. Sophia Nunn // Wavelength
4. Educate yourself! Set up a movie night with your friends or have a solo night in to watch documentaries such as “The True Cost”, “Seaspiracy”, “Earthlings”, “Blue Planet”, “Black Fish”, and “Cowspiracy”. Watching documentaries is a great way to expand your knowledge base and make better educated choices in your day to day life.