Earth Month 2020 🌎
Did you know that April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day? 50 years ago, millions of people mobilized to advocate for protecting our collective home and thus, Earth Day was born. At that time, ECOSLO was loosely organizing in our community and we officially became your local environmental nonprofit nearly one year after Earth Day!
Below you'll see a roundup of ideas, tips, and activities that we've been sharing on social media that you can partake in that are rooted in protecting our Mother Earth! We hope you'll be inspired to use this time of ‘hunkering at home’ to reconnect with yourself and with this beautiful place we get to live.
Watch ECOSLO on the "Great Global Cleanup"
Earlier this year, the ECOSLO and MBNEP teams were joined by Discovery, Earth Day Network, and Zac Efron at one of our data-driven cleanups in Morro Bay. We had an amazing turnout of 80 volunteers that day! The 'Great Global Cleanup' features cleanups across the planet - capturing communities who continue to care for and create awareness about the threats of items humans have created such as plastics, cigarette and vape waste, and more... and the impacts these items continue to have in the beautiful, natural places we love so much - like Morro Rock.
Plant-Based Meal Ideas:
Ratatouille
Switching to plant-based recipes makes a positive difference for our planet! This week we're featuring Ratatouilli - it consists of colorful, fresh vegetables that you can get locally, including eggplants, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes. It's a lot easier than it looks, too!
2. Vegan Pesto
Enjoy this simple vegan pesto recipe with fresh local ingredients! This recipe is from Minimalist Baker and the pesto can be used on pasta, pizza, sandwiches...you name it. If you grow basil or kale in your garden, now is the perfect time to harvest some to use it for this tasty recipe - if not, grab some basil, lemons and kale at the farmer’s market!
3. Rosemary Focaccia
Now is a great time to get in the kitchen and make some fresh, delicious bread! This week's plant-based recipe is rosemary focaccia. If you grow rosemary in your garden, grab a fresh sprig to sprinkle on this tasty bread. The only ingredients needed for this recipe are:
• all-purpose flour
• a dash of sugar
• 1 packet instant yeast (can't find yeast? Check out Novo's online market!)
• salt
• water
• olive oil
• rosemary
This bread is great anytime and tastes great with some avocado or hummus on top. Eating plant-based is an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint!
Check out the recipe for rosemary focaccia by Once Upon a Chef!
4. Chickpea Cesar Salad: this week's plant-based meal idea!
This a delicious salad from one of our favorite recipes sites - Minimalist Baker! The best part of this salad is you can make it your own - for example, we chose to add cranberries and sweet potatoes!
DIY Projects
Reusable produce bags!
As some of you - or folks you know - may be making fabric face masks, here is another at-home sewing activity you can do! ECOSLO staff have been working on making reusable produce bags from worn out bed sheets and thrifted fabric. It's a pleasant activity to pass the time and you'll have your very own reusable and washable produce bags for the next time you run to the market! This easy craft makes avoiding plastic produce bags simple.There is no “right” pattern to use either, you can make them any size or shape that works for you. We make ours like we’re making mini pillow cases! Click here for our recent Instagram post that includes pictures and a step-by-step way to turn an old pillowcase into two produce bags.
Adjust the measurements to your liking as well! This is a great project if you’re just getting into sewing and can even be done without a machine.We hope to share some of these at future ECOSLO volunteer events. If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering some time to make produce bags, please reach out! ECOSLO has received materials and we would love to share these reusable and up-cycled produce bags with ECOSLO volunteers and supporters!
2. Spring cleaning activity: Tie-dying
We encourage you to try up-cycling some of the clothes that you no longer wear - that could mean tie dying an old white or faded t-shirt (or other article of clothing) that maybe has some stains. While many donation centers are not accepting clothing donations at this time, why not find a way to turn what you have into something new? There are so many ways to be creative and turn old clothes into a new, useful product.
3. Nature-inspired craft: Driftwood Jewelry Hanger
Scattered on beaches all over the county, driftwood is an awesome item for making some cool crafts! 🌊🔨 All you need is driftwood, some string, and small hooks. First, screw the small hooks into the bottom of the driftwood, equidistant apart. Then take the string and tie it around both ends of the driftwood to make a triangle (or drill holes and tie the string through)... it’s that easy!
Self Care Sunday
Grab a good book
We hope you are using this rare, extra time at home to take care of you! That's why each Sunday we are sharing an idea for self-care. Have you been wanting to start a new book or finish that one you started, but haven't been able to find the time? Now is a perfect opportunity to hunker down inside, in your yard, or in nature with a good book. Get lost in a good story or learn about something new!
2. Watch an environmental documentary
Planet Earth
Ode to Muir
A Plastic Ocean
JANE (about Jane Goodall)
Mission Blue
True Cost
Artifishal
180 Degrees South
Chasing ghosts
Before the Flood
Chasing coral
Island Earth
Chasing Ice
Dam nation
3. Opt Outside Saturday
Though many parks and hiking trails are closed during this time in order to encourage social distancing, many of us still want to be able to enjoy the outdoors. So what can you do?
Explore your own neighborhood! Check out streets you haven’t been on before or trails that lead to open space or a nearby creek. Observe plant life and the types of wildlife you see while enjoying the outdoors!
Support an Eco-Conscious SLO County Business
HumanKind Fair Trade: People, Planet, Profit
One of the primary principles of this fair trade shop in Downtown SLO is care for our environment. 🌎 The items in their shop are crafted using natural materials such as apparel made from organic cotton and baskets from natural grasses. Although their storefront is closed, their online shop is available and offering FREE shipping on orders of $30 or more and free local delivery in the city of SLO.
Every online order helps HumanKind, and it also helps them continue to support the artisans they work with around the world. In any crisis, it is the poor who suffer the most. Every purchase makes a difference! So check out
https://www.humankindslo.org/ today.
2. SLO Food Co-Op: People, Planet, Profit
If you’ve volunteered with us, you may have enjoyed delicious snacks the SLO Food Co-Op donates to ECOSLO for all volunteers to enjoy as we give back to Mother Earth! We are grateful to partner with a generous and environmentally-conscious business, that helps us share examples of low-waste snacks! 🍎🍌
Did you know? SLO Food Co-op is currently enrolled in the SLO County Green Business Program, making changes in their operations and facility to be more sustainable and protect our environment. 🌿🌻
3. Robin's Restaurant and Novo Restaurant & Lounge (& Grocery Market)
This week we are giving a shout out to our friends who run some of the best restaurants in town - Novo Restaurant and Lounge & Robins Restaurant!
Visit Novo online and you’ll see the amazing fresh produce market they set up, delicious menu items to-go, and specialty drinks, too!
Robin's Restaurant posts their daily menu which includes ready-to-eat starters, entrees, & desserts, as well as 'Robin's at home' meals that can be refrigerated for enjoying couple days down the road!
Did you know these restaurants have the following eco-friendly practices?
♻️ green waste pick ups
🍲 not over portioning to minimize food waste
🍴 eco friendly to-go ware and minimizing the use to-go ware
👩🍳 educating staff on being more eco-friendly
Remember that if you choose to get takeout, support our amazing local SLO County businesses as we 'hunker at home' during COVID-19.
