Celebrating Earth Day with your family does not mean you have to be involved in a huge celebration. You can start right at home today by making small, intentional steps to make your family’s life greener. Here are five ways your family can celebrate Earth Day together without breaking the bank.

Buy a Plant ($)

One thing I love doing the most with my children is buying plants for our garden. We especially love plants that we know the insects and birds will love. I recommend purple coneflowers, black-eyed susans, sunflowers, and zinnias for the birds. They love sitting on the spiny centers of these flowers and picking nutritious seeds. And, for the bees and hummingbirds, I love planting a variety of salvias, asters, verbena, and lantanas.

Buying a plant is an inexpensive way to celebrate Earth Day. Make sure to look at the growing instructions for your area and the planting zone you’re in.

Take a Walk (Free)

Taking a long, intentional walk can reset your day and allow you to see things you’d ordinarily miss if you’re checking your phone, listening to music, a podcast, an audiobook, or taking your dog outside to play. Just last week, I decided to take a walk and actually listen to the bird songs and notice the trees and nature around me. I heard a new-to-me bird by using the Merlin app and also noticed butterflies mud puddling by a stream. It was beautiful.

Donate to a Local Sustainable Organization ($$)

Most of us know the national and international organizations that help save the earth and endangered species, but local organizations are being hit hard and need financial help to continue their great work. Consider donating to smaller farmers’ markets that need help getting off the ground or local clean water efforts in your area. You can also donate to nature non-profits and sustainability organizations near you. A quick search will bring up many options in your local area. They will certainly appreciate your help, especially on Earth Day.

Make a Greener Choice ($)

Today, when grocery shopping or even if you are shopping online, make a greener choice in celebration of Earth Day. That can mean buying products with sustainable packaging that is recyclable, compostable, made from reusable materials, or plant-based. Whole Foods, for example, uses styrofoam-free packaging and offers only paper bags that can be recycled. No plastic bags. Most stores have their own sustainable packaging ethos, like Wegman’s, Aldi, and even Amazon. Be sure to check your local store’s sustainability practices.

Recycle (Free)

Recycling might seem like a mundane practice, but it really isn’t. It is an intentional act and takes a little effort and time. While the vast majority of Americans believe in recycling, only 43% of households actively recycle, and 76% of recyclables are thrown in the trash. Recycling centers are located in most cities and towns, where you can separate your recycling into cardboard, glass, cans, paper, etc. This is a great practice to pass down to your children.

We hope you have enjoyed this year’s Earth Day! What were some things you did to celebrate?