Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day around the world. Here in Canada, this is the 20th year of celebrating the Earth. We have come a long way in that time, but there's still a long way to go to make sure we are leaving a clean, sustainable Earth to our children.

In honour of Earth Day, here are 5 things you can do to help the Earth:

1) Ditch the chemicals. Many of us have been brought up to believe that you need to disinfect everything and use the most powerful cleaners to be healthy. However, the use of disinfectants is often cited as one of the reasons for increasing rates of "superbugs" that are antibiotic-resistant. Try some natural cleaners, such as vinegar and water, for mirrors and surfaces. For tough scrubbing, use a bit of baking soda and a rag to get spills off your stove or stains out of your sink. If you want to try other natural cleaners, there are lots on the market. Just make sure to read labels so you aren't fooled by false claims of "green".

2) Buy local (and organic). This summer our family is participating in a box program from a local organic farm. For a modest weekly fee, we get a box of fresh fruits, veggies, honey and other goodies. We know where it's grown, that there aren't all kinds of chemicals sprayed all over it, and my daughter gets to see where our food comes from! Plus, our local economy benefits...it doesn't get any better than that!

3) Make the 4 R's part of your life. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and Reevaluate your consumption habits!

4) Make Earth-friendly choices. Switch to cold water to wash clothes and a clothesline to dry them, choose products for your home that use less energy, unplug electrical appliances (computers, TVs, etc.) when not in use, and make sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible.

5) Consider switching to environmentally-friendly power sources (such as solar, wind, etc.), and evaluate purchases (such as cars and appliances) for their impact on the environment.

Here at Under the Moon, we strive to select products that are produced fairly and in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in learning about the background of any of our toys, clothing, diapers or other products!

And watch out for our new website, which will be debuting any day!

Happy Earth Day everyone!