In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, the entire Cherry Republic staff has been challenged with lacing up their walking shoes and participating in our first annual Earth Day Tree-Planting Walk-A-Thon For Nature Extravaganza! Running from April 15 through April 25, employees are encouraged to walk outside and log their steps. For every 10,000 steps logged, Cherry Republic will plant one tree. Here’s hoping we’ll have a small forest on our hands in the near future!
As spring comes back to Northern Michigan, we at Cherry Republic are starting to feel warm sunshine, budding trees, and the smells of soggy grass. In celebration of the environment, the people, organizations, and the policies that protect and care for it, Earth Day is Friday, April 22nd.
Whether it’s a walk through the woods, picking up litter, or using more Earth-friendly products, Country Living helped us come up with 5 ways to help to care for our planet and Northern Michigan.
1. Clean Up Plastic in Your Neighborhood or Along The Beaches of Lake Michigan.
One of the best ways to connect with the Earth is through cleanups! Go on a walk with a trash bag and help to clean up any plastic that you find. Perhaps you know of a nearby ditch that is polluted with trash, or a beach that needs a spring cleaning!
Each year, 22 million pounds of plastics enter the Great Lakes and threaten the 40 million people that rely on the Great Lakes as a drinking water source and the hundreds of native species living throughout the basin. Help reduce the impact by joining The Watershed Center’s Do-It-Yourself or public shoreline CleanUP events April 22nd to May 6th. You can register at gtbay.org/events/great-lakes-cleanup!
2. Plant a Tree!
We love our trees! They capture carbon, cool overheated places, benefit agriculture, support pollinators, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and boost local economies. Did you know that planting one oak tree brings in more insect and bird species than an entire yard of plants?
3. Make a Bird Feeder or House.
With it being spring, there are bound to be at least a few hungry birds in your own backyard. So, why not make them feel totally at home with a handmade bird feeder? Not only will it satisfy their appetite, it’ll also give your lawn a colorful boost. And there’s really no better feeling than knowing you’re helping Mother Nature do her job. So, go ahead; pull out your glue gun, grab some bird-approved nuts and seeds, and DIY your way to something beautiful.
4. Be Car-Free.
Walk or bike to school or work — not only is it good for the body, it’s good for the environment too! Living in Northern Michigan, we have rounded up some of our favorite trails that will allow you to ditch the car and earn some steps!
5. Get Involved with Your Local Environmental Organizations.
Find one whose mission matches your passions, and reach out to learn more about volunteer opportunities from advocacy to outreach to implementation. Some local environmental organizations we have worked with here at Cherry Republic are:
Time to join in and give back! Everyone who makes a gift to The Leelanau Conservancy of any amount or signs up to receive their e-newsletter* during Earth Week (April 18th through 24th) will be entered into a giveaway for a local Leelanau bundle filled with goods from Northwoods Hardware, M22, and Cherry Republic.
Local Leelanau Giveaway Bundle includes items from Northwoods Hardware, M22, Cherry Republic and the Leelanau Conservancy.
However you choose to celebrate, make sure it is a celebration and not a chore. Our planet needs narratives of positivity and hope. As the warmth of spring brings opening buds, returning birds and early wildflowers, it’s easy to see how much there is worth fighting for and protecting. We can follow the Earth’s lead with resilience and new growth, no matter what the past days held. Share how your celebrate Earth Day by tagging @cherryrepublic on socials!
