Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the first Earth Day. While we may be in the midst of an unprecedented time that restricts our ability to do certain things, there are many ways to make positive changes right now, for the better of the planet. Here are some ways to participate in Earth Day 2020.

• Calculate Your Carbon Footprint – Use information about your home energy usage, transportation patterns, and purchasing habits to identify your individual impact in CO₂ emissions. Find the calculator tool here.

• Organize Your Pantry, Fridge & Freezer for Reduced Food Waste – Pull everything out, wipe it down, and check for freshness. Sort the produce that needs to be eaten soon from that which has more time. Place items with an upcoming expiration date at the front so they aren’t forgotten out of sight. Have some veggies that are a little past their prime? Make soup!

• Give Your Plants a Boost – Instead of tossing those coffee grounds in the trash or dumping out the last bit of coffee in the pot, take advantage of the rich source of nitrogen found in coffee and share this with your house plants, patio container plants, or personal garden beds (if you maintain any on your own). It’s recommended that you rinse the used coffee grounds before working them into the soil (this helps maintain a neutral pH balance). You can also dilute the last bit of brewed coffee with water (until it’s the color of tea) and dump that right in the soil.

• Give Plant-Based Eating a Try – One benefit of the strange times we’re in is we have ample opportunity to explore new things right from home. Do a search for plant-based recipes and try going plant-based for one meal a day.

• Do a Plastics Audit – Write down every bit of plastic you use for an entire day (think yogurt cups, zip lock bags, soap bottles, clothes hangers – you get the picture). Then go through each item on the list and find out if there’s a more eco-friendly alternative you can start using instead.

Lastly, connect with the world by tuning in to Earth Day Live. Just visit Earthday.org any time today (April 22) for a global digital event with messages and performances by Pope Francis, Dr. Sylvia Earle, John Kerry, Chistiana Figueres, Al Gore and many more.