As we celebrate Earth Day this April, it’s a good time for Central Floridians to reflect on the impact they have on the planet and take steps to reduce their carbon footprint. While incorporating “greener” practices into your life can feel overwhelming, taking a few small actions from your own home can make a difference.
OUC – The Reliable One has several ways that you and your family can celebrate Earth Day right from your backyard and have a positive impact on the environment throughout the year.
- Grow Your Green Thumb. Plants play a vital role in sustaining our ecosystems, so what better way to commemorate Earth Day than by spending time in your garden? Erin Givens, OUC Vegetation Program Manager, shares tips to successfully plant a garden:
- Plan before you plant. This can be as simple as sketching your planting space on a piece of paper or using pin flags to visualize where each plant will go.
- Select the right plants for your space. Think about factors like amount of sunlight, soil conditions, and the nearest water source.
- Conserve natural resources by following the rules of xeriscaping (landscaping that uses slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water) or Florida-Friendly Landscaping.
- Remember to call 8-1-1 before you dig to have your property marked for underground utility lines.
- Compost in Your Yard. Take it a step further and consider composting, says Matthew Ferrer, OUC Manager of Sustainability. Before tossing food scraps from fruits and vegetables into the trash, use them to enrich your garden. It’s also a great way to help reduce your carbon footprint, with many easy ways to build your own bin.
- Grow Your Own Fruits & Veggies. Start a fruit or vegetable garden. It’s a great way for little ones to see where their food comes from and you may have less dinner battles when it comes to finishing all the veggies on your plate.
Ferrer’s advice: start small with seeds you already have and go from there, and check out Orlando’s Fleet Farming for more tips. Givens notes that April is the perfect time to plant warm-season crops, so try growing foods like corn, watermelon or sweet potatoes.
For those looking to celebrate within the community, join OUC at these free Earth Month events:
H20 Show at City Arts
March 16 – April 16
39 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
Enjoy student artwork and rain barrels from OUC’s 2023 Water Color Project.
UCF Celebrates the Arts at Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center
April 2 – 15
445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
Enjoy student artwork from OUC’s 2023 Water Color Project.
Central Florida Earth Day at Lake Eola
April 22
512 E. Washington St., Orlando, FL 32801
Take a tour of the Tiny Green Home! Visitors will look inside the 200-square-foot sustainable home and learn more about ways they can go green.
by OUC’s Vegetation Program Manager and Manager of Sustainability
