Helping The Chesapeake Bay! 12 Days of Helping!
Helping The Chesapeake Bay! 12 Days of Helping!
The holidays are here and spreading cheer and a helping hand are more plentiful during the month of December. How about giving back to the environment? Here are a few ways to preserve the Chesapeake Bay during all the festivities and get togethers.
Give the Gift of Trees. If you live in Maryland, help the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reach its goal of having 50,000 native trees plantedaround the state by giving a tree in the name of a loved one. You can order the trees online or through the mail. The recipient will get a certificate notifying them of your gift. Trees are $40 each. If you give 10 trees, you can decide where you would like the grove to be planted. DNR has already registered more than 20,000 trees this year, which will help to reduce erosion and prevent pollution throughout the state.
Spread the word Sometimes the best gift you can give someone is knowledge. During the holidays and all throughout the year, inform your friends and family about the issues facing the Chesapeake Bay and the ways they can help it. You don't have to get up on a soapbox and lobby for the cause, but if you can give a party host or hostess a suggestion about how to make their occasion a little more eco-friendly, go for it!
Buy yourself an energy-efficient gift If you've been holding out on purchasing a new washer or dryer, now might be the time to do it. If you invest in an energy-efficient appliance this time of year, you'll not only find some great sale prices, but you'll also save money in the future. Energy Star-rated appliances can save you significant amounts of money on monthly electric and water bills, and you may be eligible for a tax credit. So go ahead and buy yourself that dream appliance! By conserving energy and water, you'll save quite a bit of green by going green.
Wrap your presents the green way Think about how much wrapping paper, tissue paper and cardboard goes to waste each year around the holidays. After the presents are ripped open, most of the paper goes in the trash. This year, consider traveling down a greener path. Use recycled wrapping paper, or for a more personal touch, make your own creative wrapping paper out of newspaper and magazines. You can also give a gift in a reusable shopping bag and recycle the remnants of a wonderful day of gift-giving on a shopping trip with family and friends!
Recycle your Christmas tree When the holiday season is over and you're cleaning up the house, make sure to dispose of your Christmas tree the Bay-friendly way. Instead of throwing it out with the trash, take it to be recycled. Christmas trees can often be chipped into mulch, thus reducing the amount of Christmas trees that end up in landfills. Go to Earth911.orgto find a Christmas tree recyclers near you.
Get "Down and Dirty"
Give a Day for the Bay lets you get "down and dirty" to help clean up and restore valuable habitat. "Give a Day for the Bay"
Minimize Runoff
Storm water, carrying pollutants from streets and yards, contributes more pollutants to Tampa Bay than any other source, but you can minimize the impact from your yard. Use slow-release fertilizer and spot treat problems on an as-needed basis rather than as a preventive measure. Or, make sure your lawn service doesn't use excessive fertilizer or pesticides.
Take One Step at a Time
Walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to work when you can. Auto emissions increase air and water pollution, plus you'll save m
oney and minimize stress.
Preserve Backyard Habitat
You can protect or create a little bit of backyard habitat without living in a jungle or ripping up your entire lawn.
Pay It ForwardShare your love of the outdoors and respect for nature by taking a child fishing, hiking, fossil hunting, canoeing or birdwatching.
Gift of Membership A gift that lasts from CBF a gift of membership, a gift of a tree or a gift in honor or memory. Through December, your gift is worth twice as much! The Chesapeake Bay - Board of Trustees will match all online gifts dollar-for-dollar.
Become a BayRaiser! Create your own web page to raise funds for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.