April 22 is Earth Day.  It’s a day to think about the Earth, how important our only home is to us, future generations, and all the plants and critters that inhabit the planet with us.  It’s a day to appreciate Mother Earth, and also to plan for caring for the Earth.  I think it’s also a day to celebrate the growing awareness and action to take better care of the Earth and all the inhabitants.  Let’s look past the pessimism and gloom about the future to celebrate the growing number of initiatives and actions to help care for the earth.  More governments, companies, and individuals are taking action, however large or small, to reduce their impact on the earth.  Everyone I know has implemented small (or not so small) changes in their lifestyle to live more sustainably.  Ever more people are interested in learning how to live more sustainably and care for the earth and its inhabitants.  So don’t let the doom and gloom hold you back from being part of the solution.  Big things or small, they all count.  Pick something that works for you and celebrate Earth Day!

Most of us live in areas with a “throw-away culture”.  Single-use items are everywhere, and it is generally easier (and frequently cheaper) to replace an item than to fix it.  Unfortunately, many consumer items are actually designed to be difficult or impossible to repair.  Significant resources are used to create, transport, sell, and dispose of even simple items.  Once an item is thrown away, its component materials are no longer available and eventually, the earth’s resources will be used up.  And there is no “away” for our trash.  We just hide it in landfills, where it is out of sight but can still create significant problems for the earth.   Every time we repair an item and continue to use it, we are helping the earth.  A little research can help you repair many items (or find a business that can perform the repairs).  CAUTION: do not attempt to fix items that use electricity, natural gas, propane, or hazardous chemicals unless you have appropriate training.  If you make a mistake, you could start a fire or injure or kill yourself or others. And always unplug an electrical item before working on it.  Now that we’ve covered the safety concerns, let’s talk about repairs. The article at the link provides lots of links to information to help you repair many of your own items, including clothing and some electronics, appliances, and furniture.  Sometimes you can hire someone who can fix these items for a reasonable price. 

https://www.vox.com/even-better/23945009/diy-fix-your-stuff-clothes-furniture-electronics-appliances