By: Angela Viesti

Hands holding small plant ready to be put in soil.

Each year In April we celebrate Earth Day: a holiday created in 1970 to raise awareness on the environmental impact humanity has on our planet. Almost 50 years later, the topics of global warming, sustainability, and climate change fill our newsfeeds and conversations, yet change seems so distant.

As individuals, the best thing we can do is lead by example and be the change we wish to see in the world. This is much simpler than you may think and only requires small, daily changes that will become a habit over time. Here are some ways to limit your environmental footprint and repay Mother Earth for nurturing Life.

 

Keep it in the Community

Customer reaches for apple from fruit vendor at outdoor market.

One of the biggest sectors that negatively impact our world is the food and agriculture industry. Not surprisingly, given how connected we are to the Earth, it can also negatively impact our health. In addition to the use of pesticides in produce and antibiotics in animals, foods that travel long distances to their destinations generate more fuel emissions and often arrive after their peak of freshness, making them less nutritious. The pollution winds up in the atmosphere and in our bodies via our lungs and digestive system—yuck!

Here are some shifts you can make to lessen your dependency on industrial agriculture:

  • Shop at farmer’s markets: A quick Google search will turn up all kinds of farmer’s markets in your area, especially if you live near a major city. While you’re there, get to know the people behind the product and build relationships with them. You’ll find local, seasonal foods that you may have overlooked at the grocery store.

  • Find a local community garden: Urban farming is becoming far more common these days, and it’s truly a way to heal communities, families, and the Earth. For a minimal fee, you can use a small plot of land and tend to your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. You’ll save money and reap the rewards of gardening, which is known to reduce stress.

  • Buy locally sourced product: When shopping at the grocery store, select items labeled “Local” and choose smaller grocery chains or food co-ops, if available.

  • Grow your own: This applies to both food and weed. Aside from the benefits listed above, you reduce the amount of packaging and plastic exposure to your food and cannabis, making them less contaminated.  You can start small and have a small herb garden and experiment more as you gain confidence in your gardening abilities.

Hand drawn "Trash" image featuring figurine tossing paper into wastebasket.

A great way to make an impact on your community and the world is to pick up trash or debris anytime you see it out of place. We can be conditioned to think, “It’s not my mess, so I’m not cleaning it up!” but that’s the wrong attitude to have. Yes, trash should be discarded properly to begin with, but by walking past a mess and ignoring it, you do nothing to make it better. I see garbage all over the place while walking my dogs and I’m sure you’ll begin seeing it too if you pay attention. Make it a point to pick up one item that someone else discarded every day. Who knows, someone may see you and be inspired to join your efforts.

 

Energy In, Energy Out

Model washing shoulder using green loofah in shower.

The culture in the Western world is largely one of excess and convenience. This contributes to a huge amount of wasted energy and natural resources, but it’s also very simple to remedy in our day-to-day lives.

I remember a few years ago when California was in a drought and we were all urged to save water at every opportunity. The urgency became even more apparent when I visited Catalina Island that year, where water was truly scarce: Bottled water was very expensive and our Air BnB host requested we take 5-minute showers.  It was a stark reminder that we take for granted having clean, running water in our homes under normal circumstances.

As we move closer towards the summer months, inevitably we’ll have warnings of blackouts if a heat wave strikes. This is caused primarily by increased air conditioning, but there are many ways we inefficiently use power when we could be conserving. The undue burden on the grid can be prevented by changing habits and paying attention to where we’re being wasteful.

Save energy and natural resources by:

  • Take shorter showers and turn off the water when not in use (like when you’re shampooing your hair, brushing your teeth or Waiting for your Kush Queen Soaked CBD Shower Gel to absorb.)

  • Run dishwasher and washing machine with full loads only

  • Use fans to help circulate air so you can use less A/C

  • Keep curtains drawn to keep sunlight out, close windows to keep cool air in

  • Use common sense—don’t run the A/C on full blast while you bundle up under a winter quilt!

 

Be the Change

Kush Queen's Anti-Aging Skin Serum, Defynt, pictured with frankincense and sweet orange essential oils on white desk.

Not long ago, I was chatting with a friend while he washed his trash in the sink. Confused, I wondered WTF he was doing. I later learned that there’s a right way and a wrong way to recycle while listening to an episode of one of my favorite podcasts, Getting Curious with JVN. One bit of wisdom that stood out was that residual foods and liquids can cause contamination, which can ruin other recyclable and can be easily avoided if you rinse your plastic items before recycling them—full circle moment!  By being the change I needed to see, my friend helped me to view recycling through a new lens.

Taking this a step further, think about ways you can reuse items, rather than simply recycling them. At Kush Queen, we’ve built this into our product line and use all recyclable materials and many materials that can be easily used again. Defynt, Bare, and Ignite all come in glass bottles that can be repurposed for your DIY skin care potions,  essential oil blends, and custom cannabinoid tinctures. Just make sure you thoroughly clean the container to avoid contamination!

 

Treat Every Day like Earth Day

Reusable glass water bottle with quartz crystal inside sitting next to Broad Spectrum CBD tincture, Bare.

Here in California, we’ve voted in favor of banning single-use plastic bags and now straws. You don’t have to wait for the laws to change or for the next earth day to adopt practices that keep our planet thriving. The Environmental Protection Agency has great resources to educate the public on making conservation, recycling, and greener living a lifestyle.


Tell us how you’re transmuting the Earth Day vibes into your life all year long by following and tagging @kushqueenshop and @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories!

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