1. Clean Up Milwaukee’s Rivers
The Annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper spring cleanup brings together 4,200 volunteers to clean up Milwaukee’s rivers at 94 locations around the city. They will provide gloves, trash bags and a free t-shirt for everyone who comes out to clean up. To sign up for the event, head to milwaukeeriverkeeper.org.
2. Support the Pollinators
Pollinators – like bees and butterflies – are facing rapid habitat loss with the construction of roadways, native plants being turned into grass for lawns and non-native gardens. This Earth Day, provide shelter for the pollinators by leaving leaf piles, creating bee nest boxes and providing water. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has resources for anyone interested in learning more about the local pollinators.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Learn about Sustainability
For the month April, the Milwaukee Public Library put together a family resource guide on sustainability. This guide includes activities to help teach kids how to protect the planet, a reading list that fits this months Earth Day theme and adult educational events.
4. Plant Native Plants and Wildflowers
Many native plants and wildflowers have been replaced by commercial gardens and manufactured lawns. This year, take some time to bring native plants back into your garden. Wisconsin’s native plants, like aster, prairie phlox and bluebells, help support the local ecosystem.
5. Make your own pest control spray
Nobody wants pests, but chemical pesticides can can harm plants and animals and contaminate groundwater. Luckily, it’s easy to make your own pest control spray! There are plenty of recipes online, and Almanac has a comprehensive list of sprays for different pest control needs.
6. Harvest Rainwater
Harvesting rainwater has way more impact on the Earth than you might expect. Something as simple as catching roof runoff can reduce damage to creeks, rivers and other water habitats. Having a supply of rainwater also makes your property more drought resilient and improves your bushfire preparedness. Uses for rainwater include: drinking, cooking, watering gardens and composting. Rainwater barrels and filtration systems can be found online or at local hardware stores. The Milwaukee rainwater collection guidelines are located here.
7. Host a Clothing Swap
Did you know nearly 100 billion items of clothing are produced each year? That’s enough clothes for every person on the planet to get about 14 items. For Earth Day this year, get a few of your friends together to swap instead of shop. Swap clothes in your closet for something from theirs to spice up your wardrobe in a planet friendly way.
8. Reduce Your Meat Consumption
According to the Vegetarian Society, “a vegetarian diet requires two-and-a-half times less the amount of land needed to grow food, compared to a meat-based diet.” Milwaukee has tons of vegetarian food options like Café Manna, Strange Town and Beans & Barley. Check out one of those local options and go vegetarian for Earth Day!
9. Switch to Reusable Bags
Single use plastic is one of the most common pollutants we come across. You can significantly reduce your plastic waste by using reusable bags, and tote bags are easy to come by these days. Urban Milwaukee sells cute Wisconsin themed bags featuring the Wisconsin license plate or the MKE skyline.
10. Bike to the Beach: Earth Day Clean up
The Urban Ecology Center is hosting a Bike to the Beach: Earth Day Clean Up on Thursday, April 25. Registration is free if you bring your own bike. Rental bikes are available for $8 per child/teen and $10 per adult. The ride starts at Riverside Park and ends at McKinley Beach for trash clean up.
11. Start a Compost Bin
Backyard composting is a great way to reduce waste while also supporting the planet. The City of Milwaukee has guides available for beginner composters and waste diversion strategies available at city.milwaukee.gov/sanitation/Yard-Food-Waste/Home-Composting. In Milwaukee, all compost bins must be constructed of commercial-grade materials. To make obtaining one easy, each spring the city offers a compost bin sale.
12. Rock Out at a Zero Waste Party
Celebrate Earth Day by attending Rock the Green’s zero waste party on Saturday, April 20. Musicians will perform on a pedal-powered stage throughout the day and food and drinks are available at the MOTOR Bar and Restaurant. And you can bring your water bottle to take advantage of the free water filling station.
13. Support Local Farmers
Wisconsin is an agricultural hotspot. This Earth Day, support local farmers by buying directly from them. Localharvest.org is a farmer database that provides links to farms in the area and descriptions of what they specialize in.
14. Get Involved with a Community Garden
This Earth Day, apply for a seasonal garden permit at the Milwaukee Urban Gardens. Neighborhood gardens bring communities together in an effort to build bonds while enjoying nature. To learn more about getting involved with a community garden, visit the city’s website. To apply for a vacant lot, contact Groundwork/Milwaukee Urban Gardens at 414-763-9947.
