In the weeks leading up to Earth Day on April 22, we will be sharing a four-part series of blog posts, courtesy of our friends at Earth Day Canada. Each post will highlight simple things that we can do to better appreciate our beautiful and giving planet. So without further ado, here's the first post: Eat and Plant Earth Day is April 22, and there are all sorts of actions you can take that help ease the burden on mother nature while keeping you healthy and saving you some cash. Need a little inspiration? No problem! Earth Day Canada is kicking off two action-based campaigns for the month of April; kid-friendly Act for the Planet and for adults, groups, businesses— Take It Up For Earth Day. Both campaigns have ideas for you, your colleagues (and kids) to practise new healthy actions or habits for both people and the environment. This year, take up one of the actions or think about your own action and share it with Earth Day Canada! [caption id="attachment_9209" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2012"] [/caption] One of the actions Earth Day Canada suggests is to eat and prepare plant-based foods at home. Why? Livestock production is responsible for 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions even more than the transport sector. But not only that, a meat-based diet requires seven times more land than a plant-based diet and it takes about 1500 litres of water to produce one kilogram of wheat, but it takes 10 times more to produce one kilogram of beef. So eating plant-based meals more often is an easy way to make a big difference. Plus cooking at home and bringing your own meals to work will help you cut back on take-out packaging. Kids (as well as classrooms) can help out, too. There’s a step-by-step guide to creating a living wall (a plant installation) which are great for the environment and us because plants:

• Clean the air
• Make people feel more relaxed
• Can produce food.

And if you’ve got your own ideas about what you’d like to take up for Earth Day, write it down and share your action with your friends and family. Making your commitment public can make it a lot easier to keep. Beginning March 12, visit earthday.ca, register your commitment(s), get tips and tools to be successful and join in this spring to make change a habit!