During this season of Thanks-giving, we want to take a moment to show gratitude for Mother Nature. Spend some time in your local park, participate in a neighborhood clean-up, or plan a spring garden that is pollinator-friendly. It’s up to each of us to celebrate Mother Nature and preserve her for the next generations.

The Importance of Celebrating Nature

Whether we live in cities or small towns, nature plays an outsized role in our lives. Nature is where we go to escape, where we go to connect with ourselves, and how we produce our food and the ingredients needed to create products we use regularly. As stewards of this land, it’s our responsibility to take care of it and ensure it thrives for much longer than we are here. With that, we want to provide five simple ways to give thanks to nature all year round.

1. Join a local environmental group

The first action item you can take to give back to nature is joining a local environmental group. Joining any kind of group can seem daunting, but the benefits are sure to outweigh the hesitancy. Local environmental groups can range from trash pick-ups, park conservation programs, to activist work. Joining a local group is also a great way to meet new people and make lasting connections.

Check out Environment Groups in the US for more information on how to join local groups in your area!

2. Planting a garden

For those who are able, planting a garden is a great way to give back to nature and produce food in the most sustainable way. A few things to consider are location, time of the year and tools needed. Some of the easier items to grow are bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and cabbage. The salad ideas are endless with your very own local produce! Check out the National Gardening Association for a plethora of resources if you decide to start your own garden.

3. Shop sustainably

Shopping sustainably is one of the most important ways to give back to nature. Large, unethical corporations are subject to destroying rainforests, producing intense carbon emissions, and not always having the environment in their best interest.

Some actions you can take to shop more sustainably is to read company’s about pages before deciding to shop with them. Some questions to think about are:

• Do they give back to their community?
• Are they offsetting their carbon footprint?
• How are their items being produced?

Many companies now-a-days are paying more attention to the environmental effects of running a business. It’s empowering to support those over the companies that aren’t. Another great way to shop sustainably is to shop locally. Local businesses are so important to economic growth and community prosperity.

4. Composting Your Food

Another great way that directly gives back to nature is composting your food and the good news is that composting is actually a lot easier than people tend to think. There’s a few different ways you can compost your food, but the easiest way is to simply freeze your leftovers in a brown paper bag or compost bin and drop it off at your local compost. You can also try a backyard compost if you’re able. The United States Environmental Agency has additional resources on what vs. what not to compost, the benefits and how to’s.

5. Spend time in nature

Lastly, and most simply – spend time in nature. Enjoy a local or national park, trail, or scenic view. There is nothing more peaceful than spending time in the natural surroundings that we live in. Plan your next trip at a national park and stay at one of our lodges, campgrounds, houseboats, bungalows. Book your trip here.

Furthermore, taking time to reflect on our relationship with nature can be really empowering. Check out this incredible novel by Richard Powers called The OverStory, which tells a story of nine Americans whose unique life experiences with trees bring them together to address the destruction of forests.

In conclusion, we are residents on this planet and it’s our job to protect nature and help it maintain balance. We, like all other creatures, have an effect on Earth and must do our part to make sure it is here for generations to come. Give thanks this season to nature by doing something to be a good steward. Join a local environmental group, plant a garden, shop local and spend some time in nature. Every small deed helps.