Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Every little effort counts.

Change starts from home; unless you adopt environmentally friendly practices yourself, you cannot preach to other people. Here are a few things we can do to save the planet

Minimizing Plastic Use

Plastic is the single biggest enemy of the planet. And yet, it is one of the most popular and common products in use today. From our shopping bags to our water pipes, everything is made of plastic. The major reason for its widespread use is its affordability. Plastic is made from the by-product of petroleum and is thus available very cheaply. It is also very easy to mold into any shape, can be made with varying degrees of strength, and is waterproof.

The economic benefits of using plastic are many, and thus, many industries adopted plastic for widespread use. In our lust for money, we forgot the environmental cost that plastic poses. Years later, our water bodies are floating with plastic, our sewage systems are clogged with plastic, and our wildlife and ocean life are suffocating with plastic. Plastic has single-handedly contributed heavily to earthly pollution. Since most plastic is generally made to be single-use, and since it barely costs anything, people use and discard plastic as if there are no consequences to it.

We must change that; already, countries have started banning single-use plastics to discourage people from using them. We must find alternatives to plastic products that are not just economical but also environmentally-friendly. Whenever possible, eliminate plastic use.

Buying Responsibly

Our world today is driven by consumerism. Buy, buy, buy. Bombarded with advertisements and marketing campaigns on every possible medium, it is hard to resist. Marketers constantly try to make us believe that we want things that we do not need. Everywhere you look, there are subtle or non-subtle marketing cues, driving us to consume, buy, purchase, use.

In a world where concepts like fast fashion and retail therapy have become common, we must change the narrative and start buying more responsibly. Say no to fast fashion and instead adopt responsible fashion. We must not spend extravagantly, we must live simply, we must buy what we need from businesses that promise to manufacture responsibly. Demand drives supply.

If we simply stop buying excessively, companies will stop producing excessively, and eventually, it will drive down supply, reduce pollution, and waste fewer resources in the process.

Disposing Things Ethically

We are sensible beings and should have enough sense to know how to dispose of things once we have used them. Nobody’s asking us to stop consuming things we need and make our lives hard as a result. Technology and science have come such a long way, and they are meant to help us live our lives more comfortably and happily.

However, everything must be used properly and destroyed properly. Recycling is a great way for us to keep using such things, but also save resources and energy that goes into producing these things from scratch.

By all means, use plastic, but use the kind that is recyclable and dispose off of it in separate bins so they can be easily recycled by the authorities. Repurpose more things in your life, up-cycle old stuff to give them new life, and recycle whatever you can so that most things can continue being used instead of ending up in landfills.

Pressure Governments to Adopt Environmentally Friendly-Policies

Though no contribution is too small, and whatever small steps we take to save the environment are all worth it. However, we need bigger actions to save the planet because of how close we have gotten to the brink. We need large scale action. The majority of the pollution is caused by large corporations in rich, first-world countries.

They use excessive natural resources for mass production, leak toxic by-products and waste into our water bodies, and consume large amounts of energy in the process. They don’t care about the environment, as long as their pockets are getting fatter with the profits. We must pressure our governments to introduce policies, rules, taxes, and fines on their production to curb the environmental impact they are causing.

Policies to limit their carbon emission, a ban on using outdated machinery that uses fuel inefficiently, and heavy fines and punishments for irresponsible toxic waste disposal are the only ways to get the largest contributors to pollution to stop. We must hold these powerful corporations responsible.

Raise Awareness About Pollution

Perhaps what we need the most are education and awareness. Even today, there are many who are clueless about environmental degradation and climate change that is taking place even as we speak. They have either never been taught about it, or they simply refuse to believe it.

If a majority of our population does not even acknowledge the environmental harm we are inflicting, how can they even begin to change their lifestyles and join our cause in changing the future? We must work to have environmental pollution and degradation worked into school course books.

We must make noise about it online and start trending hashtags to educate the ones who do not know what is happening. We must teach our kids about it and instruct our elders about it.

We must lead by example by first changing our habits and lifestyles and then inspiring others to do the same.

Donate to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Working to Save the planet

If you can’t help physically due to whatever reason, you can always help in other ways. You can further the cause of environmental protection, promote cleanup programs, or at the very least, teach your kids and others around you to adopt more environmentally friendly methods.

If nothing else, you can donate to organizations that are working tirelessly to clean up our beaches, our mountains, our rivers, and our seas. These organizations get no personal profit or benefit, and yet they work for the betterment of the planet, to save the planet from people who are hell-bent on destroying it.

The least we can do is help them out financially so they can carry on the noble work without any difficulties and hassle.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.