It's time once again to celebrate our wonderous Earth. Though Earth Day began as a grass-roots movement 38 years ago to educate people about pollution, conservation and to draw the government's attention, it has changed over the years. Today, we all have concerns like climate change and diminishing resources fresh on our minds.It seems like everyone's making some small changes, or just being a little more aware. I've made a consious effort to buy more organic food, switching my light bulbs to compact florescents (CFLs), and turning off unused electronics. But I'd like to do more this Earth Day, so I've been searching for ideas. Here are some of the best one's I've found... a few of them utilize our Lifetime Products:

1- Plant a tree in your back yard: Besides being a fun activity for your family, planting trees help to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and they provide a habitat for a variety of other plants and animals. Go to your local nursery, and pick out the perfect tree for your yard. Lifetime [trailers] make it easy to haul the tree home. More trees in your yard can actually lower your cooling bill by providing shade over your house.

2- Make pine cone birdfeeders- Bring birds right to your yard and watch them as they enjoy a healthy snack. Making pine cone bird feeders is a fun and easy activity for children. Simply roll pinecones in a mixture of lard and peanut butter, and then coat with seeds.

3- Visit a nearby recycling facility- Recycling processes are fascinating and fun to watch. If you save up recyclable materials to drop off during the visit, you’ll earn some extra change you can use to pick up ice cream cones afterward.

4- Sit with the family and set specific goals to recycle and save energy- It’s often as easy as changing your light bulbs, adjusting the setting on your fridge, or making a routine trip to a nearby recycling bin.

5- Plant or renew your vegetable garden- April is the perfect time to plan your garden. Section off an area of your yard, and decide what you’d like to grow this year. If you don’t have a yard, window boxes and large pots work just as well. Home grown vegetables are pesticide-free and help you save money. Let the children choose new types of fruits or vegetables to try out each year, and give them responsibilities in the garden.

6- Plant flowers or greenery at a local non-profit organization or church- Contact the organization prior to planting. Most are thrilled when someone offers to beautify their grounds.

7- Go on a nature hike- Nature hikes and campouts are a great way to appreciate the details of our beautiful earth. Pick a park or nearby trail, or visit a new place every year on Earth Day.

8- Clean up litter at a local park- Parks provide places for everyone in the community to enjoy nature. Unfortunately, litter often detracts from their beauty and can be dangerous to people and animals. Bring some large bags or a Lifetime Yard cart and gather up trash to revive your park. Use sticks to pick up the litter you don’t want to touch.

9- Attend an Earth Day event- Earth Day events are held across the nation, and are full of fun activities for both you and the kids. Pick a place close to you, events can be seen at www.earthday.net.

10- Cook a special Earth Day meal using all non-processed foods- Invite the friends and family over to share a healthy, home-cooked meal. Tell your friends about some of the ways you're "going green" at home. Get creative and decorate in an ‘earth day’ theme using leaves or potted plants, and let each guest take a plant home to add to their garden. If you have many guests, set up extra tables and chairs to accommodate them.