As the world has taken a sudden pause because of Covid-19 and this world pandemic we are experiencing, so has our Mama Earth taken a long-awaited sigh. Up until now, our fast-paced, globe trotting movement, beyond busy from morning to night, and collective consumeristic actions have put a huge burden on the earth. Mass consumption of fossil fuels that pollute our atmosphere, constant resource extraction to make more and more products that then have no where to go at the end of their inanimate life cycle, and overall disconnection from our natural way of living has caused loss of habitats, pollution, extinctions, and honestly a complete disassociation to what truly sustains us.

Think about it. Our earth sustains us, not the other way around. We need fresh air, clean water, nutrient dense soils to make healthy food, healing plants as medicine, sunshine to boost our immune systems, and a community connection that nourishes our mind, body, and souls. Strip away all the rest of what normally takes up our day, and we could live with just the aforementioned things. We could. While not everyone has had the luxury of a pause, the collective stop to much of the whirl of the world, has brought this simplicity of daily life and the most meaningful things to the surface.

Many are now asking what is it they most need in life and what extras are really worth it. Entire cities are noticing cleaner air without the daily smog because of mass numbers of commuters filling roads and airways. Farmers, food, and the distribution of food is finally getting recognized as essential. And, our collective health is being noticed as the most important. For, if we are not a healthy population, then we can not thrive together.

So, what do we do with all of this? How do we incorporate these new thoughts into our new normal? And, what steps could we take to ensure that we keep on living a balanced life with our earth once quarantine restrictions are lifted?

When we sought a different lifestyle ten years ago now, to sell our home and everything in it in order to live tiny and more sustainably, we had to make some tough choices that were very different than the way most people were living. In order to move our family into a 250 sq. ft. (at the time) tiny home on wheels, we had to let go of a lot of stuff. We had to downsize not just our possessions at the time, but our mindset around what we needed and would continue to need so that it correlated with what would fit into our new space. We stopped just buying things, and only made a purchase if it had a designated purpose and place in our home. We wanted to be self-sufficient so we got solar, and we wanted to be less dependent on big oil, so we used waste veggie oil for fuel. We also wanted more time with our kids in the great outdoors, to travel and see this beautiful country, to work remotely so we would not be tied to a 9-5 and an office and a commute, and to also forge ahead with turning our passions and life purpose into our life’s work. These choices weren’t easy, but they weren’t impossible, either.

Eco Womb Tour Bus at Muncho Lake, BC Canada, September 2019

In order to live within a smaller footprint, we had to make that choice willingly every single day. We had to get creative when it came to our lifestyle off-grid and innovative in figuring out best ways to work remotely. We then took one step at a time and then another and another, all toward living as sustainably as we could. What became our new normal was a choice we made over and over again, but a choice that got easier because it just became our norm.

Likewise, many people are considering what their new normal will be after living through a world pandemic. Will there be an option to work from home more often to save on fuel and commuting costs, including the pollution it causes? Will more people start gardens in order to be more self-sustainable with their food? Will you buy less because well, you realized you can? Will you have more time because you figure out what is essential to you and your family, not what others deem is the way? There is still a lot of unknowns in what will be the new normal, and I am sure it will look different for everyone. But, one thing you can do is make a choice around your consumption, the ability to raise your own food and/or medicines, and honestly what you classify as essential and most important to you and your loved ones.

Living more sustainably can be a great way to save money, be self-sufficient, feel prepared for something like a world pandemic, and as a bonus, be more connected to the natural rhythms of the earth. Taking care of our our earth is cyclical because as we care for the planet, she in turn takes care of us. And, why wouldn’t we want to sustain the main thing sustaining us?

But, don’t get overwhelmed by the changes. Even if all of this was not by choice, embrace what feels right for you and your family and community. We don’t all have to live on an off-grid homestead, but we can take the steps to be more self-sufficient, lighten our impact on the environment, and slow our rhythm down a bit to feel the collective breath that Mama Earth has taken in order to feel refreshed enough to continue sustaining us. Let’s lighten the burden together going forward. Let’s think of one step we can take toward sustainable living, and then another and another.

This Earth Day looks very different than any other. To celebrate 50 years of Earth Day, there won’t be lots of big events or parades or even community clean-ups. There won’t even be group hikes or community park gatherings or festive local markets. But, there can be all of us together doing our part to better the earth. Our new normal can consist of taking a collective breath worldwide, really thinking about what steps we can take moving forward to better our planet, and implementing change one person, one family, one step at a time.

SalmonFest event, Ninilchik, Alaska - 2019

Instead of a big launch on Earth Day as we would usually do, working an Earth Day event, teaching an educational workshop, or organizing a group hike, the Eco Womb family is also rolling with the changes and planning to do something different this year. We will be launching a new website to bring you the steps to take to go sustainable. We are expanding our YouTube channel and will be continuing to share our hiking adventures, as well as tiny home and sustainable living tips and tricks, including how to bottle brick, how to pack out trash on trail, diy eco-products for the home, and much more. And, we will be participating in virtual climate strikes and hikes through our Hike for the Climate initiative, encouraging others to take climate action steps on their own in their individual parts of the world to help the collective healing of the planet. Because we are all in this together, and can all create change together. Stay tuned for more announcements as we celebrate Earth Month and Earth Day as Everyday, and just like everyone else right now, we are leaning into trust that good can come out of this pause, and that we will come out of the storm stronger than before, better prepared and healthier than before, and more equipped to nurture our earth toward a cleaner, more viable future.

Happy Earth Day 2020 everyone! Embrace it and nurture it and BE the change you are seeking, one step at a time!

Earth Day and Creating a New Normal

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