As we approach the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, we acknowledge that the movement has had its ups and downs, but today Earth Day has the largest secular observance in the world. More than one billion people celebrate each year, and it is truly a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy change. Let’s work to keep this momentum going in 2017.

The story of Earth Day begins in 1962 with Rachel Carson’s book, “Silent Spring.” Her book sparked awareness and concern for living organisms and got people thinking about the links between pollution and public health. Eight years later, Gaylord Nelson, a former U.S. senator from Wisconsin, witnessed the devastation of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif., and took action. Inspired by the student-led anti-war movement, he spearheaded the idea for Earth Day. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, was very successful and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

In the spirit of Earth Day, we challenge you to make a small behavioral change that can have a big impact: rid your home of any chemical-ridden cleaning products you may have, and make the jump to cleansers made with nontoxic, biodegradable ingredients. For information on disposing of hazardous household cleaners, visit the Hennepin County website. We hope you find that homemade cleansers can be just as effective as their conventional counterparts and easier on the wallet too! The co-op has high standards for the cleaning products found on our shelves. We do offer pre-mixed options, but many shoppers experiment with do-it-yourself recipes for everyday household cleaners. Check out the recipes below for our toughest, heavyduty DIY spring cleansers.