Who knew that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner? Considering the overabundance of Easter décor already at the local Kroger, I had forgotten the day even existed! But whether you’re celebrating Galentine’s Day Leslie Knope-style, spending a romantic evening with your partner, or enjoying a special evening with a spoon and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, there are a lot of ways that you can show your love of the Earth this February!

Consider a Hike through the Woods!
Hug some trees while hugging your partner this month and check out some of the beautiful wilderness Kentucky has to offer. From the Dupree Nature Preserve in Garrard County to McConnell Springs in Lexington, there are many places you can visit on a date to stay outside and off of screens or using electricity. And, consider this post from Harvard Health reminding us of the tremendous health benefits from hiking!

Shut off the lights. Light up a candle.
Besides the obvious increase in romanticism that comes with food by candlelight, consider the energy savings as well. Shutting off the lights in your house and turning off the screens are great ways to get your body ready for bed while also being romantic and energy-saving. And once you head to bed, turn down the thermostat! Let the coolness overtake your house while you find other ways to keep yourself warm…like an extra blanket.

Make Your Own Candles!
If you’re worried about all of the things in candles or about the environmental impacts of transporting them, then try your hand at learning to make your own. Wax can be lots of fun to play around with on a date and it’s a great skill that you can use for years to come. Check out some of these videos on YouTube of other crafty people and send us some pictures of your finished products!

Eat Local!
Besides the incredible benefit that eating local provides to our local economy, remember the eco-benefit as well. Eating local means less carbon pollution from transporting meat from South America or shipping in your cheese from France. Consider the local vineyards for your evening wine selection! Try out Lexington Pasta for some local sauce and noodles! Check out Marksbury Farms for some local beef! Dive into Boone Creek Creamery for some delicious cheese! I basically just planned your dinner for you, and I didn’t even leave Central Kentucky to get my supplies. Many grocery or liquor stores do a great job of designating what’s local and some Farmer’s Markets have indoor seasons during the cold months.

It’s easy to shrug off Valentine’s Day as an over-commercialized gimmick to increase consumption. But, there’s never a bad reason to love ourselves and the people around us. Enjoy yourself this February and remember to love the Earth every day as well.