Earth Hour first started in Sydney ten years ago but is now a global environmental intitiative supported in 162 countries and over 7,000 cities around the world, making it the world's largest environmental movement.
This year Earth Hour will celebrate the food and farmers of Australia in a reminder of the need to tackle global warming for the sake of our rural communities and the ability to supply fresh, healthy and homegrown food to our door.
Five Ways To Support Earth Hour in 2015
1. Turn Off Your Lights
Well this is the big one. It's what Earth Hour is all about. Last year, one in three Australians took part in Earth Hour, turning off their lights to show their support for cutting carbon pollution and tackling global warming. This year, turn your lights off at 8.30pm local time, Saturday 28th March.
2. Celebrate With Friends
There are lots of ways to make Earth Hour bigger than turning off your lights. You can celebrate with friends with a local produce (watch those food miles) dinner at home, by candle light of course. Or a number of Sydney venues are hosting sustainability dinners in support. Our pick of the bunch is the Honey Masterclass and Sustainability Dinner with Urban Beehive's Doug Purdie at the Shangri La Hotel. It's just $35 for dinner, and $9.50 for local draft beer.
3. Continue The Celebration
Earth Hour doesn't have to be just about one hour on one day a year. There are lots of ways we can do our bit to support the environment all year round. And we're sure you are already doing a lot of them. Leave the car at home, walk or take a bus or train, as a good start. Grow your own veggies; buy local and seasonal; watch those food miles. Turn your power points off a the switches and turn your power off at the mains when you are going away for a day or more. Carry a shopping bag and don't take plastic. Reduce; reuse; recycle.
4. Planet To Plate
This year Earth Hour Australia has released a collection of 52 amazing recipes from Australia's biggest culinary names. Planet to Plate uniquely and beautifully incorporates first-hand stories from Australian farmers highlighting the impact global warming is having on their farms and the nation's availability of fresh homegrown food. Matt Preston (MasterChef), Neil Perry (Rockpool, Spice Temple), Kylie Kwong (Billy Kwong), Darren Robertson (Three Blue Ducks), Luke Mangan (Glass Brasserie), Colin Fassnidge (4Fourteen) are just some of the Aussie chefs who have contributed to the cook book. Planet To Plate can be purchased online at earthhour.org.au.
5. Share The Love
However you are happy to help, you can extend your environmental support by sharing on social #appetiteforchange @EarthHour with #planettoplate also for the cook book.
