The 1 Mississippi website is a treasure trove of resources for you to learn more and get involved. Among them is a list of actions we recommend. You might not know where to start, so I’ve taken the liberty of breaking them down a few of the actions you can take which help our national treasure, the Mighty Miss:
1. Dispose Wisely This means you’ll start to recycle, possibly compost and definitely stop littering. Somehow trash, from the tiniest gum wrapper to the heaviest water heater, finds its way to the shores and waters of the Mississippi. Prevention is the best and easiest way to help clear the Mississippi of its trash problem.
2. Get Out to the River Don’t worry, you don’t have to get into a boat or swim (though you definitely could if you wanted to.) Walks and bike-rides are equally effective in getting you outdoors and near the River to truly appreciate its majesty. And while solitude can be lovely and alone-time a luxury, I invite you to challenge yourself and share your experience with family and friends. Sharing is caring, the more River Citizens we inspire, the greater change we see in the River.
3. 
Support Farmers Markets’ While you’re on a bike ride appreciating beautiful Mississippi vistas, or even on your way to a picnic with some friends, I suggest stop by a farmers’ market to pick up some fresh, delicious local produce. Shopping at Farmers Markets’ is a great way to support sustainable agricultural practices, policies and people who promote healthy soil. Once you become familiar and comfortable with your local market, challenge yourself to shop there more and more often. These every-day purchases help your dollars speak out against soil erosion and over-fertilization.
4. Build a Rain Garden Long story short, some plants easily soak up rainwater, protecting homes from flooding, helping restore groundwater and minimizing erosion that often runs into the Mississippi. Here is a great free guide on how to build a rain garden.
5. Attend an Engagement Event Are you interested in meeting other people who share your love of the beautiful outdoors and magnificent Mississippi? The 1 Mississippi event calendar is a great place to start. Events include River talks, hikes, bike rides, film festivals, even a book club, just to mention a few!
6. Participate in a River Clean-Up River cleanups are important. It’s amazing to see just how much garbage of all shapes and sizes you can pull out of the River. The experts at cleaning the River, Living Lands & Waters have pulled 69,298 tires, 971 Refrigerators, 12 Mannequin Heads & Hands, 101 Bowling Balls, even 4 Pianos. (and that’s just a tiny glimpse of the more than 7 million pounds of garbage they’ve pulled outta the River.)
River Citizens, I know you can do these things with flare and enthusiasm. Feel free to share your adventures with me at mn1mississippi@biodiverse.org.
See you on the River!
Elizabeth Ziebarth
MN 1Mississippi Outreach Assistant