Looking for ways to give Mother Nature a helping hand? It’s easier than you might think! Nature isn’t only in remote areas far from home; it’s right around the corner and in your own backyard. And your actions around the house have a positive impact that goes far beyond your local neighbourhood. Here are 13 ways you can help nature every day:

1. Use natural cleaners. Keep toxins out of the water supply; use vinegar on glass, baking soda on counters and sinks, oil and lemon on wood.

2. Reduce your use of water. Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth. Fix leaky faucets. Put one or two 1-litre bottles filled with stones in your toilet tank to reduce the water used per flush.

3. Reduce your use of energy. Turn off lights you're not using. Turn off computers and other appliances when not in use. Buy energy-efficient appliances and keep them in good repair.

4. Leave the car at home. Walk to the corner store instead of driving. Use public transport or carpool to work. Use your community’s "park and ride" program.

5. Recycle. Many communities have expanded the materials they are able to recycle; make sure you are using the box to its fullest extent. If your office, school, apartment building or favourite restaurant doesn’t recycle, ask them to.

6. Be a wise consumer. Buy local products to reduce the need to transport goods. Buy products from environmentally friendly companies, and write the companies to tell them to keep up the good work.

7. Adopt a habitat. Be it a nature trail, stream, meadow, or woodlot, you can help by getting your hands dirty and restoring a place into suitable habitat for wildlife. Contact your local naturalist club for help.

8. Build a birdhouse. Consider the right nest box dimensions for the birds you want to attract. Keep the exterior either natural wood or light in colour to reflect heat, and never paint or finish the interior walls.

9. Feed the birds. Many bird species stay in Canada year-round and could use your help to make it through the winter. Find out if your favourite bird likes seed mixes, suet mixes, or fruits like raisins and chopped apple.

10. Compost. Composting is simple once it becomes a habit. Reduce pressure on landfills; dump vegetable peels, fruit cores, tea bags and egg shells into your composter.

11. Plant native flowers and shrubs. Native wildflowers provide food and habitat to birds and butterflies, and require less fussing because they’re made for native conditions.

12. Offer wildlife a drink. A perfect backyard habitat for wildlife should include a source of clean water, like a backyard pond, birdbath or fountain. Keep the birdbath away from shrubs or other places where cats might hide. Keep it shallow and keep it clean.

13. Grow organically. Do not use pesticides or herbicides on your lawn or garden. For a beautiful natural lawn, keep grass long enough to shade out weed species and rake a thin layer of compost over the lawn once a year. Poke holes in the lawn with a garden fork, and be nice to the worms that aerate it for you.