Articles & Resources

Make Every Day Earth Day!
by Lisa Monachelli, Director of Youth and Family Programs

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 and was the original idea of Senator Gaylord Nelson who first presented the idea to President Kennedy in 1963. It began as a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and is meant to be a forum for the American people to express its concern about what is happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air.

Today, the issues facing our environment are of serious concern as we learn more about the affects of global warming, the rising concern over environmentally connected health issuses, and the rising prices of oil that impact the price of everything we purchase. Now is the time to think of every day as earth day! Here are some ways that you can make every day Earth Day in your own life!

In Your Household:

• Compost your fruit and veggie leftovers, as well as other food scraps. For more information on how to compost join our "Garden Composting" class on April 26 at NCNC.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle! The old adage still remains true! Buy products with less packaging, get your morning coffee with a reusable travel mug and make sure that all your paper, plastic and aluminum hit the recycling bin rather than the trash!
• Go Native! From groundcovers to shrubs to trees, adding native plants to your garden increases the availability of food and cover for native birds and other wildlife. Visit NCNC's annual Garden Market for to pick up some of our favorite native plants!
• Buy energy efficient, natural and recycled products whenever possible! Make your next car fuel efficient, use natural cleaners instead of chemicals, buy paper towels and TP that are made from recycled paper, phase out paper and plastic ware for your parties. Make your household an earth-friendly one!

In Your Local Area:

• Visit a farmer's market! Local produce is not only better for the environment, but it supports local agriculture and usually is fresher too!
• Walk, ride or carpool! Take a stroll for your next trip into town or hit the road with two wheels instead of four! Look for ways to carpool or use public transportation to help reduce the pollution in our air!
• Donate usable goods! When doing that spring cleaning, donate old clothes, books and toys (in good shape) to extend their life and keep them out of landfills!
• Support your local nature center! Volunteer, join a program, become a member! NCNC has lots of ways for you to make everyday Earth Day!

In the National Area:

• Write Congress! Urge them to support environmentally-friendly legislation so that we can preserve our planet for the next generations!
• Look for eco-tourism options on your next vacation. Whether traveling in the U.S. or internationally, eco-travel is a great way to see the world and help local areas raise funds to sustain lands or local populations.