Families Celebrating Earth Day

Ever wonder how Earth Day began? The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues concerning toxic drinking water, air pollution, and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans—10% of the population—ventured outdoors and protested together.

President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which followed with successful laws including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

McConnell originally had chosen the spring equinox (March 20, 1970), but Nelson chose April 22, which ended up becoming the official celebration date. (Given that the date of the spring equinox changes over time, it may have made things more complicated to go with the astronomical event rather than just a calendar date.) Today, not only is Earth Day meant to increase awareness of environmental problems, but it is also becoming a popular time for many communities to gather together to clean up litter, plant trees, or simply reflect on the beauty of nature. Further down the page, we’ve provided a list of activities and projects that you can do to improve your local environment! —taken from https:// www.almanac.com/content/earth-day-date-activities-history on March 11.

Earth Day is April 22 every year. The Green Team is celebrating at church with a women’s forum on Saturday at 2:00 in the Parish Hall, and on Sunday in the parking lot with an electric vehicle show and speakers, between the 2 services and after the second service. To add to the grassroots activities, here are is a suggestion for your family. Visit a native plant nursery and choose some plants that support pollinators like butterflies, birds, moths, and bees (also bats!). See plantnovanatives.org for nursery locations. Native trees, shrubs, and perennials feed butterflies, their leaves feed the butterfly’s caterpillars, and the caterpillars feed the baby birds. Although an adult chickadee can live on seed, like from your feeder, the parents need 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars to raise a nest of babies!

Prepared for you by the Green Team, welcoming new members. Contact Ruth Fugee 2

ruth.fugee@gmail.com.

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