By Kathy Brown.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans protested “environmental ignorance” and went out in the streets and on college campuses in cities across the country to fight for our planet. It started the modern environmental movement, bringing attention to smog, oil spills, polluted rivers, and more. The first Earth Day pressured the government to act, which led to the creation of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as well as passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
How can you celebrate Earth Day in Haddam and Killingworth?
LOSE THE LITTER Contest: We are teaming up with the Town of Haddam and the Town of Killingworth to Lose the Litter on our roads. Take a walk in either of our towns, and bring a garbage bag or two. There is no shortage of trash on our major arteries, unfortunately. We are offering a $25 gift card to a local nursery to three people/groups in each town for most trash picked up (we have a total of six giftcards to give as prizes). Send us your pictures! It’s a great thing to do with the whole family and show kids how easy it is to pitch in and help (make sure that you are safe on roads please!). Spring is a great time to pick up trash on the sides of the roads and make Haddam and Killingworth even more beautiful.
Celebrate Earth Day at the Killingworth Library – Come plant a seed with us on April 24, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.! 2021 marks the 51st year of celebrating Earth Day! Start by following our family-friendly riddle walk (with a whole new batch of riddles for you solve) in the library’s backyard, ending at our Plant a Seed Station – we will provide the materials. Please register in advance at our library’s website.
If you don’t already compost, start. It’s easy! Put a jar, or old coffee can on your counter. Put in your veggie/fruit scraps (no meat). When it’s full, dump it in a pile in a designated spot in your yard. It will turn into beautiful soil for your garden. Or you can start slowly. Egg shells are great under tomato, pepper, and squash plants to deter slugs and cutworms. Coffee grounds are great under jade plants, blueberry bushes or philodendrons.
Sign up to be part of the Earth Day volunteer corps at the Earth Day website.
Take the “Pesticide Pledge” to stop using pesticides, which kill flying insects like bees, which are needed to pollinate flowers, plants, and fruit trees.
Watch Earth Day Live on earthday.org.
Calculate your carbon footprint. Here is one website where you can calculate it.
On May 8, 2021, there is an invasive plant/litter cleanup at Haddam Meadows State Park. More information can be found HERE.
Switch to energy saving lightbulbs like compact LEDs.
Commit to eating more food from local sources. If you eat what is in season, the food travels less.
Switch to earth-friendly cleaning products.
Use a thermos/reusable water bottle instead of disposable plastic water bottles. Use glass containers instead of plastic for leftovers.
Use stainless steel straws or paper straws instead of plastic straws.
Plant a garden. See THIS article for more information about gardening and how it helps reduce your stress.
