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The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. Earth Day and the surrounding week are an opportunity for people of all ages and walks of life to make a difference. Here are some suggestions on how you and your family can celebrate Earth Day.
- Pick up litter. Existing trash seems to act as a magnet. Cleaning up does prevent more littering. Adopt a spot by a stop sign, or go for an hour walk and bring along two bags – a sturdy garbage collection bag, and a bag for recyclables. For families, make a game out of who can find the most items. Wear gloves and orange or bright colored clothing. A stick with a nail on the end is useful to avoid touching unsanitary items. Exercise care around traffic.
- Watch an environmental documentary. Some options are:
- An Inconvenient Truth
 - compelling, entertaining and thought provoking, if you don’t mind a little politics sprinkled in. Includes a clever Simpson-esque cartoon. Even if you don’t agree with the conclusions, you can see what the issues are.
- Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series
 - ten 50 minute episodes with astonishing sights and sounds showng the variety of natural wonders, with emphasis on urgent need for conservation. The final DVD in the set is Planet Earth: The Future.
- Earth, 2009
- Winged Migration
 - a beautiful documentary from a bird’s perspective filmed over a three year period on all seven continents.
- Deep Blue
 – a visually stunning exploration of whales, seals, crabs and bizarre deep sea creatures, etc., shot in more than 200 oceans and surrounding ecosystems across the world.
- March of the Penguins – - a look at the brutal Antarctic existence of the Emperor Penguin.
- The last three films are suitable for children, but there are small segments that deal with the cruelty of nature. If you grew up with Marlin Perkins of Wild Kingdom, you know what I’m talking about.
- Attend a free event on an environmental topic (2007 examples).
- On April 15 (rain date April 22) at 1:30 p.m., a DEP Geologist (who also happens to be my husband) will give a talk on Trash and the Environmental Movement, sponsored by the Woodstock Historical Society. Learn how folks used to handle their garbage, and about landfill design at the Woodstock Transfer Station on Paine District Road.
- There is a family-oriented Earth Day concert with The Motet at the environmentally friendly Tyrone Farm in Pomfret on April 22 from 4-7 p.m. A lakes workshop on water quality and habitats sponsored by the Quinnebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor and the Woodstock Conservation Commission, will be held at the Woodstock Town Hall on Thursday, April 26, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. See www.woodstockconservation.org/news.htm for more on these programs.
- The Army Corps is holding a cleanup day on Saturday, April 21 from 8-12 at West Thompson Lake. Lunch is provided. Call 923-2982 for information.
- Go native. Plant a native tree or shrub, which is more likely to thrive in our area than many exotics. Select a site with adequate sunlight and enough room for roots and branches to reach full size. Make sure to water the plant until it is well established. A list of native plants that produce fruit that attracts birds can be found at www.sialis.org/plants.htm.
- Erect a nestbox for native birds. Bluebirds, Chickadees, House Wrens, Titmice and Tree Swallows all live in our area and need cavities to raise their families. Nestbox plans can be found at www.sialis.org/plans.htm. To protect the precious contents from predators like raccoons and cats, mount the box using electrical conduit slicked with a regular coating of car wax, or use a wobbling baffle. Do not allow non-native House Sparrows to use the boxes.
- Be free of electricity for a day. Remember, not a single house in Woodstock CT had electricity until 1911, so it can be done. Try no TV, radio, microwave, blow dryer, or computer for a whole 24 hours. Use candles for light, and grill your food over coals. If you’re really tough, you might even stay out of hot water.
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Originally published in the Villager on April 13, 2007 |
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