On this Earth Day I don’t want to lecture about what we all should be doing to protect the environment. I want to celebrate some of the actions I know about in my community that are being done right now, many of which will grow.
I am thrilled with the school gardens that are being planted, tended and harvested. They not only supply food, but many lessons that connect with work in the classroom. Heath school has had its garden for several years, but other schools also have gardens. I just learned that Mohawk Trail District Nutrition Director Elizabeth Buxton’s dream is for every school in the District to have its own garden. Buckland Shelburne Elementary will set up its garden on April 30.
I rejoice in the number of small farms that have started up in the last few years, making their produce available through their own farmstands, the farmer’s markets and local supermarkets. Monday evening I am going to be at the Greenfield Community College Down Town campus at 6:30 to hear three Farm-hers, Deb Habib of Seeds of Solidarity in Orange, Sorrel Hatch of Upinngil Farm in Gill, and and Caroline Pam of the Kitchen Garden in Sunderland talk about their life and farms.
I give thanks that CISA (Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture) is helping farmers and helping us find more and more local food all year round.
I applaud every time I see solar panels, or windmills as I drive along my country roads.
Of course I have my own part to play. We’ve tightened the house, got a new heating system, use FCLs, carry canvas shopping bags with us, bundle our errands to save gas, grow some of our own food and we are about to plant a windbreak that will help save on our heating bills.
What do you celebrate in your area? Do you have an energy saving project coming up?
Leave a comment on my Give Away post and maybe you will win Starter Vegetable Gardens. Deadline is midnight tonight.
First of all, Pat, it’s been a few days since I’ve been here, and it’s good to see that the snow has finally melted from your garden and that spring is on its way, even if a bit chilly.
These are the kind of Earth Day activities I admire, too–individuals going about making a difference in their own ways and communities involved in similar efforts. Farmers’ markets are one of the best ways to support sustainable farming that I know of, not to mention a great way to find nutritious, organic food.
Rose – I am so glad of those farmers markets. My garden is quite small so our farmers provide me with fabulous produce, and care for the soil as they make their living.