Ways to celebrate Earth Day 2021

Earth Day 2021 is Thursday, April 22. Since the first celebration in 1970, Earth Day has grown to be a globally celebrated holiday to support environmental protection. Today, more than one billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

Earth Day is a reminder to all of us that our planet needs our help. The right time to take action to help our planet is today, not tomorrow or next month or next year. What can you do to make a difference?

Celebrate Earth Day 2021 by volunteering 

A number of organizations are sponsoring events to plant trees, clean up invasive plants and do other hands-on work to help the earth. Here are a few local organizations looking for help.

Help restore Washington Park Arboretum on April 24 by removing invasive plants, weeding the collections and mulching planting beds.

Volunteer to support pollinators at 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living in Woodinville on April 24. The farm is highly reliant upon bees, butterflies and other creatures to help the regenerative farm be productive.

Metro Parks Tacoma is celebrating Parks Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 24. Volunteer to spend some time sprucing up local parks.

The City of Sammamish and Sammamish Stewards are sponsoring a four-day event, beginning on April 22. It includes a giveaway of native plants, compost and seeds; volunteer work events; docent tours; family activities and more.

Celebrate Earth Day 2021 by enjoying nature

Relaxing outdoors and enjoying the colors, scents and sounds of nature reduces the stress of daily living. It also helps us remember why our planet is worth protecting. Sharing outdoor experiences with your children and friends may motivate them to help the earth. To help you get outdoors, national and state parks are offering free entry in honor of Earth Day.

Beginning on April 17, get free entrance to national parks during National Park Week. Event is FREE.

April 22, 2021. Dawn to dusk. Washington State Parks Free Days. The Discover Pass will not be required to visit state parks on Earth Day. Event is FREE.

Celebrate Earth Day 2021 by learning and acting

Creating a Pollinator Paradise. Get advice from the Beacon Food Forest on how to turn your garden into a veritable utopia for pollinators, which are essential to the health of our ecosystems, food crops and landscapes. April 24, 10-12:30 online.

Watch award-winning climate documentary ‘2040’ between April 16 – 23, then join a community conversation sponsored by Meaningful Movies to find ways to take action. The film takes a solutions-based approach to how we can, using the technology we already have, mitigate the enormous global issues we currently face.

Black Earth Day: A Panel On Black Urban Farming & The Environmental Movement. A virtual panel discusses the intersection of Black urban farming and the environmental movement. Topics include Black urban farm examples, food and the environment, and historical contributions and modern innovation when it comes to Black food culture. April 22, 7:30 pm online through Town Hall.

Celebrate Earth Day by planting a garden

Find the right plants for your yard at these plant sales or your local nursery.

King County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale. Online ordering April 21-April 27. Find thousands of veggie and herb starts, heirloom tomatoes, rare blooming annuals, plus perennials and ornamentals from specialty growers. Begin browsing April 15. Order from any of three online stores in Bellevue, Shorewood and Auburn, and schedule curb-side pickup at those locations.

Tilth Alliance Edible Plant Sale. May 7-May 14. Choose from the largest selection of organically, sustainably and locally grown vegetable plant starts in the Puget Sound region. Make a reservation beginning May 3 for in-person shopping at Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands. No online sales.

Washington Native Plant Society Plant Sale. April 9-April 26, or as supply lasts. Find nearly 100 species of native shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Pre-arranged pickup times, May 8-May 9 at 21 Acres, 13701 NE 171st Street, Woodinville. Shop early for best selection and to ensure a pickup appointment that works for you.

Find a list of more plant sales and garden tours on the University of Washington Botanic Gardens website.

More ways to celebrate

Watch for next week’s blog post for ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day in your own home and yard.