Celebrate Earth Day on April 22

This year Earth Day is on Saturday, April 22. We encourage you to celebrate Earth Day. Here are a few ways to do so.

1. Take time outside to enjoy nature.
2. Join in a community celebration.
3. Take at least one action to help the planet.

Twenty million Americans took part in the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970. It helped to launch the modern environmental movement. Today Earth Day is celebrated around the world by more than one billion people.

Earth Day.org says, “Be a part of the solution. Build a brighter, greener, and more equitable future for generations to come. The time is NOW to Invest in Our Planet!”

There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day and invest in the planet.

Enjoy time outside in nature

Spending time outside is great for your physical and mental health. It’s a wonderful way to spend time with friends and family. And connecting with nature helps remind us why it is important to protect the earth.

National parks are FREE on April 22, the first day of National Parks Week. We have three beautiful national parks near Seattle, include Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park (the highway through the North Cascades is currently closed for the winter season).

State parks are also FREE on April 22, no Discover Pass required. Maybe it’s time to explore a new nearby state park, such as Squak Mountain State Park near Issaquah, Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore, Olallie State Park near North Bend, Dash Point State Park near Federal Way and Kopachuck State Park near Gig Harbor. Here is a clickable map of state parks in the Seattle/Tacoma region.

You don’t need to go far afield to enjoy nature. You could celebrate Earth Day by visiting a new park or trail in your county or city. King County Parks and Snohomish County Parks offer searchable maps of parks and trails. You can find information about your city parks online as well. You could go on a hike, visit a nearby lake or stream, or take a walk on a Puget Sound beach.

You could also stay close to home and enjoy the spring flowers blooming in your own yard or the birds singing in your neighborhood.

Celebrate Earth Day with your community 

Would you like to celebrate Earth Day with friends, neighbors and others in your community? Many local cities and organizations have scheduled Earth Day activities on April 22.

• Join the Sammamish Earth Day celebration for kid-friendly activities and entertainment.
• Help clean up parks at City of Auburn’s Earth Day Clean Sweep at parks, trails and other public sites.
• Roll up your sleeves for Keep Issaquah Beautiful. There are jobs for all ages, abilities and schedules.
• The Mukilteo Community Cleanup includes a community BBQ at Lighthouse Park.
• Help remove invasive ivy and blackberry, and weed and mulch the plant collection at Earth Day at the Arboretum.
• Work alongside knowledgeable staff on a variety of seasonal projects at 21 Acres, an agroecological farm in Woodinville.
• Join the Earth Day run or walk at Seattle’s Magnuson Park. Each finisher takes home a sapling, and another will be planted for each finisher.
• Visit the Leap for Green Sustainability Fair on Mercer Island. The event includes a bird walk, petting zoo and music.
• Take part in tours and volunteer activities at the Earth Day Open House at Oxbow Farm in Carnation, and enjoy a delicious lunch.
• The City of Kenmore Earth Day event has activities for all ages at Rhododendron Park.
• Celebrate Earth Day at Carkeek Park in Seattle with games, nature activities, volunteer projects and intertidal beach exploration.
• Snohomish’s inaugural Earth Day celebration includes planting, restoring and having fun all over town.
• The High Point Earth Day celebration at Seattle’s Commons Park includes art activities, games and fun nature learning.
• Plant trees, spread mulch and take home a free sapling at the City of Renton’s annual Arbor & Earth Day event.

Make some different choices in your daily life

Help reduce climate change

Climate change is an issue that affects all of us. Earth.org reports that the last time carbon dioxide levels on our planet were as high as today was more than four million years ago. We have seen the catastrophic effects of climate change in our own country, such as huge storms, devastating floods and massive wildfires.

According to the United Nations, to keep the climate livable, the average emissions per person per year will need to drop to around 2 to 2.5 tons of CO2e by 2030. The UN said, “In the United States of America, emissions in 2020 (the latest available data) were 14.6 tons of CO2 equivalent per person – more than double the global average of 6.3 tons, and six times the 2.4 tons per person in India.”

The United Nations lists 10 actions you can take now to help tackle the climate crisis.

1. Save energy at home.
2. Walk, bike or take public transportation.
3. Eat more vegetables.
4. Consider your travel.
5. Throw away less food.
6. Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.
7. Change your home’s source of energy.
8. Switch to an electric vehicle.
9. Make your money count.
10. Speak up.

Take other actions to protect the planet

While climate change may be our biggest environmental issue, other actions are also important, such as maintaining clean water and keeping your own community clean. Here are 10 suggestions from NOAA’s National Ocean Service on how to protect the planet.

1. Bike more, drive less.
2. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
3. Choose sustainable seafood.
4. Plant a tree.
5. Educate.
6. Volunteer.
7. Conserve water.
8. Shop wisely.
9. Don’t send chemicals into our waterways.
10. Use long-lasting light bulbs.

Earthday.org has 52 tips to make a difference in your everyday life. Here are a few ideas from their list:

• Calculate your foodprint.
• Pick up trash while you run.
• Stand against deforestation.
• Learn how to combat plastic pollution.
• Go pesticide-free.
• Buy local food.
• Take pictures of pollinators.
• Grow an organic garden.
• Eat less meat.
• Turn off lights when not in use.

Join us 

At In Harmony, our mission is “Building a healthier planet one landscape at a time.” We hope you will join us in celebrating Earth Day. Contact us to find out how we can help you make your landscape, and the planet, healthier.