Earth Day 2011 is April 22

I believe gardeners have a kinship with the earth and want to do all we can to sustain it. Earth Day was founded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970 as a teach-in. This is considered to be the beginning of the conservation movement. The day is observed to create awareness about the destruction of our natural environment and a call to take action to care for our air, water, and vegetation. Many groups emphasize the need for re-cycling and promote community events for recycling.

The Nature Conservancy is promoting a Picnic for the Planet on Earth Day. Join thousands of people around the world by choosing healthy foods for your outdoor picnic.

EARTH DAY GARDENERS

Earth Day is all about taking care of our Earth. Isn't that what all of us gardeners are doing? Whether you are gardening an acre full of vegetables, a small, sunny patch, or have tubs of veggies on your deck or patio, you are helping. Gardeners enrich the soil adding nutrients by composting which saves garbage build-up. Growing vegetables cuts down on the enormous fuel consumption needed to move food from miles away to our grocery stores. Even buying locally at farm markets and farms helps reduce this wasteful practice of energy.

If you haven't read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, please do. It is eye-opening information about our food supply and waste of energy. It is also a journal of her family's adventure in growing their own food or buying locally. Her narrative of the year's experiment in planting and harvesting, new recipes, and "laying by" their foodstuffs is written in a humorous and informative way.

As gardeners we recognize Earth Day everyday, not just one day out of the year.