Today is Earth Day. For some people, that's everyday. For others, that's ridiculous. But if there's one day to whisper to a patch of dirt and say, "thanks for raspberries," or yell out to a tall Douglas Fir, "thanks for oxygen!" - Today is that day.

Earth day is a day of service. It’s an opportunity to teach and learn – and a chance for us to identify problems that face our communities and work together to find lasting solutions.

If you want to do something, but you’re still wondering what that should be – the first step is to get outside. Most of the stewardship activities of Earth Day take place outdoors, such as picking up trash, joining a work party to remove non-native vegetation, planting trees or volunteering at an event.

While you’re outside, consider how the natural environment supports your life – providing food, shelter and all of the resources needed to live out your daily life. Our environment sustains us, and we simply can’t live without it. Earth Day represents the recognition of this relationship between people and their environment – and the need to give back to the Earth in return for providing our sustenance.  

To learn more about what you can do, visit:

Local Earth Day Events (Western Washington) – Department of Ecology