April 22 is the forty-fifth anniversary of Earth Day. Most consider this the beginning of the modern-day environmental movement. At the time, people drove big gas guzzling cars, industry grew without regard to any consequences, and air pollution was accepted as common and a sign of prosperity. Protests of many kinds merged with new energy of public concern for the environment.
Since then, Earth Day has grown to cover 184 countries, 5,000 environmental groups reaching hundreds of millions of people to promote a healthy, sustainable environment coast-to-coast.
Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. Forty-five years later, Earth Day is building world that is clean, healthy, and diverse for generations to come
Arbor Day in America was originated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. On that day, one million trees were planted. In 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation was founded, and currently has over one million members. Globally, the foundation has planted 250 million trees, helped preserve rainforests, and protected wildlife.
Each state has differing celebrations of Arbor Day. In Pennsylvania, April 24 is our day. We have over 43,000 members of the Arbor Day Foundation. In 2014, 370,000 were planted by them in the state.
In honor of both of these days, The Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County will be having a special event to mark the occasion, “Earth Day Is Your Day.” We are committed to values of Earth Day and want to equip people to be more environmentally aware of the decisions they make in the home landscape. We will have the latest, research-based information on topics such as:
- Greener gardening
- Tree care
- Gardening in alternative spaces
- Using native plants
- Reducing pesticide use, and more.
Giving people the tools to better manage the home landscape is only part of our purpose for this event. The motive for Earth Day is to encourage people to be more involved in their community as well. We will have special guests joining us, to give people opportunities to both enjoy and be more involved in our area:
- The Greenhouse Project
- Lackawanna County Conservation District
- Lackawanna River Corridor Association
- Lackawanna Backyard Beekeepers Association
- Lackawanna County’s Office of Environmental Sustainability and Department of Community Relations
The Mall at Steamtown will be hosting us, and is free to attend.
For more information, please contact us 570-963-6842.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
Lackawanna County
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