The Corvallis Environmental Center (CEC) has a series of events planned leading up to, on, and after Earth Day.
CEC has joined up with Earth Day Oregon, the Institute for Applied Ecology, Seeds to the SOL, and the Chintimini Wildlife Center this year – even creating a Facebook page to keep everyone organized.
The challenge has already started with the CEC Carbon Friendly Transportation Challenge encouraging people to ride bikes or walk. With nearly 8,000 miles biked so far, the community is stepping up.
On April 16, dress up as your favorite animal and come on down to the Farmers’ Market at 12:15 p.m. for the Planet Palooza Parade. there will be activities, art, and music, right alongside a slew of answers at the Solutions Fair which starts at 1:00 p.m.
For Earth Day itself, Herbert Farm will be hosting a planting event to celebrate native plants. So, on April 22, come well-equipped to the farm, located along Marys River and Muddy Creek, from 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. and get your hands dirty with the stuff the Earth is made of. You’ll need to RSVP for this Earth Day Oregon sponsored event.
Then there is the SAGE Earth Day Work Party on Friday, April 22 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Bruce Starker Arts Park. And after the work party, go on over to Common Fields, located at 545 SW 3rd St in Corvallis, for the Community Earth Day Party happening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
On Saturday, April 23, head over to the Chintimini Wildlife Center at 311 NW Lewisburg Ave. in Corvallis for an Earth Day tour. You’ll have to RSVP to this one if you want to join in.
Earth Day History
The first Earth Day took place on theApril 22, 1970. At the time, it was a one-time event, and some people suspected it was some kind of secret infiltration by the USSR, since the date was coincidentally also Vladimir Lenin’s 100th birthday. There wasn’t another Earth Day until 1990, but since then, it’s been widely observed every year, gradually becoming a regular part of the Springtime schedule, even as concern for the environment itself has finally become more urgent.
April 22, 2022 marks the 52nd anniversary of the original Earth Day. Perhaps this is the year that humanity finally begins in earnest the laborious task of playing the long, slow game of Fifty-Two Pickup that is required if we are going to deal a new hand to the next generation.
By John M. Burt
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