Spring is here and the weather is turning beautiful! With sunny skies, warm grass, and a fresh breeze blowing through Evansville, Mother Nature herself is getting ready to celebrate Earth Day. Inspired by an oil spill off the coast of Southern California, lawmakers and activists came together to create a day of education and awareness about water and air pollution. The first Earth Day was in 1970, and over 50 years later millions of people across the world come together every April 22 to celebrate our planet and all it means to us. Here are different ways you can celebrate in your community!
Start a Pollinator Garden
Pollinator gardens are a wonderful way to keep native plants flourishing in your neighborhood and can be easily adapted to your green space needs. They’re also important because they provide habitats and food for vital members of our ecosystem. Native plant gardens are important because those plants will best attract and serve the local fauna of your area. Additionally, there is also less of a risk of causing any ecological damage. Remember to use a natural pest repellent and keep a water source for your new friends nearby! Pollinators are more than just bees too. You might see birds, moths, butterflies, beetles, and more buzz their way through your garden.
Get Outside
It’s looking like it’s going to be an absolutely lovely day this Earth Day! Why not spend it outside connecting with nature in Evansville! Wesselman Woods has miles of gorgeous trails to explore with friends and family with diverse and exciting flora and fauna. You could spend hours tracking and identifying all kinds of fascinating creatures and plants. They have a special event planned for Earth Day!
On the other side of town, you can visit their second property, the Howell Wetlands, for even more educational opportunities and fun! They’ll also have an event to celebrate Earth Day! With so much to see and explore, you’ll never get bored.
Local Recycling
Recycling is a great way to do your part to take care of the planet for future generations. Every little bit helps! Evansville’s curbside recycling is picked up by Republic Services. Through this service you can recycle: aluminum & aluminum, steel, and bi-metal containers, lids and caps; corrugated cardboard; chipboard (cereal boxes, soda cases, etc.); magazines, newspapers, telephone books, catalogs, etc.; mail, inserts, junk mail, etc.; paper, envelopes, and paperboard. The city of Evansville currently doesn’t accept any glass materials for recycling. Any glass that is placed in your recycling bin will be removed and sent to a landfill. Don’t worry though, there are several ways you can still recycle your glass. You can drop off your glass at the Posey County facility, Marrs Recycling. Find your trash/recycling pick-up schedule here.
EVPL Programming
EVPL has a ton of awesome programs happening this month to celebrate Earth Day!
All Ages
- Earth Day Take & Plant Kits
- April 22 – 28 at EVPL East, EVPL Stringtown, and EVPL West
- Plant Detective – Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
- April 17 – 29 • EVPL Red Bank
Ages 0 – 11
- Crafting for the Birds
- Saturday, April 15 at 11:00 am • EVPL West
- Earth Day Party
- Saturday, April 22 at 1:00 pm • EVPL Oaklyn
- Fairy Gardens
- Saturday, April 22 at 2:00 pm • EVPL Red Bank
Teens
- Upcycled Jewelry Making
- Monday, April 17 at 3:30 pm • EVPL Central
EVPL Materials
Teens & Adults
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf
- Planting a Seed: Three Simple Steps to Sustainable Living by Kate Gaertner
- One: Pot, Pan, Planet: A Greener Way to Cook for You and Your Family by Anna Jones
- Essential Perennials: The Complete Reference to 2700 Perennials for the Home Garden by Ruth Rogers Clausen
Littles
- Earth Day by Rebecca Sabelko
- We Celebrate Earth Day in Spring by Jenna Lee Gleisner
- Earth Day, Birthday! by Maureen Wright
- Every Day is Earth Day by Jane O’Connor
- Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
