BLOOMINGTON – What do Earth Day and Arbor Day have in common – save our natural resources: air, water, soil, plants and wildlife
Community Outreach Coordinator Elisa Pokral, of the Waste Reduction District (District) of Monroe County says, “Basic earth stewardship includes reducing waste, reusing as much as possible, and recycling. It also involves rewilding yards, planting native species, and removing invasives.”
The district will distribute free seedlings during Earth Day week, April 22, and through April 26. You can pick up your free seedling at the South Walnut Recycling Center, located at 3400 South Walnut Street in the Administration building. Distribution hours are 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. while supplies last.
“This year, two species will be offered, and one is a bush that butterflies love! Find out which species when you stop by,” added Pokral.
Executive Director Tom McGlasson Jr. states, “Earth Day was formed to remind us that we are
all responsible for contributing to the sustainability of our earth every day.”
To honor Earth Day, April 22nd, and Arbor Day, April 26th, and people’s efforts to practice earth stewardship, we encourage the public to start with reducing waste in the first place.
“Simple actions like recycling and planting a variety of native plants make the world a healthier place for
everyone,” said McGlasson.
Those who stop by will also be provided the information you need to properly plant and care for your seedling to get it off to the best start. Suppose you’re unfamiliar with the district’s five recycling centers. Information will be available for pickup on accepted recyclable materials, from paper to electronics, and on how to dispose of over-the-counter medicines.
“We look forward to you sharing your tree and green stories—your reasons for recycling and other earth-care actions. We encourage the public to stay up-to-date on the District’s Facebook, Twitter, and website at wastereductiondistrict.com,” said Pokral. “Recycling and reusing help the earth in many ways and planting trees and bushes do too. Studies indicate some of the benefits of planting trees and ‘rewilding’ properties are that trees increase property values, reduce aggression and violence, reduce energy consumption, reduce pollution (soil, water, and air), prevent soil erosion, regulate climate, provide a habitat for animals, and provide a better habitat for all living creatures. When you plant trees, you grow community, support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and improve health, the health of humans, and the health of the ecosystem.”
Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with the District by recycling and planting trees. In Indiana, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April. Arbor Day, now celebrated internationally, was founded in the 1880s in Nebraska due to Nebraska’s lack of trees.
During the 1870s, other states also began to observe it, and the tradition started in schools nationwide in 1882. German forester Peter Wohlleben reports that from counting and learning to communicating and caring for each other, the secret lives of trees are wildly deep and complex.
Trees can also remember to nurse sick neighbors and warn each other of danger by sending electrical signals across a fungal network known as the ‘Wood Wide Web’. They also exchange water and nutrients through their roots and a mycorrhizal network. These are just a few of the secrets researchers and authors Peter Wohlleben and Professor Suzanne Simard have learned about trees.
“Let’s celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with our thoughts and actions,” said Pokral. “I am grateful to all the K-12 teachers who booked me for free environmental sessions throughout the year. This vital citizen science information, aligned with state standards, is shared with many generations. The impacts of climate change urge us. So, Think about the Earth every day. Sustain the world by taking green actions, starting with waste reduction, creating a healthy world, and learning about and imitating earth’s natural systems.”
The District reminds the public that tours of South Walnut facilities are offered to individuals and groups year-round, as are educational opportunities on “Citizen Science”/environmental education. Call Ms. Pokral at 812-349-2020 for tour and session bookings.
“These actions—reducing, reusing as much as possible, recycling, and rewilding all start at home, and what a huge impact it makes,” said Pokral. “Don’t just stop with your home. Tell your friends, neighbors, and relatives. Stop by the South Walnut Recycling Center April 22nd – April 26th from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. while supplies last, and pick out a free tree or bush seedling. Let the District help you practice environmental stewardship.”
For more information, visit wastereductiondistrict.com or call 812-349-2020.
