I live for a wide, open view of the world. That’s why I love the ocean so much – and deep valleys, and high mountaintops (my fear of heights would make me falter, but the majesty of it all takes your breath away). It’s a beautiful thing to stand, your feet planted firmly and connected and grounded with this good earth of ours, toes in the dirt, looking out across a view unencumbered by buildings and commercialism and civilization, be it the beach or a hike through the Adirondacks. The sun smiles down on you and the breeze rolls past. The sweet smell of pine or the salty fragrance of the sea hits your nose. The sharp colors of a wildflower might strike your eye or a bird call from the sky above may catch your ear.
I can think of few things that put a smile on my face like that.
You stand there, taking in the depth and the vastness of it all – the masterpiece painted by Mother Nature. No matter what you believe about how we got here, one can’t help but agree that the world around us is indeed a masterpiece. It can fill you with myriad emotions: fullness and joy, peace, a sense of belonging, of how things should be. A sense of wonder.
Unfortunately, these moments grow fewer and further between with each passing year. Towering vistas are now obscured by high rises. The crystal blue sky our ancestors looked up at every day is clouded by smog. Lush green valleys now host the suburbs’ housing developments and shopping malls.
We get bogged down, distracted by the rat race of capitalism and commercialism … and we lose our wonder.
Earth Day is a moment to stop, put on the brakes and remember that sense of awe. A moment to be thankful. A moment to give back.
What is the history of Earth Day? According to the EPA, prior to 1970, there were no real policy protections for the environment: “In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force this issue [environmental protection] onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities, and it worked! In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”
How does one celebrate Earth Day? Every year, Americans across the country devote time to cleaning up litter, planting trees, working in their gardens and much more. This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet.”
- Hike: Locally and on a state level. While there is certainly something to be said about enjoying a lunch in your favorite spot along “the back 40,” purchase a park pass and patronize your state parklands. A quick Google consultation should point you in the right direction: just search your state and “parks department.” They should have a website devoted to the Parks/Parks and Recreation Department (for example, https://parks.ny.gov/)
- Plant: Procure some saplings from a local nursery and spend some time planting trees. Spend some time outside in your garden, working not only with your vegetables but putting some annuals and perennials in the ground as well (the latter of which will have beautiful returns every year)
- Shop: Shop local and cut down your grocery bill. If you yourself don’t grow the veggies you need, seek out a local farmer or grower and patronize their farm stand. Support local agriculture.
- Recycle: Focus on sustainability at home and lessen the burden of residential garbage on the environment. Work on incorporating reusable zero waste packing and containers (hello, Mason jars). Cut down on food waste by saving scraps – there are a million uses on the old homestead, from food for the dog to a veggie stock.
- Support: Donate to an environmental nonprofit. The Nature Conservancy is just one example. You can visit them at https://www.nature.org/en-us to get involved.
However you choose to celebrate this Earth Day, it is our hope that you will have fun, enjoy getting your hands in the dirt and connecting with our world and that you would take a moment to stop and feel a little bit of that wonder.
What a wonderful world.
by Andy Haman
