By Christine Wied
The official celebration of Earth Day is Sunday, April 22, 2012. Earth Day has a local connection. When U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin witnessed the devastation of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, he knew something had to be done. The result was on April 22, 1970 twenty million Americans from coast to coast demonstrated for a healthy, sustainable environment and the first Earth Day was established. This event brought together all sides of the political spectrum, rich and poor, urban and suburbanites, business and labor. It raised the national consciousness about the physical state of our earth and what we were doing to compromise its and our health. The results were the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency long with the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.
Each year Earth Day is a reminder that our personal actions can make a difference to our planet. The month of April is filled with many activities related to taking care of our earth. Here are a few in Ventura:
Tuesday, April 10 – The Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s Green Task Force is presenting a Best Practices Workshop Series. For April the topic is Best Practices in the Food Service Industry. It will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Red Brick Pizza Café, 4990 Telephone Road #100. The workshop will cover how to implement environmentally friendly practices, the cost of going “green” and the importance of buy-in from customers and staff. Contact the Ventura Chamber at 643-7222 or the Chamber website for reservations and more details.
Saturday, April 14 – Earth Day Eco Fest sponsored by the Ventura Charter School, at Promenade Park from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Come by Environmental Sustainability’s booth and participate in “eco” games and test your eco-knowledge to win a prize. The event features food, fun and entertainment for the whole family!
Sunday, April 15 – Ocean Friendly Gardens Hands-on Workshop 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is the next step in the Ocean Friendly Garden Series with actual site evaluation and analysis and design. Go to the website to register and obtain the location. This is the workshop that was postponed in March due to rain.
Saturday, April 21 – Composting Workshop at Cornucopia Community Gardens (Telephone Road between Johnson Drive and Ramelli Avenue) at 10:00 a.m. Learn all about composting and vermicomposting (composting with worms). This is for first time composters as well as those who just want to know how to help their compost bins work more effectively. Using rain barrels for your garden will also be discussed.
Saturday, April 21 – Ventura Botanical Gardens Garden Festival at Grant Park 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This too is a family affair with garden workshops, children’s gardening activities, food trucks, music and prizes.
Saturday, April 21 – Monthly Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event held at Gold Coast Recycling, 5275 Colt Street from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please call Environmental Sustainability at 652-4525 for an appointment to safely dispose of old paint, batteries (auto and household), aerosol cans, pesticides, cleaners, fluorescent tubes and bulbs, motor oil, filters, other automotive fluids and many common household items no longer allowed in the trash.
Saturday, April 28 – Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Bring all unused or expired medication to the Ventura Police Department, 1425 Dowell Drive, or the Westside Resource Center, 110 N. Olive Street, Unit K. Remember No drugs down the drain, toilet or in the trash!
Open Line Article, April 4, 2012
Contact: Christine Wied, cwied@cityofventura.net
Listen to the Sustainable Ventura podcast with Ray Olson, Manager of the Environmental Sustainability Division, talking about Earth Day! CLICK HERE
