Since 1970, Earth Day has been officially observed annually on April 22, although events begin the weekend prior and will continue into this weekend. Celebrations for Earth Day take many creative forms that are designed to encourage people to partake in eco-friendly activities and help the environment by cleaning up parks, planting native plant species and reducing our waste.
Over the weekend leading up to Wednesday, there were several events celebrating Earth across the San Fernando Valley. Starting off in Lanark Park in Canoga Park on April 18, there was an event called Earth Bloom, where attendees could not only celebrate Earth Day, but also East Indian cultural traditions with music, dance and art making.
Later that morning in Pacoima City Hall, 100 trees between 3 to 6 feet tall were distributed to community members, along with rain barrels, mulch bags and other resources.
At the same time, in Panorama City at the Cottonwood Urban Farm, it was Free Community Farm Day, where guests could swap clothes, giving them continued use rather than throwing them away to wind up in the landfill.
CSUN held numerous activities, including a “Jam in the Garden.”
The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education approved the recognition of April as Earth Awareness Month and the celebration of Earth Day.
“This year’s devastating wildfires and rising temperatures make clear that climate change is already impacting our students, with more frequent and intense heat waves placing schools on the front lines of this crisis,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “As we mark Earth Day and Earth Awareness Month, we must double down on our responsibility to educate, empower and invest in a more sustainable future for our school communities.”
