Earth Day 2019 is celebrated April 22nd in many countries around the world and this year is the 49th anniversary. Earth Week events run from April 21st to April 28th. April is also Earth Month, and many universities and other groups have additional events that are throughout the month.
Port St Lucie Earth Day 2019
Port St Lucie and St Lucie County’s big event every year is held at the OXBOW Eco-Center in Port St Lucie. This year was the 15th ANNUAL EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: LIVE GREEN AND PROSPER and held on Saturday April 13th due to Easter falling on Sunday April 21st and to not interfere with all the Easter activities on that weekend.
The free event had many activities that included live animals, playful puppets, games and activities for children, and dozens of interactive exhibitors. There were 3 stages set up for music and creative shows, the Artist’s Garden where people painted beautiful paintings, a Pioneer Camp where you could sample swamp cabbage, the exhibits meandered through the new Florida Heritage Trail with living history exhibits.
The Eco-Garden Trail highlighted the many local and regional organizations working to protect and conserve our fragile natural treasures, and the Luminary Loop held many local organizations committed to making a real difference in the St Lucie County area.
PSL Earth Day Events April 20th-22nd Weekend
The Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful Caring Community Cleanup and Celebration Day
Saturday April 20th – 8 a.m. to 1 pm at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center at 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Volunteers get breakfast and a t-shirt before they board buses that take them to different locations across the city in most need of cleaning up. Then, they get to eat lunch and enjoy demonstrations, exhibits and face painting for kids. Admission is free. Last year, more than 300 volunteers collected 1,800 pounds of litter. For more information, call 772-871-5103 or go to www.cityofpsl.com/kpslb.
The Earth Day Ladybug Launch
Saturday April 20th – 10 a.m. to noon at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens at 2410 S.E. Westmoreland Blvd. Kids ages 5-12 get to release ladybugs, learn about them and paint rocks. Admission is a $1 donation per child. Registration is appreciated. For more information, call 772-337-1959.
The Earth Day Beach Cleanup
Saturday April 20th – 8-10 a.m. at the Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium at 420 Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce. Participation is free. Aquarium admission is $4 for adults, $3 for kids and seniors and free for kids ages 3 and younger. Pickers, gloves and buckets are provided. For more information, call 772-462-3474 or go to www.facebook.com/smithsoniansms
www.facebook.com/smithsoniansms.
The Super Dank Earth Day Event at HopCat in Tradition
Saturday April 20th – Event starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until midnight at 10553 S.W. Meeting St., in Tradition in Port St. Lucie. HopCat is teaming up with 16 breweries — including Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues, Stone, Lagunitas and New Belgium — to raise more than $30,000 for Citizens for Clean Water. For more information, call 772-621-2823 or go to www.facebook.com/hopcatpsl.
Earth Day’s History
Many Universities around the country have celebrated this week with events and classes since the first Earth Day in 1970. Today, the celebration of Earth Day is primarily aimed at raising awareness and encouraging everyday citizens around the world to do their part in preserving the Earth, from recycling to reducing one’s carbon footprint. Read this prior post to learn about Earth Day’s history.
Celebrate Earth Week with 25 Tips to Make your Home More Green
This article highlights 25 general “green” improvements that can be made to your home and still provide design style and finishes similar to the most in-demand features of today’s homes.
The article also highlights Acqua Liana, a Triple LEED Certified oceanfront estate in Manalapan that was the first such home built in Florida and the largest residential LEED certified home in the world (picture below). Acqua Liana incorporates every design, construction and operation element of an environmentally responsible green home. The ultra-efficient air conditioning and purification systems, appliances, lighting, solar panels and insulation save nearly 60% on energy costs and provide superior indoor air quality. The water runoff collection system, reclaimed and renewable woods and recycling of over 75% of the construction debris that did not end up in a landfill additionally promote a whole home approach to sustainability.
More Tips for Incorporating Energy Saving and Water Conservation Suggestions
This article and prior post highlights additional ways to incorporate healthy alternatives, energy saving appliances and water conservation tips, including Recycle Bank, rain water collection and storage systems and Brita water filters. In celebration of Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary in 2011, Lowes had a 1 million tree giveaway.
Port St Lucie had an initiative in 2018 – and I’m sure it’s a standing initiative – for the residents to plant 185,000 trees ( one for every resident) to help sustain and improve our fragile rivers, natural habitats and ecosystem. They have 3-4 events per year where they educate how to take better care of our environment and give away 500 free small trees at each of these events.
