Happy Earth Day, Enumclaw!

Happy Earth Day, everybody!  It's a frosty morning, but a clear-blue and beautiful day ahead  in Enumclaw. 

I wrote my first blog a year ago to acknowledge and celebrate Earth Day.  At the time, my techno-savvy grandson said, Grammy, I didn't think you would even know what a blog is!  Well, I didn't exactly.  But it's been fun writing and I appreciate those of you who have read entries this past year.

Since Earth Day is on a Monday this year, some Puget Sound events were held this weekend or earlier in the month.  Did anyone participate in the Earth Day 5K Run at Myrtle Edwards Park or the celebration at Seattle Center?  There was a big program at the Duwamish Longhouse and many groups had service projects going.  If you participated in any of these, or in any local activities or celebrations relating to Earth Day,  tell us in the comments and share here any pictures that you have.   Enumclaw Recyclers, Chinook Apartments, and Kibler PTA held a recycling/food donation event on Friday--photos anyone?   Nancy Cary reported that her granddaughter Emma brought home a tree from Sunrise Elementary to plant in honor of Earth Day.  (Emma named her tree "Bob".)  John S. Mayers spent time this weekend with a crew working on Hope Lutheran's new sustainable community garden, which will soon provide fresh produce for our food banks  It's a BIG garden (see photo) and can use more volunteer help!   Seniors at Enumclaw Senior Center always acknowledge Earth Day--don't know who else does, but we'll walk around town to see.  

It's not too late to just celebrate, today or this week, especially with the weather improving.  A picnic in the park, a walk on the trail,  just to appreciate and enjoy what our beautiful planet offers?   And maybe decide on something else to do in the coming year on behalf of its health and safety?  Ten easy ideas are listed in a Patch news article today. (No time limit actually, Earth Day is Every Day!  But the sooner the better....)     

So many serious issues and concerns about Earth's health and safety--I do worry and get discouraged.  But:

I am encouraged by what young people are doing.  Last week I ran into Principal Keri Marquand and heard first-hand about the earth-friendly projects going on at Westwood  and the fifth-graders who have been selected and honored as Earth Heroes.  

And at the Enumclaw Historical Society's dinner this weekend, we met Bill and Jennifer Kombol (Bill was the honored guest), which led to more history-googling, which led to discovering a 2013 video on Sustainability, made by some other young folks,  Brody Magbaleta and Henry Kombol.  Their video addresses maintaining a healthy environment, and brings up issues of bottled water, recycling, our ecological footprint, and sustaining resources for the next generation.  They remind us that "everyone can make a difference!"

Of course whom we reported on last year when he brought the film Tapped to Enumclaw, continues with his work on getting Enumclaw residents to trade in their bottled water for tap water in reusable bottles.  More on that later, but Austin has now launched his own Spring to the Tap website to further this goal.

 I am also encouraged by what churches are doing.  That's not necessarily new news.  Many years ago, my college roommate, who became a Methodist minister (now retired), was preaching Earth Day sermons and encouraging good care of the environment.  (Earth Day actually began in 1970.)  (And no, I wasn't paying much attention to it in the early years.)   Long before most of us were thinking green, she started BYOM:  Bring Your Own Mug to the church kitchen for coffee hour to eliminate the use of styrofoam or paper cups; and she was promoting things like reusable grocery bags and making them available to her congregation.

Now it's more than individual efforts in the church community.   "Creation Care--It's a matter of Life" is the message of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), founded in 1993.  EEN emphasizes good stewardship of the earth and has run tv spots, radio ads and billboards about the effects of climate change.  And again the young people are at work--last year a youth organization, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, grew out of  this network.

The US and Canada's Mennonite Creation Care Network  has its "100 Shades of Green Campaign", an initiative that recognizes different interests and gifts in addressing the planet's need for care.  Their website describes various congregations' levels of participation:  "Some are busy with community gardens.  Others are concerned about policy and energy.  Still others are just wishing for a greener congregation or taking their first steps."

I appreciate that respect for differences.  Among the Earth's billions of people, there are going to be differences in levels of knowledge and levels of interest about what's happening to our planet.   Then there are further differences in what personal choices to make and how involved each of us is going to be in caring for the earth or advocating earth-friendly policies.  When some of us feel a bit of urgency, it's because the final outcome will affect us all.  First steps are to become well-informed.  Other steps can't help but follow.

For today, enjoy this beautiful Earth Day in Enumclaw!