As Earth Day was celebrated across Mid-Michigan on Tuesday, April 22, communities came together to promote sustainability and engage in environmentally friendly practices. From planting trees and flowers to reducing energy consumption, local residents and organizations made a concerted effort to care for the planet.
Community Engagement
At the Edible Flint Educational Farm, students from the University of Michigan Flint participated in a tree-planting ceremony, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship. Volunteers also worked together to pick up trash and other debris in the neighborhood, highlighting the importance of community involvement in maintaining a healthy environment.
- • Students from the University of Michigan Flint planted cherry trees, black raspberries, strawberries, onions, potatoes, and more at the Edible Flint Educational Farm.
- • Volunteers worked together to pick up trash and other brush in the neighborhood.
- • The event was an opportunity for students to learn about sustainable practices and their impact on the environment.
According to Laura Lyn Handyside, director of Edible Flint Educational Farm, “Every day should be Earth Day. This is our one Earth, this is our one home, so we need to take care of it and tend to it and continue to give back to it so it can flourish.”
Sustainable Practices
Organizers emphasized the importance of making small changes to reduce energy consumption and waste. Jazlynne Cathey, sustainability programs coordinator for UM-Flint, highlighted the impact of simple actions, such as turning off lights when leaving a room and using energy-efficient plugs.
- • You can make a difference by turning off lights when leaving a room.
- • Switching to energy-efficient plugs or using timer plugs can also reduce energy consumption.
- • Even taking plugs out of the wall can make a significant impact.
Jazlynne Cathey also mentioned that adaptive plugs or timer plugs can be a great way to reduce energy waste. “Getting some adaptive plugs or timer plugs, or even yanking your plugs out of the wall so that you’re not using that energy,” she said.
Community Gardening
In Saginaw, the Saginaw Just Transition Indaba (SJTI) hosted an Earth Day celebration at The Neighb to kick off its collective community Urban Gardening to Table efforts.
| Organization | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Saginaw Just Transition Indaba (SJTI) | Students planted over 160 hydroponic pods in raised garden beds as part of the collective community Urban Gardening to Table efforts. |
| Involved Organizations | Working together to ensure no food is wasted from the community gardens. |
“They’ve been doing this for some years but this particular year, we want to focus on this collective of organizations who are doing community gardening,” said Pamela Pugh, executive director of SJTI.
“The fact that we’re coming together as community to build community, to build health, and to strengthen resiliency in our community,” said Pamela Pugh.
Involged organizations are working together to make sure no food is wasted from the community gardens. This collective effort aims to promote environmental stewardship, food access, and economic empowerment through youth-centered and grassroots-led urban agriculture initiatives.
Impact and Conclusion
The Earth Day celebrations in Mid-Michigan served as a reminder of the importance of taking care of the planet. By engaging in sustainable practices and community involvement, residents can make a significant impact on the environment.
As Jazlynne Cathey said, “You cannot do everything but you can do something. Always thinking about turning off the lights when you’re leaving a room. You can also do some impact by switching even the plugs you have, right? Getting some adaptive plugs or timer plugs, or even yanking your plugs out of the wall so that you’re not using that energy.”
By making small changes, individuals can contribute to a larger movement towards sustainability and environmental stewardship.
