Sustainability Spotlight - April 2021 - Earth Day Happenings
By: Joy Opp, Sustainable Wheat Ridge Co-Chair
Earth Day started in 1970 and is celebrated every year on April 22. This is an opportunity to bring awareness to the strain that humans have on our planet, and also to begin some new habits that last throughout the year! Here are some ways to celebrate Earth Day all month long.
The City of Wheat Ridge is celebrating Earth Day with a clean up along Clear Creek.
What can you do right here in Wheat Ridge?
Join Scraps, all year ongoing
Scraps is a local compost drop service. For a small monthly fee, you gain access to the compost drop location, or sign up for curbside pick up. Wheat Ridge residents get a special discount here.
Volunteer at a local farm, all year ongoing
There are several local farms that could all use your help! Reach out to them for details on how you can volunteer.
- True Roots
- Living Land
- Five Fridges
- Roost
Crop planting Calendar, all year ongoing
Colorado can be so tricky when it comes to timing your gardens. HERE is the link to a fantastic crop planting calendar!
Denver Pollinator Plan Swap, June 6
Log in HERE to the Earthlinks site and share the abundance of your gardens! Dig and divide native perennial grasses and perennials wildflowers, pot up unwanted seedlings and share surplus container-grown seedlings and cuttings
What can you do in the Denver area?
Denver City Nature Challenge, April 30-May 9
JOIN the 2021 City Nature Challenge, and compete against over 250 cities around the world to see which can document the most wild nature in only 4 days! This fun event is presented by the The Nature Conservancy, Denver Botanic Gardens, The WILD Foundation, Denver Audubon, Metro Denver Nature Alliance.
Birding 101, April 15 6:00 - 7:30
JOIN Audubon Rockies for a fun introduction to birding. Discover the basics of bird identification with Community Science Coordinator Zach Hutchinson. This on line at-home event is open to all ages.
Wild Earth Scavenger Hunt, April 17-24 10 am - 5 pm
Wild Bear Center in Nederland
Stop by Wild Bear Nature Center for a very special Wild Earth Week scavenger hunt from April 17 to 24. Scavenger hunt participants will receive a special goodie bag on completion of the hunt. Meet our animal ambassadors and learn more about the natural world while having fun.
Wild Earth Day, April 22 9 am - sunset
Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keensburg
Visit the sanctuary to help Mother Earth, and the animals and humans that inhabit this wonderful planet! Plan to celebrate your "Wild Earth Day" with more than 520 of the wildest friends you could ever have! The sanctuary and its supporters care for rescued wildlife by giving them a place to be wild again. Bring a tree for free admission.
Native Plant Outreach Workshops, April 22-24, 12 - 1:30 pm
Audubon Rockies online events
Audubon Rockies and researchers at Colorado State University invite you to join them for Habitat Hero workshops focused on native plant outreach. Attendees will learn how to grow native plants and encourage others to do the same. Participants will also receive $10 coupons for themselves and friends to get a discount on native plants at participating nurseries. Gardeners of all skill levels are all welcome.
Lakewood Earth Day Festival, all week April 17-31
This year’s festival is being planned as a virtual event. Examples of what to expect include nature-inspired art installations at local parks, chalk art at local parks, an Earth Day video playlist with fun, educational clips, at-home activities to build community and show care and respect for our environment. Check out the full schedule HERE.
Sustainability Updates
- Unused paint or varnish? Join us for a paint recycling event hosted by the Sustainable Neighborhood Network on Sunday, May 16 from 9a-1p at Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge. This is a drive-thru event - stay in your car, turn off your engine, and pop the trunk. Volunteers will do the rest. Voluntary donations benefit the Sustainable Neighborhood Network and community sustainability projects. For more information, click here.
- The City of Wheat Ridge and the Sustainable Wheat Ridge resident advisory committee are funding the capital and installation costs for bicycle racks in Wheat Ridge. Bicycle use reduces automotive traffic and pollution, while increasing community engagement and improving resident health. By improving the available bicycle facilities in Wheat Ridge, we aim to increase bicycle use throughout the City's public spaces. Applications are open now and are due by Friday, May 21, 2021 (National Bike to Work Day). To learn more about the program or to start an application, click here.
More about Sustainable Wheat Ridge Sustainable Wheat Ridge is a resident-led committee that was established in 2018 to provide the city with recommendations to enhance the environmental sustainability of Wheat Ridge. Included in these recommendations are goals around preserving Wheat Ridge’s agricultural history, connecting local producers and consumers, and establishing partnerships to support local food production. Check out the full Sustainable Wheat Ridge action plan here!
