This Sunday, April 16 is the official beginning of Earth Week 2023, which will lead up to Earth Day this Saturday, April 22 — 53 years after the first formal Earth Day in 1970.
After Wisconsin Senator Gaylor Nelson first proposed an “Earth Day” in 1969, young grassroots activists, protestors and volunteers across the country organized events and took action for the planet on April 22, 1970. Coined by ad man Julian Koenig for rhyming with “birthday,” Earth Day drew considerable attention to the growing environmental movement in the United States. This momentum helped spur the creation of a slew of new environmental laws, policies, agencies, and organizations throughout the 1970s—including, in 1977, the Environmental Protection Information Center. (Source)
We at EPIC want to emphasize the grassroots community activism and protests that both brought about Earth Day, and continue to be a driving force in our ongoing efforts to conserve and restore our lands, waters, and communities for generations to come.
Keep reading to learn about some of the amazing community activities and events happening virtually and in-person around the Humboldt Bay Area throughout this week that we have highlighted in the spirit of learning about, stewarding, and celebrating our planet. EPIC will be tabling at two events on Earth Day, April 22: the North Coast Co-op Zero Waste Market from 11am-2pm and the Post-Capitalism Conference Community Earth Day Celebration from 3-8pm (more below). On behalf of EPIC and friends, please join us – we look forward to seeing you!
Finally, while Earth Week is a wonderful opportunity to collectively celebrate, appreciate, and take action for our planet, Earth Week is really Every Week! Prioritize our planet year-round and support EPIC’s continuous efforts to protect and restore Northwest California’s ecosystems by making a donation, buying merch online or at one of this week’s events, and exploring other ways to get involved. Also be sure to check out some of our local ally environmental organizations linked below.
Earth Week 2023 Calendar of Events:
On Saturday, April 15 from 1-4pm, Redwood Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service and California State Parks are hosting an introductory hike led by Doug Kerr for anyone who has a passion for the redwoods, enjoys spending time in one of Earth’s most beautiful places, and wants to join the “Titaneers,” a group of volunteer interpreters and monitors who play a critical role in the continued preservation of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park’s Grove of Titans’ delicate ecosystem, by keeping visitors on the trail, providing important information on trail conditions, preventing vandalism, and so much more. Meet at the Hiouchi Visitor Center in Crescent City. If you can’t make the in-person training, join virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, April 26 from 5:30-7pm. Find more information at redwoodparksconservancy.org/grove-titans.
On Sunday, April 16 from 9am-12pm, the Northcoast Regional Land Trust and Humboldt Trails Council are hosting their first monthly trail work event of the year at Freshwater Farms Reserve in Eureka. At this trail stewardship kickoff event, volunteers will work on re-routing the nature trail to improve wetland connectivity and discourage erosion. These skills are great for anyone interested in a career in natural resources! All tools, gloves, safety equipment, and training for all volunteers will be provided. Free hot drinks, and snacks too! Find more information at ncrlt.org/events.
On Sunday, April 16 from 12-3pm at Caudal Fin Farm/Kokte Nature Preserve in Bayside, TRIB Research is hosting “Gyros in the Yarden,” a fundraiser to support their work doing fisheries genetics research into unique species and life history types found in Northern California and Southern Oregon. Bring your friends and family for cider from Caudal Fin/Kokte apples pressed last fall and beef/vegetarian gyros with fresh cob oven-baked pitas. TRIB will also have hats, stickers and their re-freshed screen-printer with new colors available, so bring an item(s) of clothing to slap the sweet TRIB logo onto. Biking to Gyros in the Yarden is strongly encouraged. Prices are on a sliding scale from $12-20. Find more information at tribresearch.org/events.
On Monday, April 17 from 2-3pm, the CA 30x30 Power in Nature Coalition Far Northern CA Regional Group, of which EPIC is a member, is hosting a Zoom webinar on biodiversity in California and NatureServe’s recent report Biodiversity in Focus: United States Edition, which found that over one-third of biodiversity is at risk of extinction. Joining us as presenters will be Regan Smyth (NatureServe Vice President for Data & Methods), Carie Battistone (CA Natural Biodiversity Network), and Ryan Hill (Research Data Specialist). Please fill out this Google form to ask your questions and/or leave comments for the presenters in advance. Click here to join the Zoom meeting. (Meeting ID: 963 0983 6625 / Passcode: 107420)
From Thursday, April 20 through Saturday, April 22, the Wiyot Tribe’s Dishgamu Community Land Trust, Cal Poly Humboldt and a growing list of partners is hosting the 4th Annual Post-Capitalism Conference: Decolonizing Economics Summit. This 3-day virtual conference serves as a space to exchange experiences and information, strengthen alliances and networks, and to devise strategies to decenter colonial systems and implement concrete solutions to heal the land and people. Click here to register for the virtual conference, and visit decolonizingeconomicssummit.org to find the conference schedule and more information.
On Friday, April 21 from 5-7pm, the Eel River Watershed Improvement Group (ERWIG) is hosting its fourth monthly Science on Tap event at Mad River Brewery in Blue Lake. Hear from Tom Leroy, an engineering geologist and project manager at Pacific Watershed Associates, on how the geology of the Pacific Northwest has influenced salmon evolution and habitat distribution, and enjoy your favorite beverage alongside fusion Mediterranean and Hispanic flavors from Manzanilla Kitchen. Talk begins at 6pm. Find more information at erwig.org/events.
On Saturday, April 22 from 11am-3pm, Zero Waste Humboldt and the North Coast Co-op are hosting a Zero Waste Market in the Arcata Co-op parking lot, featuring a plethora of local small businesses, organizations and vendors that prioritize zero waste and sustainability, food, bike valet and more! We welcome you to bring your clean reusable durables for food and shopping. Find EPIC’s table, come say hello to members of our staff, chat about our work, sign a postcard petition, and browse our merch between 11am and 2pm. Find more information at https://northcoast.coop/co-op_news/zero-waste-market.
On Saturday, April 22 at 12pm, join the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities and the Northcoast Environmental Center at Moon Cycles in Arcata for a basic bike maintenance tutorial followed by a group bike ride to the Mad River Bridge in McKinleyville for bird watching and lunch, and an optional longer ride to Pierson Park in McKinleyville for the Post-Capitalism Conference’s Earth Day Celebration (see below). Find more information at https://www.yournec.org/earth-day-bike-ride-2023/.
On Saturday, April 22 from 3-8pm, the 4th Annual Post-Capitalism Conference: Decolonizing Economics Summit will conclude with a free, in-person community Earth Day Celebration at Pierson Park in McKinleyville with keynote speakers Kamau Franklin and Edget Betru (Stop Cop City from Atlanta) and Kali Akuno (Cooperation Jackson), a raffle from local artisans and organizations, food from Los Giles Taqueria and Frybread Love, music from Good Shield and 7th Generation Rise, tabling, a bouncy house, face painting, jugglers, temporary tattoos, hula hoops, and more!. Find EPIC’s table, come say hello to members of our staff, chat about our work, sign a postcard petition, and browse our merch. Find more information at https://decolonizingeconomicssummit.org/join-our-in-person-closing-ceremony-on-april-22nd/.
Bonus! On Sunday, April 23 from 12-5pm, Cal Poly Humboldt’s Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) is hosting its annual Spring Celebration at the Buch House on the south end of Cal Poly Humboldt campus for music, games, crafts, photo-ops, and workshops including natural dyeing of linens with Emily Read, herbal vinegars and honey demonstration with Susan Marie Herbal, biochar and its benefits with Gray Shaw and Susan Nolan (EPIC’s 2010 Volunteer of the Year), and a look at CCAT’s cob oven in action. Event is free and open to the full community. Find more information at https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq58KIVpaGw/.
Happy Earth Week!
In solidarity,
The EPIC Team
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