One of our favorite holidays is almost here! Mark your calendars for Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. For more than 50 years, Earth Day has been focused on all things — you guessed it — earth, with events and programs designed to bring attention to the many ways we can better care for our planet.
This year, there are many ways to celebrate Earth Day in Northern Colorado, including both virtual events and in-person celebrations. Plus, there are a handful of ways you can begin to implement eco-friendly practices into your everyday life, from biking to work to reducing waste at home. In an eco-conscious state like Colorado, the possibilities for sustainable practices are endless!
Happy Earth Day!
Attend the Virtual Earth Day Fort Collins
April 22–24, 2021
The Sustainable Living Association will host their 11th annual Earth Day Fort Collins event virtually from Thursday, April 22 through Saturday, April 24. This three-day event will feature a wide range of virtual happenings, from educational videos and speakers to workshops, activities, live-streamed music, and community stories. This year, Earth Day Fort Collins focuses on “Our Climate Future,” which is split into three environmental plans: The Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and the Road to Zero Waste Plan. Head to the Sustainable Living Association’s social media pages to follow along on April 22–24.
Tune Into the Earth Day Action Live at Lunch Series
Throughout the month of April, the City of Fort Collins has been hosting a series of Earth Day Action “Live at Lunch” events with Fort Collins Audubon. On April 16, tune into the 10-15 minute program discussing Important Bird Areas and on April 30, learn how to keep our fabulous felines and feathered friends safe and healthy.
Go to the Earth Day Celebration at Farm 49
April 22, 2021
Head to Farm 49 in Longmont for a special Earth Day Celebration on April 22! Festivities include guided meditation, a blessing of the plants ceremony and more. Plus, there will be fashion show that will symbolize our interconnectedness with the earth and the importance of the fight against plastic, featuring sustainable and secondhand fashion. Please wear a mask and bring your own chairs, but food and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided!
Participate in the Perennial Plant Swap Table at the Food Co-Op
Buying pantry items in bulk at Mountain Avenue Market is one of the best ways to reduce waste and plastic use at home. And all month long, they’re hosting a Perennial Plant Swap on a table in front of the store! You don’t have to bring plants to the plant swap table in order to take a couple of plants; everyone is welcome to a few new plant friends, as long as you don’t take too many! Some days, there will be plenty of plants and some days there won’t be any. This is a fun opportunity to gain a few new perennial plants — or share some with the community if you have some extras to spare!
Make Changes to Reduce Waste in Your Home
Use this Earth Day as an opportunity to switch to some eco-friendly solutions at home. The eco-conscious city of Fort Collins has created several initiatives to make reducing waste, including food waste, plastic waste and other forms of waste, easier than ever before. From composting and recycling at home to shopping sustainably and supporting eco-friendly nonprofits in town, here are a few practical ways to reduce waste in Fort Collins. Over time, following these small steps can make your footprint on our planet a little smaller! And if you’re looking to make your cleaning routine a bit greener, check out these eco-friendly cleaning products in Colorado.
Support a Local Environmental Organization
With initiatives geared toward reducing plastic use and efforts to fight air pollution, bettering the environment can feel like an overwhelming task too big to take on. Thankfully, there are dozens of environmental organizations in our midst, each doing their part to make our planet a better place for both its human and wildlife inhabitants. Check out this list of environmental organizations operating in Colorado and choose one to support! You can make a one-time or recurring donation to help support the work they’re doing.
Get Out in Nature
One of the best ways to celebrate and honor Mother Earth is to simply spend time with her. Spend Earth Day or the following weekend out in nature — on the hiking or biking trail, on a lake or river, or in the mountains. We live in a particularly scenic and diverse region of the earth, filled with towering mountain peaks and low, serene valleys. There are so many opportunities for outdoor recreation in Northern Colorado, from rock climbing to hiking and swimming to kayaking. And if you’re looking for a day of non-stop adventure and natural beauty, just head to Rocky Mountain National Park — here’s everything you can do while you’re there!
Attend the Earth Day 2021 Virtual Stage + Virtual Festival
April 18–19, 2021
Earth Day Initiative is a New York City-based organization hosting a two-day virtual event to celebrate Earth Day 2021! On April 18, the Virtual Live Stage will feature prominent climate activists, scientists, celebrities, community leaders, performers and public officials in an interactive line-up of panels and discussions. And on April 19, the Virtual Festival will allow you to travel throughout a virtual reality space with your own avatar and visit with other exhibitors and attendees via live Zoom windows. Click here to RSVP and receive more information leading up to the event!
Join a Community Garden or CSA Program
Try your hand at cultivating a garden, either at home in your own backyard or at a community garden amongst other gardeners. Plus, you can reap the benefits of someone else’s labor by purchasing shares as part of a CSA program, which offers a weekly or biweekly supply of fresh, locally grown produce. There are a handful of community gardens and CSA programs in Fort Collins you can join!
Bike to Work
Whether it’s a few times a month or every single day, biking to and from work is a small but effective way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on the road. And here in Northern Colorado, we are quite passionate about biking. After all, Fort Collins is among the top of the list of bike-friendly cities scored by PeopleForBikes! Cruise through these bike-friendly neighborhoods in town or travel off the beaten path on these bike trails throughout Northern Colorado, which includes the renowned Poudre River Trail.
Happy Earth Day!
How do you plan to celebrate this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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