digital earth week celebration
April 19 - 25
Did you miss the "Earth Day 2020 - Protecting Our Waterways" webinar? Click here to view it.
Please follow local shelter-at-home guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Learn more at http://solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus.asp
sunday, april 19
City Nature Challenge
The City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s City Nature Challenge is embracing the collaborative aspect and healing power of nature to allow people to document their local biodiversity in whatever way they can at their home.
monday, april 20
Some of the ways people are coping with COVID-19 is clogging toilets, littering parking lots, and threatening water sources and infrastructure.
The only things that should be flushed down the toilet are what you use the toilet for, plus toilet paper. Disposable gloves and masks are a health and environmental hazard and must go into the trash.
tuesday, april 21
Earth Day Challenge
Everyone and anyone can help document the environmental conditions of their community to identify opportunities to make our cities healthier for people and all living things. All you need is a mobile device to get started. Simply download the Earth Challenge 2020 mobile application from the Android or Apple app stores.
Start collecting data on air quality and plastics pollution, and submit!
Also, discover your own carbon footprint with the Environmental Protection Agency's Carbon Footprint Calculator.
Nature's Notebook
Nature's Notebook is an engaging way to go outside and observe nature in your yard and provide valuable scientific information about plant and animal phenology.
Phenology is the study of how plants and animals change throughout the seasons. Scientists called phenologists use the data from Nature's Notebook to understand how climate change is affecting the seasonality of plants and animals.
wednesday, april 22
April 22 is officially the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!
Join us for an online interview (webinar) with California Coastal Commission's Eben Schwartz, where he will talk about the importance of trash data, the impacts of plastic pollution, and what we can do to help our planet today - and every day.
Solano Land Trust Film Fest and Panel Discussion
This Earth Day will be like no other as we celebrate from the confines of our homes. But that doesn’t mean we can’t come together in our common cause of protecting this fragile, beautiful planet.
To celebrate, Solano Land Trust encourages you to join them for a virtual film festival (seen at your leisure), and join in on a panel discussion.
Panelists include executive director Nicole Braddock, filmmaker Steve Dunsky, and executive director of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Buddy Huffaker.
thursday, april 23
Do you want to lower your energy, water, and waste management bills and help the environment at the same time?
Well, there are many simple changes you can make to save money and the planet at the same time!
Discover where you can cut back by trying out our educational Water Audit, Energy Audit, or Waste Audit. Do one, two, or all three to find out how to really make a difference!
friday, april 24
The internet is chock full of ideas for upcycling, eco-friendly gardening, repurposing, and do-it-yourselfing. Check out some of our favorite DIY ways to help the planet (more coming soon!):
saturday, april 25
It's during times like these that we see the importance of taking care of each other and our planet. Whether it's supporting a local business, getting takeout from nearby restaurants, looking at NextDoor apps or social media to see if anyone needs help, or simply saying "Hello" - together we can make positive changes to benefit the future of our world.
How You Can Support Your Community
Only if it's safe to do so, please consider the following options.
- Meals on Wheels Solano County. Opportunities to deliver meals to seniors. Contact: tbellamy@mowsc.org
- The Vacaville Boys and Girls Club desire volunteers who can help with tree removal, light carpentry, and light repair work. Please contact CEO Anna Eaton at aeaton@vnbgc.com
- Volunteer center for Solano County is matching volunteers with COVID related volunteer needs. https://solano.cvnl.org
- Many cities have set up senior hotlines to connect seniors to volunteers who can help. Here are a few contacts:
- Suisun City: 707.438.1714 or email seniors@suisun.com
- Vacaville: 707.449.5100 (press 0) or email seniorhelp@cityofvacaville.com
- Fairfield: 707.428.7740
A special thanks to Nicole Braddock of Solano Land Trust for compiling and sharing this list.
earth day: then and now
Earth Day began 50 years ago on April 22, 1970 when 20 million people in the U.S. took to the streets to demand greater environmental protections. The Earth Day movement resulted in the Clear Air Act and Clean Water Act, both of which were signed into law by President Richard Nixon.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world in so many ways. Pollution and greenhouse gases have lowered across the planet as more people travel less. We are seemingly more aware of food waste and exercising outdoors or enjoying nature more often. Some of us are up-cycling old shirts and washcloths as substitutes for paper towels, re-purposing recyclables to keep kids entertained, or creating our own cleaning products. Most importantly, we seem to be helping each other a lot more... even when we're staying six feet apart.
Will the positive changes resulting from this unfortunate pandemic continue? We're not sure, but humanity has shown time and time again that we certainly know how to make the goodness happen.
#keepsolanoclean
