MOON TOWNSHIP EARTH DAY

4/21/20

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th opportunity to celebrate Earth Day. Our annual Robin Hill Earth Day celebration is postponed until August 26, however we all still have an opportunity to celebrate our Earth. This year’s theme is “Peace, Love, and Pine Trees”.

Since 1970, Earth Day has reached millions of people around the world symbolizing the benefits of environmental stewardship. Senator Gaylord Wilson founded the first Earth Day to focus the attention of Congress to the environmental dangers threatening the nation. On April 22, 1970 over 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. By the end of that year, the first Earth Day had led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Twenty years later Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. In 1995, Senator Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians in the United States.

Earth Day at Robin Hill provides an opportunity to learn what we can do to keep our environment, and ourselves, healthy. Mrs. Beryl “Randy” Johnson, a long-time Moon Township resident and educator, envisioned the first Earth Day at Robin Hill as an annual community celebration of biodiversity and environments.

To recognize this very special 50th anniversary of Earth Day, here are 50 Ways to celebrate Earth Day while practicing social distancing. Please share with family and friends and let us know how you are celebrating!

50 things you can do to celebrate Earth Day

1. Plant a tree. Trees provide shade and help to absorb water that would otherwise runoff into storm drains.
2. Start PLOGGING – That’s picking up litter while out for a jog!
3. GET OUT – Literally get outdoors. Explore our parks!
4. Grow a victory garden- see gardening for beginners…
5. Take a walk – All who wander are not lost!
6. Hike a trail- The trails in Moon’s parks are open! Look for a new Lunar Trail in Moon Park early this summer – over 3 miles long with new benches and maps.
7. Hop on a bike – The Montour Trail awaits!
8. Go for a litter clean up. Don’t forget your gloves!
9. Pick up your pet waste- add it to your compost pile!
10. Chose re-usable – decrease dependence on single-use plastics.
11. Donate old clothing and household items
12. Buy local – visit our area farm markets
13. Shop vintage and used clothing – In Moon try Consignment Cottage located on Moon Clinton Rd.
14. Drink tap water – support our local Moon Twp. Municipal Authority – see facts on our clean and affordable water here in Moon. MTMA.org
15. Use earth-friendly cleaning products – make your own! You’ll be surprised by how much you can accomplish with white vinegar, Listerine, or baking soda.
16. Learn about pollinators “Let it BEE”
17. Chose organic whenever possible
18. Support our Farmers Market Vendors
19. Compost your leftover food scraps.
20. Learn your land – go to learn your land for interesting and exciting videos from Adam Haritan, adam@learnyoourland.com
21. Switch to E-books – ditch the paper books for an eco-friendly alternative
22. Let in the fresh air – Open your windows to cool off instead of turning on the AC
23. Recycle old computers, laptops, TV’s, and more at Moon Twp. Electronic recycling events – the next one is June 6.
24. Go meatless from time to time!
25. Opt out of phone books and junk mail and switch to paperless billing
26 Participate in local government environmental organizations
27. Join a land trust such as Hollow Oak land trust- hollowoak.org
29. Join a trail organization – support the Montour Trail Council, montourtrail.org
28. Read a book about Earth Day
29. Visit Rachel Carson Heritage site or read her momentous book. “Silent Spring”., rachelcarsentrails.org
30. Turn off the lights – Tell spooky stories!
31. Take shorter showers- Reduce the water usage by opting for a 5-min shower
32. Make a bird feeder out of re-usable containers for your back yard, www.countryliving.com
33. Turn down your water heater- save energy!
34. Enter the earth day t-shirt contest- visit www.countryliving.com
35. Try one of these Earth Day activities from National Geographic
36. Visit Nasa for Earth Day
37. Only run your dishwasher or washer when they are full
38. Print double-sided to save paper – consider if you need to print – try scanning to files!
39. Make eco-friendly bugspray or mosquito repellent candles, thecountrychic.com<
40. Stop using lawn fertilizers- or try an organic product
41. Reduce mowing your lawn from weekly to bi-weekly
42. Switch to LED lighting
43. Plant a rain garden, www.familyhandyman.com or gardeners.com
44. Workout outdoors- Try a walk, yoga, Pilates, or create your own workout
45. Climb a tree
46. Have a nature scavenger hunt
47. For the birds -learn about birding pa.audubon.org
48. Go bug hunting – Good and bad bugs – help to locate and rid area of spotted lanternfly dcnr.com
49. Study the night sky, www.space.com “Best Star-watching events of 2020”
50. VOLUNTEER – as soon as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted – Show your community spirit – moonparks.org