50th EARTH DAY TAKES

n Purify it. Several types of water purification systems, including tapmounted, under-sink and pitchers, are effective and affordable, ranging from $20 to $300. Seek filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation testing agency that address contaminants identified by the water test.

Clean Food n Buy organic when possible.“Swapping to mostly organic foods is a good way to reduce your child’s daily toxic burden and reduce their risk of developing gut issues, autoimmune diseases, and food sensitivities and allergies,” says Caitlin Self, a licensed dietitian and functional nutritionist in Baltimore who blogs at FrugalNutrition.com. Using the list of the Dirty Dozen pesticide-laden produce compiled by the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org/foodnews) as well as its recommended Clean 15 makes shopping organic easier.

n Clean produce of pesticides. Simply rinsing produce under cold water for 30 seconds reduces pesticide residues for nine of 12 pesticides, a study by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found. Saltwater or vinegar rinses also remove pesticides effectively, and in a recent Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study, soaking apples in one ounce of baking soda to 100 ounces of water for 15 minutes removed 80 and 96 percent of two pesticides, respectively, even under the skin of the fruit.

n Stock up on healthy snacks.Afterschool munchies are not only natural, but healthy. “Kids’ little tummies tend to need more frequent feedings than fully formed adults to ensure they have stable blood sugar,” says Self. Rather than highly processed crackers, pudding and most granola bars, offer combos like grapes with cheese, celery with peanut butter or hummus on whole-wheat bread. “Some parents will need to rely on some more packaged snacks to get through,” says Self, who recommends trail mix, fresh fruit or crispy chickpeas.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans—10 percent of the nation—took to the streets and campuses to protest environmental degradation so severe that rivers were literally catching on fire. That groundswell was followed by the passage of landmark environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, laws soon adopted by many other countries.

Half a century later, as temperatures approach 70 degrees in Antarctica, catastrophic wildfires race through Australia and species die off around the world, the planet’s status seems anything but golden. On this Earth Day, the climate crisis that precipitated these events and trends take center stage: The goal is to mobilize millions, perhaps billions, of Earth’s human inhabitants to rise up in its defense. 50th EARTH DAY TAKES ON CLIMATE CHANGE Golden Anniversary Marks Call to Action “The urgency has never been greater and the stakes have never been higher,” say the organizers of the Earth Day Network. “We are now in an environmental emergency and a climate breakdown. The world needs you—and your actions—for Earth Day 2020.”

To learn about personal actions, including step-by-step instructions on how to organize an event, consult EarthDay.org. Participants can join in a cleanup of trash from rivers, beaches, streets and forests; host a teach-in; take part in a climate strike or campus rally to show united action; join the world’s largest citizen science initiative to document declining environmental conditions and participate in social media campaigns to raise awareness.

Help North Central Florida celebrate victories and support future progress by participating in these local Earth Day 2020 events shown on the next page.

Climate change is a terrible problem, and it absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority. ~Bill Gates

ALACHUA COUNTY GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP AND VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DAY April 4 | 9am-1pm | Albert “Ray” Massey Park, Gainesville | KACB.org Keep Alachua County Beautiful is a nonprofit working to beautify, conserve resources, recycle, educate and preserve the community’s environmental legacy.

TREE FEST 2020 April 11 | 1-11pm | Swamp Head Brewery, Gainesville | SwampHead.com Swamp Head Brewery has partnered with the Alachua Conservation Trust and Solar Impact to plant longleaf pines trees. Tree Fest will feature food trucks, family-friendly activities and live music; plus, for every beer purchased, five trees will be planted.

DAWN TO DUSK CELEBRATION FOR EARTH DAY April 18 | 7am-8:30pm | Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville | FloridaMuseum.ufl.edu From sun up to sun down, the Florida Museum of Natural History and its partners will shed light on the wonders of life on Earth. The schedule includes an invasive plant walk, a bike tour, and a lichen, fungi walk and lecture, titled Outdoors for All: Discovering the Extraordinary Earth in our Parks and Public Lands, led by author Audrey Peterman from 6-7pm.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AND BUTTERFLY RELEASE April 22 | 2-3:30pm | Alachua County Library – Headquarters, Gainesville | ACLIB.us Visitors to the library’s insect display have recently witnessed tiny caterpillars morphing into fluttering butterflies. On Earth Day, the library will host a free program featuring these whimsical winged creatures with a themed story time, songs, finger plays and crafts.

EARTH DAY FLOWER POTS April 22 | 3:30-4:30pm | Alachua County Library – Hawthorne, Gaines- ville | ACLIB.us This event will encourage participants to learn about sustainable gardening. The district’s Seed Library program blooms at 11 branches and, on Earth Day, the Hawthorne branch will provide seeds free of charge while supplies last. Plus, participants are welcome to paint a small clay flowerpot.

MAKE A TERRARIUM FOR EARTH DAY April 22 | 3:45-4:45pm | Alachua County Library – Library Partnership, Gainesville | ACLIB.us Hosted in partnership with the Alachua C ounty Environmental Protection Department, the library will host a free session intended to teach families how to protect water resources. The interactive program will spotlight water conservation, pollution prevention, wildlife-friendly landscaping and present a hands-on craft opportunity to recycle soda bottles into useful terrariums.

CITRUS COUNTY EARTH DAY CELEBRATION April 18 | 10am-2pm | Citrus County Library – Lakes Region, Inverness | CitrusLibraries.org Expect Earth exploration aplenty with a lineup featuring various speakers, including photographer Gary Kuhl discussing nature imagery; exhibit booths, such as the Native Plant Society, Forestry Department and Keep Citrus County Beautiful; and a tree giveaway courtesy of Master Gardeners. Staff will also facilitate story times and crafts for little learners.

DRYING UP: THE FRESH WATER CRISIS IN FLORIDA April 21 | 10am at Citrus County Library – Homosassa, Homosassa & 1:30pm at Citrus County Library – Central Ridge, Beverly Hills | CitrusLibraries.org John Dunn, author of the 2019 book titled Drying Up, will share his findings stemming from extensive research about the usage of Florida’s waterways. In his book, he examines why a water crisis exists and what modifications can be made. During this discussion, participants will learn how to protect and restore natural hydrology in the Sunshine State.

EARTH DAY RECYCLED CRAFTS April 22 | 1pm at Citrus County Library – Coastal Region, Crystal River & 2pm at Citrus County Library – Floral City, Floral City | CitrusLibraries.org Mother Earth will inspire artists of all abilities to create fresh works of art using recycled materials. The first session, at Coastal Region, is intended for children; whereas the second session, at Floral City, is intended for adults.

MARION ARTISTS FOR THE EARTH: CELEBRATING EARTH DAY’S 50 TH ANNIVERSARY April 22 | 4-8pm | Prana Rx Tea House & Gallery, Ocala | CeCoalition.org/a4earth Climate Emergency Coalition (CEC), has aligned with three galleries -- Black C Art Gallery in Gainesville, Blank SL8 Gallery in Gainesville and Prana Rx Tea House & Gallery in Ocala -- to illustrate the urgency for change through art exhibits and gallery talks. Featuring paintings, sketches and photographs, the Artists for the Earth series debuted in February and includes works by Florida artists Bridget Cohen, Kuno [James Martin], Mike Donovan and others. Following multiple showcases, the series will conclude with an Earth Day celebration at Prana Rx; donations are recommended.

SUMTER COUNTY WILDWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP DAY April 28 | 8:30am-1pm | Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Wildwood | Wildwood-fl.gov “This is going to be a community-building event to bring the folks in the neighborhood together to clean up the right-of-ways and sidewalks,” says Tara Tradd, code enforcement officer for City of Wildwood. She says 50 to 100 volunteers would be ideal for this inaugural litter pick-up. A celebratory luncheon will follow the cleanup. Unlike other Earth Day events being held during the week, this family-friendly gathering is convenient for students seeking community service hours.

ALL COUNTIES EARTH DAY 24,901 RUN/WALK CHALLENGE April1-30 | TheVirtualRunChallenge.com Those mindful of their carbon footprint are invited to put their best foot forward by participating in the Earth Day Virtual Challenge. The goal of this DIY race is for participants to collectively achieve 24,901 miles ─ which equates to the distance of the equator. A portion of each paid registration benefits the National Park Foundation’s Park Restoration Fund. Standard registration is $29; premium, which includes wildflower seeds, stainless steel straws and more swag, is $55.