Action Planet
It’s easy to be green this spring. From planting trees to catching an eco-themed juggling act, here are fun (and free) ways to celebrate Earth Day and help the planet throughout the month of April.
Great Sacramento Clean-Up
April 22 Leave the picnic basket at home and grab your work gloves when you head out for a different kind of weekend walk at the city’s third annual Great Sacramento Clean-Up, which invites you down to the riverfront or out to a local park on Earth Day to beautify our town while rubbing elbows with your fellow eco-urbanites. Last April saw hundreds of residents picking up litter and cleaning out our waterways in eight locations like the Sacramento River Parkway and Matsui Park. This year, Matsui Park is joined by Del Paso and Granite Regional Parks, San Juan Reservoir, William Chorley Park and North Laguna Trail at Jacinto Creek Park, as well as beautification projects at Robla Community Park and William Land Regional Park. To get to your destination in eco-style, hop on light rail or the bus—Sacramento Regional Transit will be offering free rides all day. Times and locations vary. cityofsacramento.gov
Volunteers picking up trash along the Sacramento River levee near Matsui Park during last year’s Great Sacramento Clean-Up, co-hosted by the Sacramento Tree Foundation (Courtesy of the City of Sacramento)
Nevada City Earth Fest
April 23 Nevada City has been eco-friendly since the first pair of Earth shoes stepped into town looking for a nice place to build a yurt, so it’s only fitting this picture-perfect Sierra foothills town would launch an Earth Day groove-fest for the ages. After a smaller test run last year, Broad Street will be taken over by up to 100 booths manned by innovative outdoor outfitters, builders demoing methods for going off-grid, and purveyors of sustainable goods like Sacramento’s Nudge Eco Store. Meanwhile, Grass Valley’s Hachidori will serve up organic Japanese dishes, which you can eat while catching an eco-themed juggling act. The event promises to be zero waste, so if you’re left holding a popsicle stick, you can make your way to the Organilock Bioburner, which will compost it and other trash on-site. 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. nevadacitychamber.com/earthfest
Sacramento Earth Day
April 23 We’re early adopters here in the capital city of the greenest state in the nation, having held big Earth Day bashes since the beginning. The theme for this year’s celebration—which will be hosted by the Environmental Council of Sacramento and take place at Southside Park—is “Grow Native.” Experts will be on hand to help green up thumbs and provide the know-how to transform your so-last-decade backyard into a drought-friendly zeroscape flourishing with local flora. Look for annual favorites among the 100 exhibitors at the event, including live demonstrations from NorCal Bats and plant-based Mexican eats from Yolanda’s Tamales. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. ecosacramento.net/sacearthday
