Earth Day 2011: Events and Activities

Tomorrow is Earth Day, but many schools, businesses and families have been commemorating the holiday of awareness all week. We’ve highlighted a few events happening around the Bay Area this weekend, as well as things you can do on your own, to help celebrate Mother Nature and hopefully make our planet a little better while doing it.

• Earth Day SF

Civic Center Plaza will be the site of a free day-long celebration of healthy lifestyles, green living and wellness within and without. From 10am to 6pm, visitors can check out exhibits on everything from alternative energy solutions to organic beer and wine. Check out demonstrations from raw food chefs while listening to musical performers like Sun Ra.

• Earth Stroll 2011

This San Francisco celebration will take place at the Presidio’s Crissy Field, where the whole family can enjoy live entertainment, hikes led by park rangers and informative lectures and demonstrations on how to live healthier and respect the planet. A $5 donation is suggested.

• Attend a free class on gardening or composting.

Adults can check out one of two free environmentally-themed classes next week at local libraries. Learn how to start your own backyard composting system at the Foster City library’s 7pm class Monday night, or discover which native plants will work best in your garden at a 7pm class at the San Carlos library next Thursday night.

• Stock up on canvas grocery bags.

Help cut back on daily waste by buying reusable cloth bags for all your shopping trips and actually using them. Fold one or two up and keep them in your car so you’re not caught without one on your next trip to Safeway.

• Have a family planting day.

We all have different spaces to work with at home; some have yards with gardens, while others have apartments with limited to no outdoor space. Earth Day weekend is the perfect time to make the most of whatever space you have and start your own sustainable ecosystem, whether it’s planting a new lemon tree, digging trenches to grow tomato plants or starting a window planter with the fixings for a new herb garden. Get the whole family involved to give the kids an early lesson in healthy eating and living.