Earth Day is On Its Way

Every day is Earth Day if you think about it: we breathe the air, eat the bounty, drink the water, are warmed by the sun.

Fortunately in Sonoma County there's really not much controversy over this world holiday (unofficially on April 22, as it has been since 1970), but a range of local events that celebrate it on both Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd.

In Healdsburg, the is the sponsor of its 10th annual Earth Day Festival, to be held on Saturday, Apr. 21, in the Plaza from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

There will be more than 30 booths including environmental and social justice organizations. There will be food for sale and a raffle.

There will be Mother Earth/Father Sun’s Children’s Garden complete with free face painting and visits from Yo Yo Man (bring your yo yo). There will also be an art show with student art available for purchase. It's free.

A number of notable speakers will also be on hand to focus on issues specific to the environment, including , the investigative journalists of SSU's Project Censored, Amy Jolly of the Climate Protection Campaign, and others.

Don't forget the entertainment: the weather report calls for warm and sunny, so there'll be dancers, a drum group, bagpipes and doubtless a guitar or two. More details are .

In Sonoma, they're taking a practical approach to Earth Day as the Sonoma Ecology Center greens up with a community clean-up -- cleaning the Sonoma Creek watershed at Maxell Farms Regional Park, followed by a potluck lunch.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves and layered, comfortable clothing. It starts at 9 a.m., the potluck lunch (bring your own utensils and food to share) is at noon. Details on .

Out in Jenner, at the end of the Russian River, you're invited to celebrate Earth Day with activities, music, entertainment, and a barbecue, all day from 9 - 5.  

They'll have a historic Russian Longboat, guided hikes, an electric car show, a kayak race and more. While there is no admission, there are activity fees, according to this page.

'Way up in Mendocino County that same day, Hopland has its own Earth Day Fest at the Solar Living Center, first right on the way into town.

They promise wine and food tasting filled with local earthly delights. Vendor booths and presentation areas are being set up as well, to showcase the sustainable lifestyle that SLI is known for from 11 - 6. This event is featured on their website.

Sunday's celebrations include Santa Rosa's Third Annual Earth Day Fair in Courthouse Square from noon to 4 p.m. 

They'll have food, music, local vendors, eco-friendly crafts and activities for kids, plus Santa Rosa’s Clean Energy Advocate and solar vendors will be present to answer energy- and solar-related questions and fun interactive solar games will be held throughout the event.

In addition, they will offer free safe disposal for unwanted medications and recycling for old appliances and E-waste. It's free, as so many Earth Day events are. For more information visit  www.srcity.org/earthday