Happy Earth Day 2024

Earth Day is Monday April 22, 2024. With this day fast approaching I couldn’t help but ask the Google machine exactly what is Earth Day?  As I figured there were 1000’s of websites full of facts, opinions, and tons of groups asking for donations to help their causes.  So, I figured I’d sort through all the online noise and share a quick overview.  In January of 1969 there was a large oil spill approximately six miles off the coast of California.  Over a 10 day period it was estimated that over 80,000 barrels of oil had seeped into the water covering the channel and beaches in Santa Barbara.  Watching this disaster occur Senator Nelson (Democrat) of Wisconsin who was already concerned about America's industrial  impact on our environment decided it was time to champion for clean air and water.  He recruited another senator Pete McCloskey (Republican) to assist him in creating a movement that would educate and inspire change.  With the help of an activist named Denis Hayes, the group started their campaign for a cleaner, healthier environment on college campuses across the nation.  The group chose April 22 very specifically because they knew that this date fell between spring break and final exams allowing them to maximize participation.  Seeing success on campuses, Hayes jumped on the opportunity to spread this message to more than just college students.  He created a nation wide organization and in 1970 coined the term "Earth Day".  The media coverage spread like wildfire and people across the country took to the streets to protest the impacts on human health from industrial pollution.  Fast Forward 50 plus years and we can all look back on history and see where we have done things right and wrong when it comes to our environment.   Right here in our own Adirondack backyard we are finally seeing our ponds recover from the acid rain that came down upon them in the 1970's-1980's. 

Today unfortunately much of the environmental conversation has become political.  Too much finger pointing from one political party to the other has created a lack of trust in any scientific information that is shared with the public.  It’s made it next to impossible to find the real answers to any environmental issues we currently have today. Just saying the words fossil fuels, electricity, alternative energy, climate change, solar panels, wind turbines, coal or dams can be enough to end a 30 year friendship these days.  So instead of creating conflict and hate amongst our fellow man I am going to ask you to do one thing on this Earth day: Take a walk.

Yes,  I want you to go for a walk.  Not just any walk but a walk with intent, alone and, if possible, near a natural body of water.  But before you leave the house make sure you strap on your natural resource consuming, fossil fuel delivery burning walking shoes.  Hop in your “whatever” energy wasting vehicle, drive to a local park, trail or path.  Once you are there take one last look at that earth mining, precious metal consuming phone of yours and leave it in the car.  Now take a quick look at that path or trail.  Realize that it only exists because humans decided it needed to be there.  There was a large amount of fossil fuels and metal ore used to make sure that it was created and maintained for human pleasure.  As you begin, I ask that you listen.  Not to music or your favorite podcast but to the natural sounds around you.  You may not notice them at first but your brain will slowly start to key in on them.  Listen to the breeze gently float through the trees.  Watch their limbs as they dance a gentle ballet. 

Listen to the earth as the sound of your footsteps crush down on leaves and sticks.  As your senses heighten to the world around you, you may notice the honking of a Canada goose off in the distance.  With every step, your brain allows the thoughts of the last Facebook post that angered you to slip away and allows you to focus on the natural world that now surrounds you.  You will start to notice the squirrels chattering and the woodpecker pecking away on the hunt for bugs.  You may not see them but you will know they are there.  Once you are away from manmade structures stop and take a break.  Sit on a rock, log or right on the ground.  Take a look around.  Slowly focus on the ground around you.  Look at the dirt and wild grasses.  You will quickly realize you are not alone.  Micro organisms not visible to the human eye are slowly breaking down dead plant matter. 

These organisms are very slowly producing new dirt that will give the nutrients to the plants that are growing around them. Look at the bugs creeping and crawling around you.  They, just like humans, must utilize what this planet has provided us to survive.  Take a look at a tree near you. Yes you will see its bark, but take a closer look at it.  Notice how its color and textures blend into the environment. 

Ponder how we humans are constantly using these colors and textures within our own homes.  Look at its limbs and notice the new growth. See the small buds that are slowly unfolding as the earth warms them.  Know that those buds will soon be producing the oxygen that humans and almost all other animals need to survive. There is a good chance that that tree has been on earth longer than you have been alive. 

Every year that tree slowly grows.  If it has grown long enough, it is now keeping your walking path cool by shading it from the sun.  Allowing the dirt below your feet to stay moist longer and giving the new plant life around you the water it needs to grow.  As you continue your walk, notice how you are becoming part of the natural landscape.  You are no longer just in nature, but part of it.  You might start to see small birds flying from tree to tree.  The squirrels you were hearing all of the sudden seem easier to see as you walk amongst them.  Your eyes will start to pick up on smaller  movements that you hadn't noticed before.  It could be bees buzzing along from plant to plant, or a small snake slipping through the grass looking for a place to warm itself. 

If you are fortunate enough to be near the water stop for a few minutes and admire it.  First listen to it gently lap against the shore.  Watch as the ripples roll over rocks along the bank.  Touch it.  Feel how cold it still is.  Not too long ago it had been frozen by the winter harshness.  You again may not see it but plant life in the water's depth is starting to grow.  Many of the bugs we see flying around are latched on tight to the underside of rocks down below.  Once hatched, these bugs will become a food source for the fish in the water and the birds that fly above it.  These fish will grow and become a food source for other animals such as bears, birds and humans.  As you wander your way back to your car, take a deep breath.  Notice how the air smells and feels different as it enters your nose and lungs.  This air isn’t the same old air that has been cycling though your home that has been closed up all winter long.  No, this air is fresh and feels new.  It has an invigorating energy attached to it that leaves us wanting to take in more.  Back at your car, notice how you feel.  Do you feel refreshed? Calm? Maybe even small?  That feeling right there can’t come from some man made object. No, it can only come from the natural beauty of our Mother Earth. 

Take a quick look around you and you will realize that everything you see and touch has come from planet earth.  From your phone, toilet, refrigerator, car, to the food you eat all has its origins from earth.  We often take that for granted.  We just think that it will always be there for us when we need it.  And, there is a good chance that in our lifetime it probably will be.  But that ideology allows us to be complacent and destructive to the planet that gives us EVERYTHING that we need to survive.  We also forget that this planet supplies all its creatures from the microorganisms to the blue whale everything they need.  Humans tend to feel that it is all ours for the taking.  Forgetting about all the plants and animals that also inhabit it.  On this Earth Day take some time to get outside and enjoy what this planet has to offer us.  Celebrate it.  Then take a moment to think about how you can treat it better.  I’m not talking about buying some new vehicle or some new way to heat your house.  I know that we can point fingers at other countries and say “What's the point?”  They are doing worse things than we are to the planet. There are simple things that we can do to help keep this planet healthier and cleaner. Consider walking to work occasionally instead of driving.  Create a habitat on your own little piece of property that can benefit the animals.  Plant a tree that can produce some shade, habitat, and oxygen.  Consider using more reusable items in your life instead of throw away items.  If you feel like it, make a donation to a conservation group that you feel is doing good things for our planet.   I personally feel that wildlife habitat conservation is important. 

That’s why I donate to the Native Fish Coalition, Ruffed grouse society, and Trout unlimited.  I feel that if we can preserve and protect wildlife habitat we are creating a better environment for all of us to live in.  A lot of these species are indicator species that can tell us how healthy our planet is just by how well they are thriving.  Please do your part to make Mother Earth a little better every day.  After all, we are the guardians of this planet that we rely on for everything.  

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures

“Make Life an Adventure”