Earth Day Every Day: Planting the Seed of Conservation

Posted in Programs and Events on April 22 2014, by Matt Newman

While it’s clear that every day is Earth Day at The New York Botanical Garden (look around!), we think of April 22 as another opportunity to break out our megaphone and remind the world that conservation and environmentalism are some of the most important concerns facing humanity today. But those are big, scary words to some people, and everyone could use some hints as to how they can best serve and better this planet we’ve been riding around on. That’s why, each year, we take part in hands-on activities that make it easy to learn greener, more sustainable means of supporting both yourself and our big blue-green orb.

If you’re out and about in the city today and feeling peckish, stop by one of Mario Batali’s gourmet restaurants for lunch or dinner and don’t forget to snag one of our seed packets on your way out. As always, our close pal Mario is dedicated to fresh, seasonal ingredients, and he’s paired up with us this year to provide these packets as part of our combined Edible Academy efforts. Each packet contains a healthy handful of Insalata Mista lettuce seeds ready to be sown at home, soon to save you a trip to the supermarket and provide healthy, delicious options for cooking at home. And if you can’t make it out to eat, we’ve also got a booth in Union Square for today only, giving out seed packets to anyone who’d like one!

Elsewhere in the city, keep your eyes peeled for Sprinkles Cupcakes. Our favorite buddies in the baked treats business are once again promoting charity on this special holiday by offering a portion of the proceeds from their Earth Day cupcakes to the NYBG’s Edible Academy and other worthy, environmentally-conscious organizations. How often do you get that kind of altruistic joy from something as delicious as a cupcake?

Here on Garden grounds we’re making the effort, too, with a day of afternoon Compost Q&As, tree and Forest tours, hands-on wiggly worm fun in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, and more. You can check out the full list here! Stop by if you’re in our neck of the woods and join us for some earthy appreciation—the weather’s pristine and it couldn’t be a better afternoon for being outdoors.