Happy Earth Day!

Hope everyone is having a beautiful Earth Week and has something enviro-friendly planned for the weekend to celebrate Earth Day. In case not, here are some local happenings:

The Science Center's Earth Day celebration on Saturday: There will be container-garden making with Baltimore Contained, herb cooking with Carrie Murray Nature Center, experiments with the American Chemical Society and plenty more eco-awesomeness with local green groups.More info can be found on the Science Center's site here: http://mdsci.org/events-calendar/events/EarthDay.html

Severna Park Earth Day on Saturday: http://severnapark.patch.com/articles/9th-annual-earth-day-expo-at-spms#pdf-9379365 Where the Eco-Goats will be!

Localize It: Baltimore Free Farm Block Party on Sunday: The second annual block party celebrating the value of local artists, musicians, food and social movements at its flagship project, the Ash Street Garden in Hampden. The event will include local craft and food vendors, street performers, live music and family activities. The block party's special attraction is ChiliBrew V, a home-brew competition and chili cook-off organized by BaltiBrew. More info can be found on their website http://www.baltimorefreefarm.org/2012/03/11/localize-it-ii/

If you aren't local, check out the Earth Day Network for information about events near you!

Oysterstock 2012

Another Amazing Earth Day Video

Earth Day Giggles

Hopefully this isn't too racey for the blog... It is just so darn funny I couldn't help but post. Let's try and keep any comments G-rated though, folks. "My love is like global warming - you can't deny it. Girl you know ah ah ah..."

My Earth Day Pledge: To Be Turquoise

Thanks to a fantastic article by John Tierney: For Earth Day, 7 New Rules to Live By we here at JustSaying would like to officially adopt and strive to fulfill the title of "Turqs" which is a term derived from the color turquoise and coined by Stewart Brand to describe and inspire a new breed of environmentalists that combine "traditional green with a shade of blue, as in blue-sky open-minded thinking." Think of a Turq as an environmentalist guided by science instead of nostalgia or (gasp) technophobia.

If you are able to take a few moments to read Tierney's new-age-enviro-article, you will recognize some ideas, like supporting nuclear power and being realistic about "organic" foods, and likely learn something new. Here are the seven rules discussed:

1. It’s the climate, stupid.
2. You can never not do just one thing.
3. “Let them eat organic” is not a global option.
4. Frankenfood, like Frankenstein, is fiction.
5. “Green” energy hasn’t done much for greenery — or anything else.
6. “New Nukes” is the new “No Nukes.”
7. We are as gods and have to get good at it.

Tee hee

40 for 40 Earth Days

Baltimoresun.com put together a great interactive of 40 tips gathered from local environmental organizations in honor of the 40th annual Earth Day coming up on Thursday. Find it here. Tips touch upon the food you eat, the home/lawn you keep, the products you purchase and the energy you consume.

Get ready for Earth Day!

I know what you're all thinking: "What can I do this Earth Day to reduce my carbon footprint?" Well, you've come to the right place. JustSaying likes to use these days/weeks of Earth Awareness to highlight the simple daily decisions you can all make that will have the greatest impact on the planet. We've sorted through the Official 2010 Earth Day Action Campaign and would like to suggest that our readers adhere to a few of the following pledges submitted by greenies like us:

• I will abstain from meat at least one day a week to curb carbon emissions from the livestock industry.
• I will use a reusable water bottle and coffee mug.
• I will buy local produce whenever possible.
• If I see a piece of litter I will pick it up.
• I will pay my bills online and take the time to make a phone call and stop paper statements.
• I will call my utility provider and make sure I am using the greenest energy option available.
• I will take shorter showers.
• I will turn off the tap when brushing my teeth.
• I will turn off lights, computers and other electronics when not in use.
• I will unplug my cell phone charger, microwave, etc when not in use.
• I will opt for environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• I will use public transport more often.
• I will use fewer paper towels.
• I will recycle more.

Thinking of a pledge that we haven't listed? Be sure and add it to our comment section and post it on the Earth Day Action Center's website - where you can browse and sign tons of great pledges and green ideas.

If you're looking for an activity to celebrate, might we recommend helping out our friends over at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation this Sunday April 25th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help plant over 1,000 native trees and shrubs at the Foundation’s Holly Beach Farm located near the Bay Bridge in Annapolis. The vegetation planted will filter pollution and sediment coming from adjacent farm fields. This activity is suitable for adults, families, youth and community groups. Please bring shovels, work gloves, insect repellent, a water bottle/lunch and a smile. Registration is required though so sign up by sending your complete contact information to Marcy Damon at MDRestoration@cbf.org