Earth Day

Video inspiration for the celebration of Earth Day: Carl Sagan reading from "Pale Blue Dot"  and P.K.Page reading the poem "Planet Earth".

More than 60 years ago,  Aldo Leopold wrote "It is inconceivable to me that an ethical relation to land can exist without love, respect and admiration for land, and a high regard for its value." (from "A Land Ethic" in "A Sand County Almanac")

I believe it's important to encourage children to explore the natural world so that they can develop this love and respect. It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. Some ideas to try:

• give them a blank notebook and have them start keeping a nature journal;
• set up a nature table (those pinecones and rocks they pick up are probably better  on display on a table than in a pocket in your laundry);
• encourage  them to plant something and care for it (as simple as a cherry tomato plant in a pot or  a sunflower seedling planted in the corner of the yard to attract bees to a flower and feed the birds with its seeds);
• plant a windowsill garden (we're missing our garden at home right now so we're watching a sweet potato put out roots and shoots);

   
 Happy Earth Day.