Vashon Island is now in the midst of celebrating Earth Month, and the rest of April features many opportunities to learn, collaborate and have fun in the spirit of environmentalism.
According to the nonprofit earthday.org, created by the organizers of the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, this year’s Earth Day on April 22 is themed “Planet vs. Plastics” — a nod to both the massive role plastics play in waste accumulation across the planet, and the growing body of research around health risks that plastics pose to living creatures.
Earth Day at Dig Deep Gardens
An all-day and into-the-night Earth Day celebration will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 20 at Dig Deep Gardens, 19028 Vashon Hwy SW.
The all-ages event will feature a chance to meet with representatives of island nonprofits focused on the environment and sustainable living, and much more.
Dig Deep’s Tami Stone, who is helping to organize the day of activities, said that she hoped to counter a sense of helplessness that many feel, given the reality of global challenges.
“Coming together as a community and taking action can turn that sense of helplessness into hopefulness,” Stone said. “Our Earth Day celebration aims to create a sense of belonging and empower each individual to make a difference while celebrating the beauty that surrounds us.”
Stone also promised a good time — complete with delicious Syrian food for sale at the event, as well as beverages from Dig Deep Gardens’ Octopus Bar.
Activities throughout the day will include a terrarium building workshop, poetry readings, and storytelling, music and song offered by islander Michael Meade, an esteemed author and mythologist.
Meade’s participation in the event, said Stone, “will inspire imagination, foster healing, and strengthen our sense of community.”
Booths at the event will include the Whole Vashon Project, Vashon Heritage Museum, the Vashon Land Trust, Zero Waste Vashon, the Septic Sisters, the Mukai Food Hub, Vashon Nature Center and more.
There will also be performances by popular island musicians including JD Hobson, the duo of Rebecca Kuzma and Joe Panzetta, and the Collette Jones Band — a new island group that aims to get listeners up and dancing.
Stone hopes to see lots of islanders turn out for the event.
“Whether it’s through learning about the incredible work of non-profits, enjoying refreshing drinks and delicious food, or immersing ourselves in captivating stories, or wiggling your toes to some fantastic music, there are countless ways to contribute to a better world,” she said.
Find out more at digdeepgardens.com or search “Dig Deep Gardens” on Facebook.
Tool Library sale and Care Closet giveaway
Two island nonprofits are hosting events this month to hook islanders up with much-needed supplies, reducing landfill waste in the process.
The Vashon Tool Library — a wing of the Vashon Makerspace nonprofit — holds its annual tool sale on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Open Space 2 location, 18870 103rd Avenue SW.
The Tool Library takes donations year-round from residents, and has amassed many items to sell, such as portable power tools, hammers, handsaws, wrenches, power strips and even a Dremel.
Selling those extraneous tools for cheap is a win-win for the island, organizers said: The Tool Library opens up shelf space for more urgently-needed stuff, islanders can buy tools they need for low prices, and perfectly good equipment stays out of the landfill. Money raised from the sale goes toward maintaining existing tools and buying new ones for residents to rent out.
The sale will focus on tools that are infrequently requested, or of which the library has far too many.
Meanwhile, the Care Closet is celebrating National Library Week with an open house and giveaway that same day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Vashon Lutheran Church, 18623 Vashon Highway SW.
Islanders can learn more about the Care Closet’s work in providing islanders with free medical equipment and supplies, and walk away with some of those items themselves.
Regenerating Life
In celebration of Earth Month, Island GreenTech and the Whole Vashon Project will present a free screening of the feature-length documentary film, “Regenerating Life,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday April 16, at Vashon Theatre.
The film’s tagline, “How to Cool the Planet, Feed the World, and Live Happily Ever After,” reflects the hopeful message of the film, as it visits people working with nature to restore forests, wetlands, and soils — regenerating soils and building healthy communities.
More Earth Day events
April 20: Join a “Getting To Know Your Neighbors” native plant walk at Fisher Pond, starting at 10 a.m.
April 20: The Vashon Land Trust hosts a work party at Johnson Pond from 10 a.m. to noon.
April 23: Zero Waste Vashon screens the film “Planet Soil” at Vashon Theater at 6 p.m.
April 27: Zero Waste Vashon hosts an electronics recycling event at Vashon High School from 10 a.m. to noon.
