Earth Day
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, usually this occasion is marked by community events and volunteer clean-ups. However, even during this time of social distancing there are ways for us to enjoy our state’s natural beauty and respect our environment.
Enjoy our Local State Parks & Forests
Our state parks and forests remain open for passive enjoyment and solitary recreation. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has put together a guide on how to safely enjoy state parks.
How to Safely Enjoy State Parks
Recreational Boating
As the weather warms up, boating season is just around the corner. DEEP announced that the state’s boat launches are currently open. Across the state, DEEP manages 117 boat launches, information on how safely use our state’s boat launches is available online.
How to Safely Enjoy State Boat Launches
Enjoying Earth Day at Home
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, DEEP is launching a digital campaign, #EarthDayEveryDay, where residents can find unique ways to celebrate and help preserve our planet while staying safe at home or in the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the next month, DEEP will be sharing ideas from its Twitter account, @CTDEEPNews, with the hashtag #EarthDayEveryDay, consisting of conservation-minded things people can engage in inside their homes, in their own backyard, their neighborhood, or elsewhere in the outdoors.
Visit a Farm Stand
The CT Organic Farming Association and the Department of Agriculture have partnered to expand the online list of open farmer’s markets and farm stands across the state. Visiting a local farm stand is a great way to support sustainable agriculture. Make sure to maintain appropriate social distancing.
Some Wisdom from Noah Webster
In honor of Earth Day, State Historian Walter Woodward shared an article written by Noah Webster on this day in 1817 entitled, “Domestic Consumption,” the essay was an early call for conservation and forest management at a time when clear cutting for fuel was common practice.
Webster wrote, “We are not to waste and destroy, for the sake of present enjoyment; we must not strip the inheritance of [New England’s] wood and its fences and its timber, and leave it barren and impoverished to the next generation. We must not be so improvident as to render our country uninhabitable.”