Thursday, April 22, 2010

Greening the Earth

Can you believe it's been forty years since the first Earth Day?

I suppose if you were born after about 1965, you can.

I like the way Pasadena celebrates. With love in our hearts we hail April 22nd as Earth Day, then when Saturday rolls around we celebrate Greening the Earth Day when everyone can come to the party no matter what year they were born.

This Saturday the free festivities at Memorial Park include something new: a "Free Market" swap meet.

Here's the gist: "As a community we have many more resources than we do as individuals. If we share our resources we won't need to buy as many new ones...The basic concept of our Free Market is this, bring items you don’t need or services you want to share, and leave with items you do need and maybe a service provided at no cost. No currency is exchanged, everything is free. Bringing items is not mandatory. If you see something you could use, feel free to take it and enjoy! There is always plenty for everyone."

(Even fresh produce is welcome.)

If you think it sounds like it's going to be hard to get in there and get what you want, keep in mind that set-up volunteers have first dibs on all pre-donated items during the preview hour from 10am-11am. And good stuff has already been donated. Read the Free Market link to get all the info.

When I read that press release I almost didn't make it past the swap meet. But other wonderful stuff will be available Saturday at Memorial Park: information about how you can be a "greener" citizen, artwork and workshops (across the street) at the Armory Center for the Arts, live music and dance--even a guided bicycle tour of green projects in Pasadena, organized by C.I.C.L.E., begins at 11am. There's so much I can't fit it all here. Contests! Prizes! Read the links!

I don't think they had all this stuff at the first Earth Day back in 1970. But frankly, I don't remember. I was way more concerned about summer's imminence and three months off to play outside in green forests, fresh air and sunshine. Just trying to keep it that way, is all.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Every day's an Earth Day, it just took us a while to catch on.

Virginia said...

Wish I lived closer. I've got a heap of STUFF i'd love to share! Terrific idea. Hope you'll post some photos.
V

mark said...

Nice photo, I like it alot. I remember the first Earth Day. I was a Junior in HS and it was the topic of the week in Earth Science class. Spring was in the air and Jane R. was breaking out her collection of short skirts. Memories are good.
I am planting two ginko trees for Earth Day.

Petrea Burchard said...

Some of us still haven't, Cliff, but let's keep working on them.

Virginia, I'll have family in town and we're going to the LA Times Book Festival at UCLA. I might post photos of that.

I wore short skirts back then, too, Mark, but some things have to change eventually. I guess that's what memory is for. (This photo's another one where J said, "look at that light!" and we both pointed our cameras upward.)

Cafe Pasadena said...

Short skirts & Petrea?
See, there's another subject for your blog! We look 4ward to that posting, or at least the fotos.

Katie said...

Very pretty tree with especially lovely light. I love the idea of the Free Market; wish I could stop by! I try to do my part to green the earth by (among other things) living in a teeny apartment, buying clothes that don't need drycleaning, and recycling all my empty wine bottles.

mark said...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh that J. has a keen eye. If you had been in my Earth Science class back in 1970 I would haaaaaave, would haaaaaaave ------- found some way to cast two eyes on two different skirts. It is known as "multi-tasking" today.

Amy said...

And to think, I wash just excited about seeing Oceans this weekend. Sounds like a really great event, and just smart of them to include freecycling. :)

Ms M said...

Great photo -- and I hope you found some goodies at the market :) the event sounds like an excellent way to celebrate Earth Day.

Petrea Burchard said...

Cafe, to post about short skirts and me I'd have to pull out some old shots. Hmm.

Katie, that's so magnanimous of you! Or should I say magnumous?

I imagine you're still a good multi-tasker, Mark.

I love that word "freecycling," Amy. It's a good thing to do for an afternoon girl party: clothes/books/wine.

Ms. M., it'll be a big day!

Amy said...

I'm in for that kind of party!

Diana said...

I like the Free Market idea, but it goes on all the time (on a smaller scale, of course) at freecycle.org. There's a pretty active freecycle group in South Pasadena: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sopasadenasfreecycle/

If you're not that near Pasadena, check out the main freecycle site at http://www.freecycle.org/ to see if there's one closer to you - they're all over the world!

Linda Dove said...

We'll be there:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=111211575584466&ref=mf

Petrea Burchard said...

I checked out a freecycle group in Burbank, too, Diana. It's such a great idea.

I hope you have fun today, Linda. I think it's going to be sunny and not too hot! It's a huge day in the park in Pasadena.

Dina said...

For once I can say we do that too.
A free exchange market the last Friday of every month in Jerusalem.

And we did Earth Day and turning out the lights too. yay