Every Stay Gives Back: Growing Kindness One Destination at a Time
LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– In celebration of Earth Day – recognized by over a billion people across 192 countries – Kind Traveler announces a major expansion of its Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) program. With 20 newly onboarded hotels and 16 charity partnerships across 16 destinations worldwide, Kind Traveler continues its mission to make travel a force for kindness, creating measurable impact for local communities and ecosystems.
New destinations include Patagonia, Chile; Maui, Hawaii; Palermo, Italy; Victoria, Canada; Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; Cannonville, Utah; and nine locations across California in collaboration with Visit California. Since launching in September 2023, the program has raised $530,000+ for local charities.
TURN YOUR VACATION INTO A GIFT TO THE PLANET
Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program – founded by a woman-and-veteran-owned public benefit corporation – makes charitable giving part of every hotel stay. Regardless of how a stay is booked, a portion of the revenue supports vetted nonprofits in wildlife conservation, food security, disaster relief, and environmental restoration.
Guests receive access to live impact dashboards to see how their stay contributes to real-world change, fostering transparency, education, and inspiration to travel kindly.
EARTH DAY IMPACT: HOW YOUR STAY MAKES A DIFFERENCE
91,652 servings of locally grown produce shared by Farm to Pantry in Sonoma County
1,932 students served with art supplies via La Playa Centro Comunitario in Los Cabos
458 native seabirds rehabilitated by Wildlife Center of the North Coast (Oregon Coast)
633 homeless dogs rescued and cared for by SAGA Humane Society in Belize
FEATURED HOTEL & CHARITY PARTNERSHIPS
The Surfrider Malibu – Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation
Regent Santa Monica Beach / westdrift Manhattan Beach – Marine Mammal Care Center
Nonpareil Stays (Los Angeles) – Wolf Connection
The Bower Hotel (Coronado) – Emerald Keepers
Casa Cody & Acme House Co. (Palm Springs) – Friends of the Desert Mountains
Coasting Homes / Mar Vista Farm + Cottages (Mendocino) – Redwood Coast Land Conservancy
Noyo Harbor Inn – Mendocino Land Trust
Ojai Retreat & Inn – Ojai Retreat Cultural Center
Geneseo Inn / JUST INN (Paso Robles) – Echo Shelter
Dunton Hot Springs (CO) – Bridge Shelter
Clear Sky Resorts (UT) – Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
Nobnocket Boutique Inn (MA) – Lagoon Pond Association
Hale Akua Garden Farm (HI) – Leilani Farm Sanctuary
Brentwood Bay Resort (Canada) – Power to Be
Eko Patagonia (Chile) – Fundación Renoval
La Bella Palermo (Italy) – Medicare Onlus
THIS EARTH DAY, CHOOSE A STAY THAT GIVES BACK
A recent New York Times report found that 71% of travelers want to leave destinations better than they found them. Kind Traveler meets this demand by helping travelers create a positive impact through intentional stays.
“As we celebrate Earth Day 2025, it’s clear that travel can be a powerful catalyst for change,” says Jessica Blotter, CEO and co-founder. “Through Every Stay Gives Back, we’re reimagining hospitality to uplift communities and protect the planet.”
Explore with purpose this Earth Day – discover new opportunities to travel responsibly and give back at KindTraveler.com.
At just eight years old, Atlanta native Kendall Rae Johnson is the youngest certified farmer in the nation. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Q&A: The youngest certified farm in the nation, Kendall Rae Johnson, chats about practicing sustainability beyond Earth Month.
At just eight years old, Atlanta native Kendall Rae Johnson is the youngest certified farmer in the nation. With a title she earned at six, Kendall and her parents, Ursula and Quentin Johnson, have continued cultivating a community that thrives on sharing and teaching through their urban farm aGROWKulture.
Every April, Earth Month and Earth Day remind us of the importance of using sustainable practices to protect our environment. I got to chat with Kendall about how every day is essentially Earth Day and how people can practice eco-consciousness beyond April. I also got to tour the farm, teeming with various fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs.
Laura Nwogu: What do we have here?
Kendall Rae Johnson: “Strawberries! It’s strawberry season, so there’s gonna be a lot of strawberries. But most of the time, I probably eat them by the bunch.”
LN: (Laughs) How long do strawberries usually take to grow?
KJ: “They don’t really take a while. But they do spread fast. You see this row right here? This row has runners in it. Runners come from the main strawberry. It’s like a stem that comes from the main plant, and on the other side of the stem, there’s a tiny strawberry.”
LN: Oh! That’s a nice one.
KJ: “Yes!
“Mostly, the best strawberries come from some of the taller plants. Here.”
LN: Thank you. Now, what does Earth Day mean to you?
KJ: “It means helping out the Earth with all kinds of problems that it might be having and helping the environment, which is helping the Earth.”
LN: I know Agrowkulture farm is all about like sharing and community. How can people do that for themselves beyond Earth Day and Earth Month when it comes to making sure the earth is clean and sustainable?
KJ: “They can start their own farm. They can plant trees, and they can recycle. And something that can encourage other kids — keep growing.”
LN: Do you have any tips for starting a farm?
KJ: “You can make a raised bed or a row. And the easiest plant to plant is a tomato because they grow pretty fast, and no matter how deep it goes, they’ll still grow roots.”
LN: You had your second annual Earth Day Parade and Learning Fair last weekend, and the theme this year was “Plastic vs. Everyone.” What are ways people can make sure they’re being responsible with plastics?
KJ: They can keep it out of the ocean. They can keep it out of forests.
There’s a little bit of trash right now, so I picked it up and made it into a toy for my dogs.
Quentin Johnson: So, reusing in different ways, right?
KJ: Yeah!
LN: Can I see the toy, or are the dogs playing with it?
QJ: I threw it away (laughs).
KJ: I think those are some of my pumpkins, and there’s also some sunflowers. You can tell they’re sunflowers because the edges of the sunflower are kind of like a blade, and it’s in the shape of a shovel or a heart.
LN: I see. I’m learning so many new things today.
KJ: “Hmm, it seems like something’s been eating my plants. Ooh, there’s a big hole right there. This can only mean one thing: hornworms.
“It’s hornworm season. Hornworms will eat your plant in a whole night. That’s why we have to put down something that has a really really strong smell to keep them away.”
LN: What does a day on the farm look like for you?
KJ: “A day on the farm looks like a whole bunch of fun and a little bit of work. A lot of the times, me and my dog go running through here and all the way over there to check on the plants.”
LN: I didn’t know you guys had a bee nest. You make honey?
KJ: “Yeah. Sometimes our beekeeper Mr. Bill comes over here to check on the bees. It’s important that we can leave it there because that way the flowers that are there there can be pollinated.”
LN: And your great-grandmother gave you this land, right?
KJ: “So my great-grandmother gave my mom this land, and then my mom gave me this land.”
LN: As the youngest urban farmer in the nation, have you observed how she’s been able to move in the world compared to others who haven’t been exposed to this lifestyle?
KJ: “I don’t compare to anyone. I just know my stuff. I do it.”
Ursula Johnson: “This is a field that nobody wants to get into, so it’s like it was open for her. And it wasn’t something we were looking to put her in. It was just something that was already naturally in her that, as parents, we said, ‘OK, how do we support this to make her wherever she wants to be in it?’ And that’s our comparison. I think it has nothing to do with the child; it has to do with what the parents are willing to do with that kid’s talent to …”
LN: To help them grow.
UJ: “To help them grow, yeah.”
KJ: “I like how you said grow (laughs).”
LN: How important is it for people to know where their food comes from?
KJ: “If they don’t know where their food comes from, how are they gonna be a farmer if they want to be a farmer? It’s especially important for kids to know where your food comes from. That way, they’ll just think that food comes from the store, and they won’t actually know where food comes from.”
LN: And how does it feel when you look at everything you’ve been able to grow?
KJ: “I feel good, excited, and happy all the time!”
As beauty editors, we’re constantly testing products to deliver you the best, most informed recommendations. In our series, Talk of the Team, we highlight the tried-and-tested product launches that have made a lasting impact on our routines. These are the new formulas we can’t stop gushing about—in our group chats, during team meetings, and, now, to you. This month’s theme is “Respect.”
The White House is considering declaring a national climate emergency to unlock federal powers and stifle oil development, according to a Bloomberg report. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is announcing several projects this Earth Week. Columbia University Climate School professor Dr. Melissa Lott joins with analysis.
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Despite how terrifying sharks might seem, the creatures are critical to the survival of the world’s oceans. Oceans generate 50% of the oxygen on the planet and absorb 90% of excess heat created by global warming. CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy spoke with conservationists in the Bahamas.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is marking Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in federal grants for residential solar projects serving 900,000-plus households in low- and middle-income communities. He also plans to expand his New Deal-style American Climate Corps green jobs training program.
The grants are being awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, which unveiled the 60 recipients on Monday. The projects are expected to eventually reduce emissions by the equivalent of 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and save households $350 million annually, according to senior administration officials.
Biden’s latest environmental announcements come as he is working to energize young voters for his reelection campaign. Young people were a key part of a broad but potentially fragile coalition that helped him defeat then-President Donald Trump in 2020. Some have joined protests around the country of the administration’s handling of Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Senior administration officials said young Americans are keenly invested in the Biden climate agenda and want to actually help enact it. The Climate Corps initiative is a way for them to do that, the officials said.
Solar energy is gaining traction as a key renewable energy source that could reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels, which emit planet-warming greenhouse gases. Not only is it clean, but solar energy can also boost the reliability of the electric grid.
But solar energy can have high costs for initial installation, making it inaccessible for many Americans — and potentially meaning a mingling of environmental policy with election-year politics.
Forty-nine of the new grants are state-level awards, six serve Native American tribes and five are multi-state awards. They can be used for investments such as rooftop solar and community solar gardens.
Biden is making the announcement at northern Virginia’s Prince William Forest Park, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Washington. It was established in 1936 as a summer camp for underprivileged youth from Washington, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps to help create jobs during the Great Depression.
“Broad community-based solar is our brightest hope for protecting people and our climate from the scourge of fossil fuels,” said Jean Su, director of the Energy Justice program at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These targeted investments mean low-income families get clean energy that is affordable, resilient and protects our ecosystems. It’s great to see President Biden jumpstart this landmark program.”
Biden, a Democrat, used executive action last year to create the American Climate Corps modeled on Roosevelt’s New Deal. He is announcing Monday that nearly 2,000 corps positions are being offered across 36 states, including jobs offered in partnership with the North American Building Trades Unions.
The president has often used Earth Day as a backdrop to further his administration’s climate initiatives. Last year, he signed an executive order creating the White House Office of Environmental Justice, meant to help ensure that poverty, race and ethnic status do not lead to worse exposure to pollution and environmental harm.
He has tried to draw a contrast with GOP congressional leaders, who have called for less regulation of oil production to lower energy prices. Biden officials counter that GOP policies benefit highly profitable oil companies and could ultimately undermine U.S. efforts to compete with the Chinese in the renewable energy sector.
Biden is using his Virginia visit to discuss how “a climate crisis fully manifest to the American people in communities all across the country, is also an opportunity for us to come together,” said White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi.
He said the programs can “unlock economic opportunity to create pathways to middle-class-supporting careers, to save people money and improve their quality of life.”
The awards came from the Solar for All program, part of the $27 billion “green bank” created as part of a sweeping climate law passed in 2022. The bank is intended to reduce climate and air pollution and send money to neighborhoods most in need, especially disadvantaged and low-income communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.
EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe said she was “looking forward to these funds getting out into the community, giving people skills, putting them to work in their local communities, and allowing people to save on their energy bills so that they can put those dollars to other needs.”
Among those receiving grants are state projects to provide solar-equipped roofs for homes, college residences and residential-serving community solar projects in West Virginia, a non-profit operating Mississippi solar lease program and solar workforce training initiatives in South Carolina.
The taxpayer-funded green bank has faced Republican opposition and concerns over accountability for how the money gets used. EPA previously disbursed the other $20 billion of the bank’s funds to nonprofits and community development banks for clean energy projects such as residential heat pumps, additional energy-efficient home improvements and larger-scale projects like electric vehicle charging stations and community cooling centers.
Humans haven’t been kind to the planet. Climate change is out of control, microplastics are poisoning our oceans, and landfills are overflowing with trash. No matter how much we try to reduce our footprint, we still occasionally need new things. Luckily, some companies have figured out how to reuse waste to make new products from old plastic, textiles, and other materials that would otherwise fill our landfills and oceans. We’ve highlighted our favorites here.
Updated April 2024: We’ve added the new Nimble Champ portable charger, Humanscale’s Path chair, Bearaby’s Ocean Hugger weighted blanket, Revival’s denim rug, House of Marley’s Redemption 2 ANC headphones, Keiko Furoshiki gift wrap, and the new recycled MakeUp Eraser.
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Deep-cleaning my house tends to leave me with a lot of plastic bags, paper, and plastic containers to throw away. It got me wondering how I could make my cleaning routines less wasteful. Scientists are developing new ways to recycle plastic, but it’s not an Earth-friendly material, and cleaning supplies use a lot of it.
Common solutions like disinfecting sprays and soaps are largely composed of water, which makes those products heavy and hard to ship efficiently. Excessive packaging is another factor in cleaning-product waste, as are harmful chemicals that can end up in the water supply (or in you). Add in the risk of microplastic shedding and a gazillion greenwashed Instagram ads, and it can be difficult to know how to make things clean and greener.
Below are some of my favorite cleaning products that try to be environmentally conscious. They won’t feel too different from what you already use, and are relatively affordable. For the ultimate cheap minimalist homemade cleaning solution, baking soda and vinegar paired with elbow grease will do the trick for many tasks (though baking soda can harm certain materials like aluminum, so do your research). Be sure to check out our other eco-friendly guides, like the Best Reusable Products, Best Recycled Products, and Best Clothes Made of Recycled Materials.
Updated April 2024: We’ve added JAWS and LastObject (and a new look).
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Eco-Friendly Cleaners for the Whole House
Some cleaning supply manufacturers offer general-use products you’d typically buy in spray bottles. All the brands below go the extra mile with refills, simpler ingredients, or plastic-free shipping.
Our Top Pick
Supernatural’s kit is pricey, but it goes on sale a few times a year. The frosted glass spray bottles are hefty (in a good way), and the silicone bottoms keep them in place. The nozzles don’t clog or get jammed, though the bottles can leak if you don’t twist and close the lid carefully. The glass concentrate vials contain blends of essential oils for windows and mirrors, counters and granite, bath and tile, or wood and floors. The products smell amazing—like fresh botanicals, not artificial or chemical like most cleaning solutions. This set is the only one I’ve continued to purchase refills for. And I especially like that the refills are in glass, so there’s no single-use plastic involved.
Runner-Up
Blueland’s cheap refills come in the form of dissolvable tablets. You’ll get a few reusable Tritan Forever Bottles by purchasing a $46 starter kit. You can subscribe to a refill re-up plan for a bit less money. Starter kit refills include hand soap, bathroom cleaner, glass and mirror cleaner, and multipurpose cleaner. (And for what it’s worth, I wasn’t going through a bottle of glass cleaner each month. Maybe I’m gross—I don’t think most people scrub their mirrors every day—but if you’re in the same camp, you might not need a monthly subscription.) Blueland also offers laundry soap, dishwashing essentials, and various accessories. You can mix and match products to suit your needs. Everything I tried smelled great and did the job. The tablets can take a little while to dissolve, so mix the solutions up an hour or two before you tackle your chores.
Most Versatile
The starter kit gets you a 34-ounce bottle of sustainable concentrated cleaning solution, spray bottles with fill lines for easy dilution, and a tub of Oxygen Boost powder. You’ll get enough concentrate for three bottles of all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and foaming wash, respectively, plus a 64-load laundry bottle. The unscented concentrate is powerful and made from simple ingredients. You can also buy it separately and supply your own bottles. Fans of nice-smelling cleaners might find this set lacking, but a few drops of essential oils would liven things up in the olfactory department.
Best Design
Grove Collaborative Essential Cleaner Concentrates Set
Grove Co. cleaning concentrates are available in a three-pack. You’ll get all-purpose, glass, and tub-and-tile cleaners. Dump the contents into 16-ounce bottles (also on Grove’s site) and fill them with water. I especially like the glass cleaner, which works better than Windex—and smells nicer.
Easiest Refills
JAWS stands for “Just Add Water System,” and that holds up. The refills are pods you twist onto proprietary bottles. Add water, twist in a refill, and your solutions are mixed up. These cleaners smell like traditional cleaning products, and the bottles are a little … curvaceous. That means they can be a bit awkward to store. But there are a few unique cleaners that JAWS includes in this starter kit, like a granite cleaner and a general disinfectant.
For Sensitive Households
Seventh Generation All-Purpose Cleaner
This bio-based product isn’t sold in concentrates, but I’m including it here because I haven’t tried anything else like it. It has no fragrance and no color. It almost feels like you’re cleaning with water. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, to the point where “lightly scented” still gives you a headache, this is what you’re looking for.
For the Kitchen
From reusable dishcloths to eco-friendly dish soaps, there are a few options to make your kitchen cleaning routine better for the planet.
Best Overall Dish Soap
Seventh Generation Liquid Dish Soap
I tested this one a while ago, but I’ve repurchased it many times. It’s made of plant-based ingredients, and the biodegradable formula gets the job done. It doesn’t dry out my hands as much as the stuff I used to use. It’s available in multipacks online, and you can choose from various scents (including unscented).
Runner-Up Dish Soap
JuniperSeed Mercantile Laundry Stain Stick
This bar is technically meant for cleaning tough stains on your clothes before you toss them into the laundry. Dampen the end of the bar and the stain, scrub away, and then toss the garment into the laundry. However, the bar effectively doubles as dish soap. I also like No Tox Life’s ($14) dishwashing block.
Biodegradable Dishcloths
Three Bluebirds Swedish Dishcloths
These fast-drying biodegradable cloths are made of cellulose and cotton. Unlike typical washcloths, these don’t get smelly or mildewy. You can wash them up to 200 times in your washing machine or the top rack of your dishwasher. The eye-catching designs are a bonus. Mine started degrading after a couple of months of use but lasted longer than similar products I tried.
A Great Scrub
I didn’t want to love this extremely popular, cheery sponge, but it lives up to the hype. The shape and texture make it weirdly effective for scrubbing, wiping, and suds. I use it for everything from doing my dishes to cleaning my floors. It’s also more durable than other similarly priced sponges. While the sponge itself isn’t especially sustainable, Scrub Daddy products are recyclable, making them a better option than sponges you’d throw away.
Best Overall Reusable Paper Towels
These bright cotton flannel towels are durable and absorbent. They get even more absorbent after a few washes. They also cling together, so you can roll them up on a cardboard tube just like the paper alternatives. Note that the clinginess means they attract lint and dust pretty easily, so be prepared to wash them often. But still! If you’re trying to go zero-waste, these are one good way to do that.
Runner-Up Paper Towels
Cloud Paper Bamboo Paper Towels
If you prefer more traditional paper towels, these strike a good balance between familiarity and sustainability. They’re made of bamboo—no trees. The towels aren’t the softest, but they are absorbent and don’t fall apart or shed easily. For gross or quick tasks like cleaning up cat hairballs or cooking residue, I feel less guilty throwing these out than a tree-based paper towel.
Great Trash Bags
They aren’t as durable as traditional trash bags, but they’re made of 90 percent post-consumer plastic. (The other 10 percent is renewable sugarcane.) I think the eco-friendly composition makes these a worthy trade-off. The brand makes clear recycling bags as well.
Reusable Mop Pads
JuniperSeed Mercantile Sweeper Pads
These sweeper pads are a sturdier, less wasteful alternative to disposable mop pads. They work with Swiffer mops and similar systems, and they can be used wet or dry. The thick, absorbent texture makes cleaning the floor easy. Toss the pads in the washing machine to reuse them.
For the Laundry Room
Washing machines are a major culprit in microplastic pollution, but every little bit can help, right? Here are a few eco-friendly cleaning supplies for your laundry room.
Detergent Pods
These pods smell fantastic, work with high-efficiency machines, get your clothes squeaky clean, and are made of plant-derived ingredients. There are no dyes, and shipping is free and carbon-neutral. I also like the company’s wool dryer balls ($29) as an alternative to fabric softener sheets. If you don’t like pods, try MyKieri’s Easy-Spray Laundry Detergent ($28).
Laundry Sheets
We’ve recommended a few products from LastObject over the years. These laundry detergent sheets look like fabric softener sheets, except they’re soap. They dissolve in hot or cold water right inside your washer. They’re super affordable, and there’s no plastic jug involved. There aren’t any dyes or perfumes, either.
A Stain Remover
I tested this plant-based spray on blood, coffee, red sauce, and makeup. It removed them all. It doesn’t contain chlorine, dyes, or other common irritants typically found in stain removers.
This baking soda booster is free of bleach, ammonia, dyes, and fragrances. It’s also septic-safe. I especially like it for linens and towels—it leaves them really fresh and banishes any lingering smells.
What Makes a Cleaning Product Sustainable?
“Eco-friendly” is an extremely vague term that can be misleading, especially in marketing. No product is perfect, but the Environmental Protection Agency has some things to look for when searching for more environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.
For product composition, the smaller the list, the better. A concentrated product produces fewer carbon emissions and creates less waste to ship than a heavier, more diluted version, and a powder or tablet is even smaller. The EPA Safer Choice program vets products and certifies them if they meet the agency’s standards for safer, more environmentally friendly products. Certified products feature the Safer Choice certification label on their packaging. Other certifications you may want to look for include those from the Rainforest Alliance, Leaping Bunny, and One Percent for the Planet. All of these certifications can help you make more sustainable choices when you’re shopping.
You can also take a look at the ingredients. For example, we look for products that are biodegradable and have less fragrance and other unnecessary additives. You can also check various brands’ sustainability initiatives. Is the shipping carbon-neutral? Is the packaging minimal and recyclable?
Below that stretches a filter layer, which keeps the soil from getting into the next layer, a lightweight crate system that stores the water. And finally, below that you’ve got additional layers to keep water and plant roots from infiltrating the actual roof. “You have, in fact, a flat rain barrel on top of your roof,” says Kasper Spaan, policy developer for climate adaptation at Waternet, Amsterdam’s public water management organization, which is participating in RESILIO.
The water levels in the blue-green roof are managed by a smart valve. If the weather forecast says a storm is coming, the system will release stored water from the roof ahead of time. That way, when a downpour comes, the roof refills, meaning there’s less rainwater entering the gutters and sewers in the surrounding area. In other words, the roof becomes a sponge that the operator can wring out as needed. “In the ‘squeezable’ sponge city, you make the whole city malleable,” says Spaan.
This makes the traditional system of stormwater management more flexible, but also more complicated. So the RESILIO project used software from Autodesk to model the impact of blue-green roofs and the risk of flooding in Amsterdam, also adjusting for climate change.
“You can take a look at historical flood patterns, and then you can do simulations that will help you understand: If I could take this much capacity out of the drainage network, when the storm comes, I’m going reduce flooding by 10, 15, 20 percent,” says Amy Bunszel, executive vice president of architecture, engineering, and construction design solutions at Autodesk. “So our software allows them to do simulations and play with different trade-offs.”
Beyond the sponge-city benefits, blue-green roofs can cool the top floor of a building, essentially “sweating” off the stored water. With the right kinds of indigenous plants, they can also boost biodiversity by catering to native pollinating insects. Going a step further, scientists are also experimenting with growing crops on rooftops under solar panels, known as rooftop agrivoltaics. Theoretically, pairing that with blue-green systems might actually improve the efficiency of the solar panels by cooling them with the evaporating water.
Celebrate the planet at Lake Eola Park this weekend
Central Florida Earth Day returns Saturday to Lake Eola, presented by Vegetarians of Central Florida.
The very worthy goals of Central Florida Earth Day are to “inspire sustainable, humane, healthy, and equitable decisions at all levels, from the individual and local levels to the corporate, governmental, and international levels.” To that end, the attractions at this daylong event include an artists corner, presentations, vendors, environmental education, animals, music and more.
There will also be flow yoga and meditation classes throughout the day for those wanting to explore innerspace for a bit. Local electeds Anna Eskamani, Maxwell Frost, Emily Bonilla and Lee Constantine will be on hand to speak on a wide range of issues facing our community, state, nation and world, and Shannon Blair of Solutionary Species moderates.
To make the event as zero waste as possible, some of the festival is solar-powered; recycling and composting receptacles are available, and biodegradable materials are used wherever possible. All of the food served at the event is vegan. Vendors include Ain’t Got No Beef, Bom Grill, Corn Soup King, Framework Craft Coffee Bar and many more.
Chefs will present preparation demonstrations on how to prepare vegan dishes. As climate change worsens, events like this become ever-more important … and urgent. Earth Day is free, and both family- and pet-friendly.
DADE CITY, Fla. — Workers and volunteers are all ready for Saturday’s Earth Day Celebration in Dade City at the Pasco County Extension One Stop Shop.
What You Need To Know
Celebrate Earth this Earth Day! Join UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension for our Earth Day 2024 Celebration Saturday, April 20, 2024, at One Stop Shop in Dade City
This family-friendly, educational event aims to increase environmental stewardship and awareness
Representatives from various Pasco County Departments and state agencies will help visitors become better Earth ambassadors and introduce them to a variety of free or low-cost county and state services
“We have Pasco Utilities, which is bringing in touch ID trucks for kids, also having swag bags. They are also going to be cooking and donating hot dogs for free for while supplies last while everyone’s here,” said Aimee Schlitt, One-Stop-Shop Program manager.
The family-friendly event will focus on keeping the planet cleaner, with a specific emphasis on Florida living.
“We’re going to have ask a master gardener here and any questions that you might have about gardening. We also will have Florida-friendly landscaping here. So, any questions that you might have about landscaping bug identification,” said Schlitt.
But it is not all about plants, bugs and wildlife, it is also about trash and the best ways to get rid of it. Recycling is a big point of emphasis.
“With all of the different recycling programs we now have within schools, and we have recycling within your home and also just being better and more cognizant of that,” said Schlitt.
Plus, visitors are encouraged to bring old cell phones, computers and TVs. There will be a place to recycle them safely.
As they do every year in their annual confluence of good vibes, spring breezes, and general loving of greenery, 420 Day (April 20) and Earth Day (April 22) have rolled around — and in 2024, we’re blessed with it all falling (sorta) on a weekend. Here are some events celebrating both around Orlando.
420 Day: 4/20 Smokeout at Sideward Brewing Where: 210 N. Bumby Ave. When: April 20 Sideward Brewing is celebrating the day with a special menu of food straight from the smoker, plus a triple can drop and limited 420-themed merch.
Puff and Paint Orlando Where: 6700 Conroy Road When: April 20, 3-11:30 p.m. A 420-friendly evening of puff puffing, painting and live DJs presented by Painting With a Twist and Sahara Orlando.
4/20 by Curaleaf at The Acre Orlando Where: 4421 Edgewater Drive When: April 20, 4:20 p.m. Present a Curaleaf receipt to gain access to the 4/20 experience including “Puff and Paint,” a sound bath and exclusive merch.
The Tavern East Grand Opening 4/20 Celebration Where: 504 N. Alafaya Trail When: April 20, 11 a.m. Live music, food and drink specials, and free entry/ parking all night long at this 4/20 celebration.
Puff Puff Pasties Where: 2438 E. Robinson St., Orlando When: April 20, 7 p.m. A night filled with sexy burlesque performances, all with a smokin’ twist at Iron Cow.
Earth Day:
Central Florida Earth Day Where: 512 E. Washington St. When: April 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vegans and those curious about the vegan lifestyle can learn more at the 19th Central Florida Earth Day event. Sustainability, creativity and community support through vendors, demonstrations and more at Lake Eola Park.
Earth Day Funday Clean-Up Where: 655 W. Church St. When: April 21, 9 a.m. to noon Give back to the Earth and the Orlando community at this Earth Day cleanup at Inter & Co. Stadium sponsored by City District and Parramore Main Street Districts. Volunteers will also be eligible for the chance to win a free Orlando City Pride match ticket at the event.
Ivanhoe Village Earth Day Cleanup Where: Ivanhoe Park Brewing, 1300 Alden Road When: April 22, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day by lending a helping hand at the free Ivanhoe Village Cleanup. Attendees are encouraged to “dress for mess.”
Asana at Altira: Earth Day Event Above the City Beautiful Where: Altira Pool + Lounge 325 S. Orange Ave., Orlando When: April 21, 11 a.m. Nama-stay in touch with your mind, body and the planet at this Earth Day yoga session and pool party at Altira Pool + Lounge. Join yoga instructor Madison from 11 a.m. to noon, and then hang out by the pool from noon to 6 p.m. enjoying happy hour special, a live DJ and more.
Earth Day Celebration Where: Veteran’s Memorial Library, 810 13th St., St. Cloud When: April 20, 10 a.m. Hoping for clear skies in St. Cloud for this Earth Day Celebration filled with vendors, crafts, food trucks and more.
Audubon Center’s Earth Day Puzzle Trail Where: 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland When: Saturday and Sunday April 20-21 The Audubon Center for Birds and Prey challenges kids and teens to learn more about raptors and conservation through an escape room-style puzzle at the Center.
Earth Day Vegan Market Where: Persimmon Hollow Brewing Lake Eola, 227 N. Eola Drive When: April 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. No eggs, no dairy, no meat, no problem! Join Orlando Bearded Vegan at the Earth Day Vegan Market to shop cruelty-free products, eat vegan treats and engage with other vegans in your community.
Hands On Orlando Earth Day Celebration Where: 475 S. Ivey Lane When: April 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn and play at the Hands On Orlando Earth Day Celebration. Tour the 15-acre Environmental Learning Laboratory, join in a scavenger hunt or just sit out and enjoy nature with your lawn chair. Lunch is available on a first come first serve basis, free raffle tickets come with attendance and tree saplings and flowering plants will also be given away at the event.
Green Thumb Gathering: Earth Day Planting Party w/ Fresh Kitchen and Renewable Where: Audubon Park Covenant Church, 3219 Chelsea St. When: April 20, 9 a.m. to noon IDEAS For Us invites you to a seed planting with Fleet Farming to celebrate Earth Day with a little dirt beneath your fingernails. Attendees are asked to bring water, closed toed shoes and sun protection with lunch being provided by Fresh Kitchen.
Art for Earth Where: The Arena Art Bar, 22 S. Magnolia Ave. When: April 27, 7 p.m. Celebrating sustainability and creativity, Art for Earth showcases are that seeks to raise awareness for nature’s beauty and environmentalism Local vendors will provide organic and sustainable refreshments and live music performances will fill the venue throughout the night.
Earth Day Sunset Walk Where: Nona Adventure Park, 14086 Centerline Drive When: April 22, sunset Ground yourself in nature on Earth Day at the Laureate Park trails for a hike at sunset. Meet up with other members of your community and enjoy the outdoors together.
Wekiva Island Earth Day Succulent Design Workshop in Paradise Where: 1014 Miami Springs Drive, Longwood When: April 19, 3:30 p.m. Join designer Pamela Johancsik of Bomb Blooms in making your very own succulent arrangement at Wekiva Island. All materials are provided including the plants, planter, tools and more.
Earth Day Market Where: The Veranda at Thornton Park, 707 E. Washington St. When: April 20, 10 a.m. Celebrate Earth Day with some shopping at Honey House Vintage for their Earth Day Market.
Earthday Birthday 2024 Where: Orlando Amphitheater, 4603 W. Colonial Drive When: April 20, 11 a.m. Rock out in celebration of our very own spinning rock for the Earthday Birthday featuring artists such as Dayseeker, Staind, Asking Alexandria and more.
Earth Day Sustainable Gardening Seminar Where: 1909 Slavia Road When: April 21, 10 a.m. Learn sustainable gardening tips with WiggleBrew, an Orlando-based start-up that aims to end fertilizer runoff and soil degradation, organized by local Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter. Attendees will leave with more knowledge on organic fertilizing, microplastic elimination and more on how to keep their gardens green.
Ward and Wellbeing Earth Day Block Party Where: Ward Park, 250 Perth Lane, Winter Park When: April 27, 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Go touch some grass at Ward Park for the Ward and Wellbeing Earth Day Block Party. Activities at the park include wild animal meet and greet, free Kona Ice, sustainable giveaways and more. Across the street at the Center for Health and Wellbeing there will be microgreens growing kit workshop, family yoga, crystal sound bowl meditation, tours of the Crosby Wellness Center, along with other activities.
Run for the Trees Jeannette Genius McKean Memorial 5k Where: Ward Park, 250 Perth Lane, Winter Park When: April 27, 7:30 a.m. Don’t miss out on this once a year opportunity to view the privately owned, old Florida tree canopy on Genius Drive at the Run for the Trees Jeannette Genius McKean Memorial 5K. Other running events like the cupless event and free kids’ run will happen the day of and all runners who finish the race will receive a young tree as a prize.
In honor of Earth Day, which is coming up on April 22, as well as National Exercise Day, we encourage you to walk to whenever you can to reach out best bets, or at least take public transport. It will be worth it, as this week we’ve got a musical inspired by a cult classic, a spring festival, and a classic ballet. Keep reading for these and much more.
February marked the 60th anniversary of the start of Beatlemania – specifically, February 1964 was when four lads from Liverpool appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, playing along to “She Loves You,” for “a whopping 73 million viewers and an in-studio audience of 700.” Sixty years may have passed, but on Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. you can join the Houston Symphony as they welcome a band of Beatles lookalikes and soundalikes for Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles at Jones Hall. The concert will feature more than two dozen of The Beatles’ classic songs – “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” and “Penny Lane” to name a few – all played as they were originally recorded. The show will be performed a second time on Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to either in-hall performance can be purchased here for $63 to $195.
The first Earth Day dates back to April 22, 1970 – a time before the existence of the Environmental Protection Agency or legislation like the Clean Air and Clean Water acts. Across the nation, 20 million people turned out, making the day a “the precursor of the largest grassroots environmental movement in U.S. history.” On Saturday, April 20, from noon to 5 p.m. you can celebrate Earth Day at Discovery Green. The afternoon will feature performances from Calmecac Indigenous Arts Dancers and Lee’s Golden Dragons; music from Jukebox Trainwreck, a band that “recycles” songs you know into something new; art demonstrations, live painting, and a “battle” of chalk artists; art installations, such as art cars and solar and wind power sculptures; documentary shorts; crafts; lots of opportunities to find ways to get involved and more much. All are welcome to the free event.
Witness the world premiere of Music for New Bodies, the first collaboration from composer Matthew Aucoin and director Peter Sellars, on Saturday, April 20, at 8 p.m. at Brockman Hall for Opera in The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. DACAMERA and The Shepherd School of Music will present the piece, inspired by the poetry of Jorie Graham, and performed by five vocalists and an 18-instrument ensemble comprised of Shepherd School of Music students and DACAMERA Young Artists. The concert will be followed by a conversation with Aucoin, Sellars and Joseph Campana, poet and director of the Center for Environmental Studies at Rice, moderated by DACAMERA’s Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg. Tickets can be purchased here for $41 to $81.
If you’re not aware, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, opened in 1924, which means this year we’re celebrating the museum’s 100th anniversary. The perfect way to start the celebration is during the museum’s Spring Festival – New Beginnings on Sunday, April 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza and the Cullen Sculpture Garden. The family-friendly event will include musical and dance performances, international food vendors, artmaking stations and activity tables, such as a table to see an Arabic calligraphy demonstration (with the Islamic Arts Society) and story time (with the Houston Public Library), and much more. Admission is free all day to both the museum’s permanent-collection galleries and the Spring Festival. No tickets needed for the outdoor activities, and you can reserve a free ticket to enter the museum here.
As Earth Day approaches, is growing cannabis good for the planet – it is a bit of a mixed bag
As Earth Day approaches, everyone is evaluating what is good for the planet. Plastic, deforestation, fake fur, and Temu’s fast fashion are clearly bad for the planet, but others are more nuanced. Ever since Morton Hilbert started the movement, it has been a time reflect, reassess and hopefully adjust. With marijuana and CBD becoming mainstream and popular over the last few years, is cannabis good for the planet?
While cannabis has clear medical benefits and is considering a treat recreationally, it can take a toil on the earth. There are some benefits. As a fast-growing plant, cannabis can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it a potentially valuable crop for combating climate change.
The plant’s deep roots also help prevent soil erosion, and its flowers attract pollinators like bees, supporting biodiversity. Additionally, cannabis has been shown to be effective at phytoremediation – absorbing and storing heavy metals from contaminated soils, which can help clean up polluted land. These are all related to outdoor grows.
The downside can have environmental risks which need to be managed. Both indoor and outdoor cannabis grows can be highly water-intensive, with estimates of up to 6 gallons of water per plant per day for cultivation. This water usage can deplete local water resources and pollute waterways with fertilizers and pesticides. While less than crops like citrus fruits, grapes (wine), palmists, apricots, it is still a significant impact.
Indoor grows also have a large energy footprint, with high electricity demands for lighting, HVAC, and other equipment, leading to significant greenhouse gas emissions. Cannabis farming can also contribute to deforestation and soil erosion if not done sustainably, such as by clearing land on steep slopes. And the plants themselves emit volatile organic compounds that can negatively impact local air quality.
With the right policies and farming techniques, cannabis could potentially be grown in an environmentally-friendly way which sequesters carbon, supports biodiversity, and remediates contaminated soils. But the industry will need to prioritize sustainability to fully realize the plant’s potential as an eco-friendly crop. Biden’s climate friendly adminstatration can make a difference with legalization. Southern and other farming states with experience in outdoor growing will help. Thoughtful regulation, life cycle assessments, and adoption of precision agriculture technologies will all be important to making cannabis cultivation more sustainable.
Earth Day is fast approaching (April 22), though there really is never a bad time to celebrate Mother Earth. It’s important to teach students the environmental benefits of recycling, like conserving energy and natural resources and reducing air and water pollution, all year long. While recycling breaks down old items in order to create something new, upcyling makes something new from an existing object in its current state. Challenge your students to create something unique and wonderful from preexisting items like magazines, plastic water bottles, tin cans, egg cartons, and more. Check out our list of the best recycled crafts for Earth Day or any day, and give some of them a try!
We Are Teachers
1. Make wildflower seed bombs
Give back to Mother Earth with these easy-to-make seed bombs. Blend together used scraps of construction paper, water, and wildflower seeds in a food processor, then form them into tiny muffins. Let them dry, then toss them in the ground. As the seed bombs receive sun and rain, the paper will eventually compost and the seeds will germinate.
Take your kids on a nature walk to gather interesting leaves, flowers, berries, and the like. To make the wreath forms, braid together strips of old T-shirts and form them into a circle. Then attach natural items into the crevices and secure with clear fishing line or hot glue. Attach a ribbon at the top to hang your wreath.
Create a cozy place for all the creepy-crawlies to hang out. Cut a two-liter plastic bottle into two cylinders, then stuff it with sticks, pine cones, bark, or any other natural material. Make sure to pack the organic material tightly. Then loop a piece of twine or yarn around the two cylinders and hang your bug hotel from a tree branch or fence.
Textiles make up a huge portion of municipal solid waste—over 16 million tons per year. Teach your kids to repurpose old material that would otherwise end up in the landfill by putting together a cozy quilt.
We love Earth Day crafts that result in a practical object you can use around the house. This project is best for older students who have the patience and dexterity necessary to carefully roll their magazine strips and glue them together.
Pay tribute to our lovely planet on Earth Day with these fuzzy moss balls. Kids who love getting their hands dirty will particularly love this craft. All you do is squish pre-soaked sphagnum moss into a tight ball, wrap it tightly with blue yarn or strips of discarded T-shirts, layer more moss and more yarn, etc., until you’ve created an Earth-shaped orb. Finish with a loop of yarn and hang it in a sunny window. To keep your moss ball healthy, simply spray it with water every couple of days.
Scraps of paper are the only supplies you need for this recycled-flower-garden activity and lesson. The measurement and math element is an added bonus.
Save those paper rolls so your class can customize their own binoculars! Have a variety of paints, stickers, and the like on hand so your students can really personalize their bird-watchers.
Aluminum beverage pop-tops become wearable jewelry thanks to some ninja ribbon work. Show this video on your interactive whiteboard to give your students the full 411, and then get crafting!
Go outside for a nature walk and gather sticks, weeds, and pickable blooms, then bring the treasures inside to be showcased in recycled jar lids. With some wax paper and string, your students can craft this surprisingly beautiful recycled wind chime.
Brown paper bags become eco-canvases for artwork and a perfect way to adorn fridges for Earth Day. Bonus points if you can source handled bags because the handles serve as built-in artwork hangers.
Take students outside to collect small rocks and pebbles. Have them arrange the rocks into a pattern of their choice. Get creative, and try for as many different designs as you can!
This isn’t just any recycled crayon—it’s a gorgeous Earth crayon! You can make these with your kids using a muffin tin. You just need to sort out the right colors.
Recycling projects that use objects you may have lying around your garage or shed are some of our favorites. Grab that old rope you’ve been saving and create these adorable rope worms/snakes with your students.
Herald spring with this easy crowd-pleaser: the large plastic bottle bird feeder. This short video will teach kids how to get started constructing their feeders.
Tin cans are easy to get your hands on, and they can go a long way in organizing supplies. Get your kids involved by having them help decorate the cans. They’ll really take ownership of this, which will hopefully inspire them to keep supplies more organized.
Cut off the bottoms of beverage bottles or reuse food containers and jazz them up with bright-colored paper scraps. Except for the glue, these papier-mâché planters are composed solely of recycled materials.
Kids can work together to create an aluminum-can recycling center. Watch the video to get the simple instructions and learn how your school can make recycling fun and rewarding.
Recycling projects like these are the best since kids love robots. Be sure to have an extra pair of adult hands around to help with the hot glue for these Earth Day crafts.
Are these the sweetest Earth Day crafts ever? Plastic bottles from home become homes for fairies, thanks to paint, scissors, glue, and real or faux greenery.
This is an amazing recycled wall masterpiece. You could set it up on a cardboard backing and then let students add to it, paint it, and create with it whenever they have free time throughout the day.
Use bottle caps in a game of tic-tac-toe. They can also be turned into checkers. This would be a great makerspace activity. Give your kids several upcycled items and challenge them to create games with them.
We love how this upcycled magazine cut-paper art project can be modified for primary students or used to inspire sophisticated art by high school students.
A bottle gets a second life as a museum-worthy terrarium as well as a home for an environmental science project. Be sure to add the activated charcoal and moss for plastic bottle terrariums that flourish.
Your classroom studies of plant life, photosynthesis, and water conservation will get a boost with this hands-on crafting of a self-watering planter. The base? A good ol’ large plastic bottle.
Old newspapers find their spirit animal when they become recycled newspaper owls. All you need are markers, watercolors, and paper scraps to make them come alive.
Water bottles come together, as do your kids, to make this water bottle recycling center. This project combines teamwork with respect for our environment, a double win.
Cardboard is one of the easiest, least expensive materials you can get your hands on. Grab a ton of it and challenge your kids to make awesome creations. You never know what they might come up with.
Do you have a bunch of CDs lying around that never get played anymore? How about a box or drawer of markers that barely write? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is the perfect project for you.
These little ladybugs are so cute and yet so, so simple. Grab some bottle caps, paint, googly eyes, and glue and get ready to make some adorable friends!
Simple to make and beautiful to display, these coffee filter Earths are a cinch. Simply color with blue and green markers, then squirt with a water bottle.
How creative is this egg carton craft for Earth Day? All you need is egg carton sections, pipe cleaners, scissors, and craft paint, and voilà! Superhero goggles.
Salt dough crafts are so much fun to celebrate Earth Day! Make these colorful medallions, then attach string. Your kids will wear their Earth Day pride for all to see.
By Lorraine Akemann, Marketing and Outreach, Khan Academy Kids
Celebrate Earth Day with Khan Academy Kids! We have free animal coloring pages to print and decorate. Print them below, or find them in the Khan Academy Kids app this April. Which animal is your favorite—the penguin, chameleon, raccoon, salamander, or toucan?
Get started by downloading our free Khan Academy Kids app
The animal coloring pages below are also included in the Khan Academy Kids app. So if you don’t have a printer, no problem! Just download our free app to access tons of books, lessons, and coloring pages for children ages 2-8 (preschool – 2nd grade).
Now, let’s color these amazing animals!
Penguins
These penguins are having fun slipping and sliding on ice. Penguins are birds that spend much of their time in the water. Learn more about penguins in the Khan Academy Kids app. Open the app to the Books tab in our free Library to read Penguins or Puffins and Baby Penguins by Bellwether Media.
Click the image to download our animal coloring pages
Chameleon
How cool are chameleons? VERY cool! One notable characteristic of this reptile is its ability to change color. But there’s so much more that makes chameleons special. Learn about them in the Animal Safari section of the Khan Academy Kids Library.
Click the image to download our animal coloring pages
Toucan
Take a look at the toucan. What do you notice? Yes! It has a big beak! The beak is called a bill, and toucans use it to pick fruit from trees in the rainforest. When toucans go to sleep, they need a place to rest their beak. Where do you think they put it? Open the Khan Kids app to the Toucans book to find out!
Click the image to download our animal coloring pages
Salamander
Salamanders have very special skin. They breathe through it, they emit poison from it, and they can even eat it! Curious to learn more? Color in the skin on this page, and then learn more about salamanders in the Backyard Wildlife section of the Khan Kids Library.
Click the image to download our animal coloring pages
Raccoon
Why do you think raccoons have dark fur around their eyes (like a mask)? Did you know that the reason is so that it could see easier at night? Pretty neat! Raccoons sleep during the day and find food at night. Open the Racoons book by Bellwether Media in the Khan Kids app to learn more.
Click the image to download our animal coloring pages
More free coloring pages for kids
If you enjoyed these animal coloring pages for kids and are looking for kid-friendly activities, check out our Halloween, Winter, and Valentine’s coloring pages too!
Most of us tend to use single-use products everyday, but switching even some of them out for sustainable products meant to be reused again and again can help our planet. Plastic is piling up in landfills and oceans; it’s even floating around in the air. It’s sad and frustrating, and unfortunately, the problem can’t be solved by consumers simply cutting down on single-use plastics—corporations need to do their part. But reducing the amount of garbage we produce can give us a sense of agency, not to mention that you can save quite a bit of money by buying a product only once.
The best reusable products are ones you’re going to want to use again and again. So if you prefer the water bottles from your favorite coffee chain or fancy handkerchiefs from a local boutique, that’s what you should get. And if you have a pile of disposable products you want to replace, use them up first. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a bunch of our favorite products. Don’t see anything you need here? Check out some of our other roundups, like the Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products, Best Recycled Bags, Best Recycled Clothing, and for everything else, Our Favorite Products Made of Recycled and Upcycled Materials.
Updated February 2024: We’ve added reusable baggies and lids from W&P, Friendsheep dryer balls, and Pacific eye masks.
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Saturday is Earth Day, which was first created in 1970 to increase awareness about environmental issues. Environmental activists are blaming the unusual weather patterns that are being seen globally on climate change. Elise Preston has more.
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As scientists work to blunt the impacts of climate change, a controversial method called geoengineering is being considered as a way to help cool the planet. Ben Tracy has more.
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Amid the many scenes from Mad Men that still linger in one’s mind, one of the oddest (at least to modern eyes) is the moment where the Drapers, on a rare family outing together, happily discard all their trash after a picnic. Taking place in season two, episode seven—entitled “The Gold Violin”—the year of this particular nonchalant act on the part of the Drapers is meant to be in 1962. A different world from the “Don’t Be A Litterbug” one that we know today. Considering that popular discourse loves to place all responsibility for the current climate crisis on baby boomers, this scene is especially topical. And yet, being that the chemicals and technologies we’ve come to know as categorically detrimental (e.g., pesticides, nuclear power, Teflon, etc.) were still new and deemed beacons of “progress” rather than implements of destruction that only corporations would benefit from in the long-run, maybe it’s unfair to blame boomer consumers who didn’t know any better at the outset.
In fact, so “uncouth” were they with regard to environmental etiquette that they needed a campaign to tell them not to litter. Thus, people such as Don (Jon Hamm), Betty (January Jones), Sally (Kiernan Shipka) and Bobby (played by Aaron Hart in the second season) tossing their trash onto the ground like it was nothing would not be out of the ordinary for the (lack of) social mores of the day. Complete with Don chucking his beer can into the distance like a football and Betty shaking out their trash-filled picnic blanket onto the grass without a second thought. It’s not as though there was a nearby garbage can handily available, after all. For these were in the days before there was much initiative on the part of the government to regulate its population “correctly” disposing of waste, with fines for littering coming later. While, on the one hand, it can be taken as a sign of “barbaric” Silent Generation and boomer comportment, on the other, it’s apparent they couldn’t see the full weight of the mounting effects of “modern convenience,” including the Santa Barbara oil spill (which would ultimately bring about the first Earth Day in 1970), until the end of the 1960s. According to environmental historian Adam Rome, “I think [the oil spill] was one of the ultimately most important in a series of accidents or problems that made people realize that a lot of the modern technologies that seemed miraculous…posed unprecedented risks to the health of the environment and ultimately to ourselves.”
These were risks that the corporation never wanted the average American consumer to take note of. Indeed, the real reason the Keep America Beautiful campaign was even started served as part of a deflection from the real issue: corporations needing the consumer to keep buying shit over and over again by building it not to last. Ergo, more waste from manufacturing and packaging. So of course there was bound to be more potential for littering.
Per Mother Jones’ Bradford Plumer, “Keep America Beautiful managed to shift the entire debate about America’s garbage problem. No longer was the focus on regulating production—for instance, requiring can and bottle makers to use refillable containers, which are vastly less profitable. Instead, the ‘litterbug’ became the real villain, and KAB supported fines and jail time for people who carelessly tossed out their trash, despite the fact that, clearly, ‘littering’ is a relatively tiny part of the garbage problem in this country (not to mention the resource damage and pollution that comes with manufacturing ever more junk in the first place). Environmental groups that worked with KAB early on didn’t realize what was happening until years later.” When the indoctrination had already taken hold anyway. Americans held themselves accountable for being pieces of shit while corporations and their head honchos kept laughing all the way to the bank as a result of the misdirection.
As for Mad Men’s creator, Matthew Weiner, born in 1965, he likely would have still been witnessing casual, cavalier littering in his own childhood. For it wasn’t until 1971 that the first vehemently guilt-tripping Keep America Beautiful ad came out—the one with the famous “crying Indian.” Preying on the germinal phenomenon of white guilt, the ad has been described as one of the greatest ever made. We’re talking Don Draper-level shit. Focused on a Native American (played by an Italian, obviously) canoeing through trash in what turns out to be oil rig-filled waters, a narrator says, “Some people have a deep, abiding respect for the natural beauty that was once this country.” At this instant, the Native American finds himself at the side of a highway as someone throws a bag of trash out their window that explodes open as it lands at his feet. Here the narrator concludes, “And some people don’t.” Read: and some oblivious white yuppie cunts like the Drapers don’t. To that point, it’s appropriate that Sally, in this particular picnic scene, asks her parents if they’re rich. Betty, ever the avoider of real topics, replies, “It’s not polite to talk about money.” Nor is it polite to throw trash wherever one pleases, but Betty and Don hadn’t yet gotten the literal (litter-al?) message. Along with the rest of their generation and the one that they had just begat.
At the end of the “crying Indian” PSA, it’s declared, “People start pollution. People can stop it.” Ironically, the “people” who actually could stop it—corporations (legally deemed people, in case you forgot)—are not held accountable in any way in such ads that place all responsibility on the individual a.k.a. consumer to “do their part.” And yet, trying to put all the onus on the consumer to “self-regulate” feels like a small drop in an oil spill-filled ocean of what could actually be done if corporations weren’t a bottomless pit of profit-seeking.
While this moment of littering in “The Gold Violin” is an accurate re-creation of what would have gone down in 1962 after a picnic, it’s also a larger statement from Weiner (who co-wrote the episode) about the false veneer of perfection that existed in those days in general and in the lives of Mad Men’s characters in particular. Because, beneath the surface, it was all a steaming garbage heap waiting to spew forth. For example, although Don has just bought a shiny new convertible to match his shiny new success at the agency, the bubbling up of consequences resulting from his latest affair with Bobbie Barrett (Melinda McGraw) is about to explode his marriage as he once knew it. Elsewhere, Sal (Bryan Batt) invites Ken (Aaron Staton) over to his apartment for dinner, where his wife, Kitty (Sarah Drew), is made to feel like the third wheel—giving her that evermore uneasy sense about Sal that doesn’t crystallize until episode two of season three, when he does his Ann-Margaret in Bye Bye Birdie impression for her. Then there’s Bert Cooper’s (Robert Morse) acquisition of one of Rothko’s signature “red square” paintings. Prompting Ken, Jane (Peyton List), Harry (Rich Sommer) and Sal to enter his office without permission while he’s away so that they can view it. Although Sal, as “an artist,” claims that it “has to” mean something, Ken counters, “I don’t think it’s supposed to be explained… Maybe you’re just supposed to experience it.”
This idea that existence is dominated by total chaos as opposed to some “deeper meaning” would come to define the 1960s and beyond. Even as corporations did their best to insist that all chaos—especially of the environmentally-related variety—was simply the result of poor individual “manners” and “self-control.”
