Today, on the 37th edition of Earth Day, people all over the North Olympic Peninsula are out cleaning up, both in town and out in the wilderness, while also investigating ways to live lightly upon the earth.
West End
The Olympic Coast Cleanup, which began Saturday, continues today with volunteers on hundreds of miles of beaches along Olympic National Park, the Makah Reservation and Ocean Shores.
Last year, 751 registered volunteers collected more than 20 tons of trash from Neah Bay south to Long Beach.
Volunteers help with a wide range of tasks, from picking up trash at popular day use beaches to backpacking to remote beaches, to carrying filled trash bags from beach to parking lot, to greeting and orienting volunteers at park ranger stations.
For more information, visit www.olympiccoastcleanup.us.
Port Townsend
PORT TOWNSEND – A Green Living Exposition is planned today during the second day of the 4th Annual Earth Day Every Day! festival.
The expo will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Jefferson County Memorial Field on Washington at Madison streets.
Sustainable agriculture, green transportation, green building, smart energy programs, conserving resources and strengthening community are topics that will be featured with displays, activities and demonstrations.
The schedule will highlight an Efficient Vehicles Ride & Drive from Memorial Field.
Vehicles will include bicycles, electric bicycles and tricycles, electric scooters, electric cars, hybrid electric cars and a plug-in Prius.
Rides will be offered around the block that includes the Port Townsend City Hall
A 20-minute speed charging demonstration at recharging stations is planned to teach about conversions from gasoline to electric cars, and from hybrid to plug-in hybrid cars.
A green transportation exhibit will open at 10 a.m. at Memorial Field.
There, visitors will find a Smart Car from Green Car Company, a ZENN electric car from MC Electric Vehicles, a Toyota Prius from Wilder Toyota, a Jefferson Transit biodiesel bus, biodiesel fuel manufacturing by Zion, a Quickie Plug-in hybrid that gets 100 miles per gallon by Rich Ruggles and exhibits on walking and biking.
The exposition will also offer information on waste reduction, composting, cooperative gardening and flower planting for kids.
In addition, Swan School volunteers will clean bicycles at Port Townsend’s Memorial Field, 550 Washington St., from 10 a.m. to noon.
Volunteers and bike mechanics will clean and lubricate bicycles for people who commute on their bikes to the event.
The Swan School violin ensemble will perform on the main entertainment stage from 11:15 to noon.
For more information, visit www.earthdayeverydaypt.com.
Port Angeles
Nathan Gelder will show how to build a straw bale house from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
Participants will stack bales of straw and learn about straw houses at Gelder’s home, 650 Quail Run Road, Port Angeles.
No experience is necessary.
For more information, phone Gelder at 360-461-2658.
Gardiner
An Earth Day celebration Wild Birds Unlimited, 275953 Highway 101, Gardiner, is planned from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.
The Northwest Raptor Center will provide an up-close look at various birds.
Janglebones, a Seattle-based bluegrass band, will perform.
Organic soup and salad will also be available.
Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Donations will be collected for the raptor center.
Acceptable items include towels, blankets, sheets, aquariums, dog food, small animal watering bottles, powdered goats milk, alfalfa, birdseed and chain-link fencing.
For more information, phone 360-797-7100.
