Earth Day All Around Natick, a two-day event this coming weekend (April 30/May 1), has piled up 50-plus activities across town that offer something for everyone whether you like to hike, play, volunteer, or learn.
“When we decided to create an Earth Day that would be hands-on and all over town, we said we’d be happy with offering 10 events,” says Debby Marion, on behalf of EcoNatick.org and the Earth Day All Around Natick team. “The fact that we have over 50 events shows how much we all long to connect with the web of life that feeds us, gives us air to breathe and water to drink, and surrounds us with beauty.”
Uh yeah. Our goal is actually more to check out some funky stuff. Bring on the guy using a chainsaw to turn a tree into a work of art at the new Erica Ball Community Garden (72 South Main St.) and the goats chowing down on invasives at the Community Organic Farm.
We might get nosy too and visit some people’s yards, which have been opened up for garden tours and to show off their edible hedges, among other environmentally friendly setups for energy generation and water capture.
From the looks of the schedule, we’re not going to recognize Natick come Monday. Cleanups are in store at Camp Arrowhead, Johnson Elementary Schoo, and other locations. What’s more, the town’s trails will get a makeover, including at Hunnewell Forest, where the beavers have had their say about one of the existing trails. Guided walks on town trails will teach you about things you’ve probably walked past a zillion times.
Be sure to consult the event website before heading to activities, as some require signups. The site does include a nice sorting of activities by categories like kids, gardens, and green energy if you select the Deep Dive tab.
There might still be a need for some volunteers as well, including at the Big Clean-Out at Natick High on April 30 from 9am-12pm, where numerous stations will be set up for recycling various items (some for a fee).
In case you’re wondering, the reason the activities didn’t take place last weekend given that Earth Day was on Friday, April 22, is that the team wanted to avoid school vacation week to maximize the opportunity for families with school-age children to participate. Earth Day All Around Natick includes bunches of kids activities, including art projects and games.
While the town’s Earth Day activities won’t center on Natick Common as usual, that area won’t be left out. Town muckety-mucks will be on hand from 10am-12pm to talk about the town’s sustainability efforts, such as use of electrical vehicles and building electrification. If that’s not entertaining enough for you, Natick Sustainability Chair Leo Ryan and fellow musicians will be playing tunes.
