Saturday is Earth Day — it’s the 47th anniversary of the day that marks the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. In our little patch of the planet, the Caruso Company, owner of the Grove, got an early start on Earth Day celebrations by installing a pollinator garden in a small patch of Pan Pacific Park yesterday. In addition, the company donated $2,500 to Hancock Park Elementary school for its Native Plant Program and school garden.
Teaming up with the Environmental Media Association (EMA), Kellogg Garden Products and 5th graders from Hancock Park Elementary School, there was a ceremonial planting of native milkweed plants into a small space on one of the slopes to near the children’s playground at Pan Pacific Park.
Debbie Levin, CEO Environmental Media Association, EMA’s #GreenMySchool Mentors and actors Amy Smart, Sarah Wright Olsen, Aidan Gallagher and Anna Schafer congratulated the 5th graders on their gardening skills and their interest in helping to be good stewards of the earth. CD4 Senior Deputy Catherine Landers was on hand to congratulate the students and thank Caruso for its investment in the park and contribution to Hancock Park Elementary School. Brian Hawley, manager of the Grove, told the Buzz that the organization plans to continue the planting across the entire slope, adding even more pollinator-friendly plants.
And speaking of gardens, congratulations to the Mid City West Community Council, which was awarded for the second consecutive year the annual EmpowerLA Award from the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) for revitalizing the Rosewood Garden Park, one of the smallest parks in the City of Los Angeles.
Proving that communities can do big things with small spaces, Mid City West spent 2 days cleaning up the park, which had not been maintained for some time, planting new drought tolerant and California native plants and re-painting through collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks and Fairfax High School. They have also worked with City Councilmember Paul Koretz’s office to find a permanent solution for maintaining the park by partnering with LAUSD, which will cost $15,000 in City funds, providing daily maintenance.
If all of this has inspired you to get out and do some gardening, you can join the Garden School Foundation at itsCommunity Garden Day on April 22nd. The organization will celebrate Earth Day at the beautiful garden at 24th Street Elementary School. They will be serving delicious snacks and hosting a variety of hands-on garden activities to help you enjoy the sunshine and reconnect with nature.
Or you can plant your own garden. Larchmont’s Landis’ Labyrinth Toy Shops in partnership with Plan Toys, the line of sustainable toys, is celebrating Earth Day under the slogan “Save the Bees.” This Saturday, the first 20 customers will receive fun and eco-friendly gifts: Plan Toys Earth Day Kits named “Save the Bee.” Each Earth Day Kit contains a planting pot, “Save the Bee” flower seeds and Bee board game.
Another great Earth Day event, especially for those with young kids who love big trucks, is the annual citywide Earth Day LA event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Exposition Park, where the LA Sanitation department will once again bring their giant trucks for kids to explore. There will also be more than 50 educational (and fun!) exhibits for the whole family to learn about sustainability. And, of course, free food, fun, giveaways, and entertainment. Admission is also free.
If you’re into a bigger event, join the March for Science. The Los Angeles March starts on Saturday, April 22 at 9:00am in Pershing Square at 532 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. The purpose of the March is to advocate for evidence-based policies and stand against the silencing and defunding of research.
Organizers expect over 50,000 people to march in Los Angeles, including scientists, educators, students, advocates, and community leaders making the LA March, the second largest of over 600 March for Science events happening worldwide behind the national March for Science in Washington, DC. “Facts matter. Government that ignores science endangers the world,” says lead organizer Alex Bradley.
“In California, we use science to enable technology, spur innovation, and create new industries and new jobs,” says March speaker and NextGen Climate founder Tom Steyer. “An attack on science is an attack on our fundamental values, and we will continue to defend the truth in order to protect all Californians.”
Marchers will gather at 9:00am at Pershing Square Park in downtown Los Angeles. There will be a legislative meet and greet with local politicians to kick off the morning. At 10:00am, a pre-march rally will feature speeches on topics ranging from the role of science in protecting health and the environment to the importance of diversity in science.
Speakers include:
• Lucy Jones, seismologist and founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society
• Farisa Morales, astrophysicist and professor at California State University-Northridge and Moorpark College
• Brad Sherman, U.S. Representative from California’s 30th Congressional District
• Joanne Boadi, junior at the California Academy of Mathematics and Science
• Tom Steyer, founder of NextGen Climate
• Allison Schroeder, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Hidden Figures
• MariaElena Zavala, professor of biology at California State University-Northridge
At 11:00am, two ZERO SOUTH electric hummers will lead the march to City Hall. At 12:00pm, the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir will open the call to action at City Hall with a performance of their original piece “A Song for Planet Earth.”
Call to action speakers will include:
• Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist at Caltech
• Martha Dina Argüello, executive director of Physicians for Responsibility-Los Angeles
• Michael Batie, President of the Los Angeles Council of Black Professional Engineers
• Tepring Piquado, neurobiologist at the RAND Corporation
• Nitin Apte, CEO of Materia, Inc.
• Stephanie Pincetl, professor-in-residence and director of the California Center for Sustainable Communities at UCLA
The science expo in Pershing Square Park will feature booths, teach-ins, and demonstrations from local organizations and universities from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Kyle Hill, Nerdist’s Science Editor, will emcee presentations on the Science Expo Stage in Pershing Square Park from 1:30pm to 4:00pm. Presentations include:
• Science-inspired music from Shredded Science and Tim Griffin with GriffinEd.
• Science demonstrations from the Mars Academy USA/Mars Without Borders, Center for Inquiry, and Lombardi Labs
• Talks from the Science Kids Alex and Sophia, 314 Action, Nerd Nite Los Angeles, the Skeptic Society, LA Makerspace, and Free Radicals
