See photos from Earth Day on Transition West Marin’s Facebook page.
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Celebrating Earth Day in Marin
Saturday, April 23, 2011
On this Earth Day let’s come together in West Marin, learning about nature’s self-correcting ways and genuinely connect with our hearts, minds and spirit. Building local community resilience comes from working together on projects that benefit our fellow human beings and other species.
Joanna Macy says, “Having knowledge and information about environmental destruction does not necessarily galvanize people into action. Instead it can lead to indifference, a kind of psychic numbing, because of the enormity of the issues.” The needed shift in our selves comes from meaningful encounters with the natural world. These can take on the meaning of the sacred or the spiritual through the process of creating relationship with nature.
We welcome all the people of Marin to join, at no cost, in our quest for building greater community resilience.
Find activities and work parties that interest you most. You can participate in several activities, as your time allows, or you can join a particular work party. Make sure, however, that at end of the day, along with volunteers from each of the group, you go to Toby’s. Bring photographs on SD cards or USB drives to share on the projector.
Point Reyes National Seashore
People who have enjoyed a refreshing visit in a natural area, like the Point Reyes National Seashore, often report that their contact with nature’s balance and beauty increased their well being in lasting ways. Being in nature can engender a sense of mystery about the world; a sense of awe about the earth; a sense of connectedness with the natural world; a profound feeling of transcendence and an appreciation of its beauty. It can spark feelings of inner peace, hope, joy and empowerment; promote physical and emotional outlook; and bring about significant changes in attitude and behavior.
Plan your arrival at Bear Valley Visitor Center – Picnic Area for 9:30 am.
Circle of Gratitude
10:00 – 11:00 am
Penny Livingston-Stark, Edward Willie, and other community leaders welcome everyone at this opening ceremony where we will share our individual perspectives on and our appreciation for Mother Earth.
Community in Song
11:00 – noon
Harmony Grisman will lead us with songs to touch our hearts. Simple melodies, intertwined with luscious harmonies, drawing us together in gentle comfort and inspiration. Harmony helps invoke a full range of emotions.
Science on a Sphere
11:00 – noon
Join a National Park Service ranger in the Visitor Center’s auditorium to get a perspective of planet Earth that once was available only to astronauts. Science on a Sphere gives a view of the Earth and the forces that shape life on our planet, illustrating various models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other scientists, such as atmospheric warming, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and other potential effects of climate change. For more info, contact the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 415-464-5100 x2 x5.
Weed Watchers Bear Valley Trail Stewardship
11 am
Join the Point Reyes Weed Watchers for a day of stewardship on the Bear Valley trail towards Arch Rock! We will be learning about local native plants, and pulling invasive weeds to protect this beautiful natural area. Weed Watchers patrol national park trails in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin Counties, detecting, mapping and removing weeds as they first invade. Join us and deepen your understanding of the natural world while playing an important role in the protection of unique wild habitat. Bring a lunch you can eat on the trail, a water bottle, sturdy shoes, sunscreen/hat, and other seasonally appropriate clothing, and the park will provide the data sheets, survey forms, maps, and GPS. For more information about Weed Watchers call Eric Wrubel at 415-331-5023.
Community Picnic
Noon – 1:00 pm
Bring your picnic lunch and share your love for our planet with others at the reserved Picnic Area.
Kehoe Beach Cleanup
Noon – 4:30 pm
The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin will be coordinating a beach cleanup at Kehoe Beach. Meet at the Kehoe Beach trailhead at noon. Bring a lunch you can eat on the trail, a water bottle, sturdy shoes, sunscreen/hat, and other seasonally appropriate clothing, and EAC will provide garbage bags and gloves. If you have questions, contact Amy Trainer at 415-663-9312.
Inner Tracking and Innate Intelligence
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Polla Pratt will offer an introduction to inner tracking and accessing our innate body intelligence, which has survived over 5 mass extinctions and carries the wisdom to prevent us from the 6th. By slowing down, listening in new ways and being curious, we can track and support this ancient wisdom and it’s evolutionary impulses that are trying to guide us through our bodies. It is essential for our survival.
Envisioning Miwok Living
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Visit the past, at Kule Loklo, guided by Edward Willie, giving us insights into the Coast Miwok people who often lived in their villages for hundreds of years. As we contemplate their existence here, we may learn their approaches to life and land, which sustained them for thousands of years. Marin’s earliest caretakers can continue to teach us.
On Shaky Ground
2:00 – 3:00 pm
A National Park Service ranger will lead a guided tour on the Earthquake Trail. Dare to tread the San Andreas Fault where the Earths crust shifted and moved about 5 meters (16 feet) in 1906. Meet at the start of Earthquake Trail next to the picnic area for this easy one-kilometer (0.6 mile) walk. If you have questions, contact the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 415-464-5100 x2 x5.
The Way of Tracking
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Richard Vacha will offer an introduction to tracking as derived from traditional food-gathering techniques. Tracking is about bringing the world to light. It’s about reanimating the world so that we’re not just blind tourists out on a hike, moving fast through it, loving it all and thinking it’s beautiful, but not really knowing what’s going on there.
West Marin Work Parties
Bolinas Community Bike Program
10:00 am
Join the Yellow Bike builders at the Bolinas School basketball court in repairing donated bicycles and turning them into community owned resources.
Inverness Garden Club Beautification – Inverness Plant Park
10:00 am – noon
The Inverness Garden Club will be working on weeding and beautifying Plant Park adjacent to downtown Inverness. Contact Martha Proctor at 415-669-9737 for more information.
Lagunitas Creek Coho Collaboration – 9255 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Olema
10:00 am
SPAWN, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network at the Turtle Island Restoration Network, is gathering its friends to restore endangered salmon habitat along Lagunitas Creek. Snip and pull invasive species; dig holes for hearty natives in the rich floodplain soil; and help build the infrastructure for a new native plant nursery! Bring water; we’ll supply treats, work gloves, and tools. No experience necessary! Call (415)-663-8590 x118 for more information.
Colors of our Earth – New Town Commons in Point Reyes Station (across from Wells Fargo and next to Viewpoints)
11:00 – 3:00 pm
Come and experience colors from the heart of spring with a day of prayer flag dyeing and construction that will help us adorn the new space, and celebrate and share our gratitude for the new commons land, as well as the greater commons— our earth. In honor of the fertility and abundance of this time of year, join us in a process ancient egg dyeing techniques taught by Ecological Artist and Fiber-shed founder, Rebecca Burgess. You will walk away with colorful impressions, a collection of your own flags, and local eggs dyed in our homegrown dyes. Sponsored by West Marin Commons, there is a $65 fee for workshop participants; to reserve a space, email westmarincommons@svn.net. Everyone is welcome to watch for free, how it unfolds.
Peace Demonstration and Political Action – Point Reyes Station
Noon – 2:00 pm
Join the Mainstreet Moms in front of Wells Fargo Bank to have your voice heard. Sign making, political letter writing and other actions will take on the current pressing issues of the day. Call Cathleen Dorinson at 415-663-8426 for additional information.
Bolinas Gibson House Garden Party – 20 Wharf Rd, Bolinas
1:00 – 4:30 pm
Participate in Earth Day by volunteering for the BCLT: Join us for the Gibson House Garden Party where we will create a new vegetable garden, help with spring flower planting and do general garden cleanup. The Gibson House garden is a beautiful part of downtown Bolinas. Learn how the BCLT’s transit-oriented housing model is proving out for climate & community resilience, employing local folks and housing local businesses and how our property stewardship helps enhance and define our community. Bring garden gloves and small gardening tools if you have them (some tools will be available). RSVP to lesakramer@sbcglobal.net or call (415)-868-8880. We’ll provide a wish list of plant starters and other gardening needs prior to the event. Water and light refreshments will be provided.
Inverness Community Garden Building – 13275 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness
1:00 – 4:30 pm
At the Inverness Valley Inn we will be building 2-3 raised garden beds on our tennis courts as part of the Inverness Community Garden. We will provide all tools and materials. Bring gloves and water to drink. Call Alden Adkins at 415-669-9762 for more information
Spirit Rock Meditation Center – 5000 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Woodacre
1:00 – 4:30 pm
Join MALT and Marin Organic members in working with the caretakers and gardeners in removing invasive thistle, weeding and composting the gardens. Spirit Rock Meditation Center has a Marin Agricultural Land Trust conservation easement on 107 acres of this beautiful property.
West Marin School Gardening – Point Reyes Station
1:00- 4:30 pm
If you’re looking for a boots-on-the-ground kind of day, West Marin School Garden in collaboration with Marin Organic and Marin Agricultural Land Trust welcomes you to get your hands dirty. Activities include planting lemon trees, building a potting bench, establishing a perennial artichoke crop and doing plant propagations.
Learning Natural Plastering and Permaculture – 18 Cypress Road, Point Reyes Station
1:00 – 4:30 pm
The Regenerative Design Institute will be hosting a natural plaster project on an earth oven, along with working on a permaculture-inspired pond restoration project. Wear work clothes and boots. We will supply the materials. Call 415-868-9677 for more information.
Greening of Homes
1:00 – 4:30 pm
CLAM is helping some residents with home improvement. Call (415) 663-1005 or email info@clam-ptreyes.org for more information.
Community Celebration – Toby’s Feed Barn in Point Reyes Station
5:00 – 7:30 pm
All volunteers are invited to Toby’s Feedbarn to celebrate the day’s accomplishments and connect with one another around music, food, drink, talk and dance. Speakers include Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey. Tim Weed and his band will be performing.
Sponsors of this day’s events are the Bolinas Community Bicycles, Bolinas Community Land Trust, Community Land Trust of West Marin, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, Inverness Garden Club, Inverness Valley Inn, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Mainstreet Moms, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Marin Organic, Point Reyes Books, Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes National Seashore Association, Regenerative Design Institute, Straus Family Creamery, Sustainable Marin, Tomales Bay Oyster Company, Transition West Marin and West Marin Commons
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