Kimberton Hills celebrates Earth Day 2014

Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, elected to the senate in 1962, struggled to bring environmental causes to the attention of Washington politicians. His idea of a "national day for the environment" - the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 - put pressure on politicians to create a national environmental agenda.  Senator Nelson's hope was not for Washington to organize the events of Earth Day, but for individuals and groups to organize activities within their own communities.  Citizens enthusiastically supported the effort and an estimated 20 million people gathered throughout the country to demand action on environmental legislation. It was the combined efforts at the grassroots level that gave the first Earth Day its major impact. We are called to preserve this legacy and continue the efforts that began 44 years ago.

At Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, we are doing our part to lessen our impact on the Earth. We have a strong dedication to the idea that the health of people and the land are not separate, that a community of people putting healthy ideals into practice can be in a mutually beneficial relationship with the land it stewards. Organic and biodynamic farming, gardening and overall stewardship of the land are important elements of our care for the Earth.  Please read more about our commitment to sustainable building and ecological design by clicking here.

We wish you a happy Earth Day and invite you to join with us every day in working toward a healthy planet, with healthy people, land and animals.

The above photo is Earth, as seen by our friend, Lily, age 4. "This is Earth and it is dirty because people aren't cleaning up and they throw their trash all over," says Lily.

What are a few simple steps we can all take to be sure we keep our Earth clean, for Lily and for all of us?

Try Composting.

Nathaniel at the compost collection area. 

Don't be so quick to toss that banana peel into the trash. Composting is an easy and free way to add nutrients to your garden while recycling kitchen and lawn waste. Proper composting can divert up to 30 percent of waste away from your garbage can and introduces beneficial organisms to the soil. Each household in Kimberton Hills collects waste for compost, which is taken to the garden.

Not sure how to get started with composting? Our friend Greg at eartheasy.com has some great suggestions here. 

Upcycle. 

Upcycling is taking waste and making it into something that has equal or greater use or value.  Kimberton Hills' weavery and fiber arts workshops do this regularly. For example, we create beautiful hand-woven rugs out of old jeans and felted juggling balls around used golf balls. We also reuse printed materials as space holders on looms or to create tags for items. There are many possibilities - try and see how creative you can be!  

Charlene and Lane show off our rugs made from old jeans.

Get pedaling.  

Ross takes a ride in the village.  

Dust off that bicycle just sitting in your garage and get moving. You'll be helping yourself and the planet feel better by doing a little bit of exercise, instead of driving your car. According to the WorldWatch Institute, a four-mile bike ride keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.  

Many Kimberton Hills residents use bikes to get from one end of the village to the other and to get to local destinations.  

Buy Locally.  

Sankanac CSA

People everywhere are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food. It is fresher, tastier and more nutritious and also good for your local economy and the environment.  

If you aren't already a member of Kimberton Hills' Sankanac CSA (there may be a few shares still available), you can find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food near you at Local Harvest.