PLANTING A SEED >>>

Earth Day occurs at a beautiful time of year in the South Sound: the lushness of greenery is bursting in pockets around the region; daffodils trumpet in bloom, as if announcing the arrival of spring; birds busily ready their nests; the sun makes more and more appearances. It's the perfect time to remember why we recycle, turn off the water while we brush our teeth and don't idle the car longer than the average pee. We don't want to turn Earth into a shithole.

The South Sound offers plenty of activities for community members to take it one step further this year. While Earth Day falls on Monday, April 22, many organizations have events this Saturday, April 20. (What a great day to go green in more ways than one!)

In Pierce County, Parks Appreciation Day will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.  Eight different sites around Tacoma will be filled with volunteers working to trim limbs, pick up garbage, plant flowers and trees, and much more. To register and/or for a complete list of participating sites click here. 

In Olympia, at Priest Point Park (2298 E. Bay Dr. NE), there will be an Earth Day Stewardship event. A free program open to all ages, the goal of the work party will be to remove invasive plants that threaten our native ecosystem and replant with native vegetation. Tools, gloves and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 360.753.8365.

For events geared toward children, check out The Earth Day Extravaganza at the Tacoma Nature Center (1919 S. Tyler St.), where families can celebrate wiggly worms, creepy crawlies and buzzing bees with fun activities that help teach about the earth and how we can all keep it healthy from noon to 4 p.m.

You can bet the Hand's On Children's Museum (414 Jefferson St. NE) in Olympia jumped on the green train Saturday as well, with Earth Day Fun Science Demos, where your kids can catch environmentally- friendly products in action. Free with admission.

Finally, pick up a copy of the Weekly Volcano tomorrow for our annual Green Issue.