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The short answer is no. We’re not. Many of us are old enough to remember the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 but many were not yet born or only remember doing simple things like trash pickups or arts and crafts to mark the one day a year. Many are not aware of its history and the significant changes it brought about.

“On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — took to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment.” –earthday.org

Despite the fact that the first Earth Day resulted in the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts, celebrating the Earth one day a year is not enough and never has been. To have a real impact, we as individuals need to make permanent lifestyle changes every single day of the year to live more sustainably. And to have a real impact, we need to start making those changes now.

Climate Change, Deforestation, Water Quality and Scarcity, Waste Disposal, Pollution, and on and on and on. The environmental challenges we’re facing now can be overwhelming. It’s very tempting to believe there is nothing we can do about it as individuals. But we must. If enough of us commit to living more sustainably, we can and will make a difference. We must.

Today marks 50 days until the 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day. We here at ACLT we love doing experiments and taking on challenges. In fact, one of the strategies of ACLT’s 5-Year Plan (2019-2023) is to “lead by example in environmental stewardship whenever possible.”

So let’s try this … every day for the next 50 days, check out our daily posts about how you can live a more sustainable lifestyle and start making those small changes. When we finally get to Earth Day on April 22^nd, let’s see how many of us have made substantial changes in the way we think, shop, eat, and live.

Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see our daily posts. You don’t use social media? Not a problem … our website now shows our live Facebook stream so that no one has to miss a thing!

ACLT’s Earth Day Events:

April 19th – Earth Day 5K Trail Run/Hike

April 25th – Earth Day-Themed Guided Family Hike & Bring-Your-Own-Picnic

April 26th – Earth Day Cleanup – More Details to be announced soon!

Woodrow Wallace Family – Photo by: Carl Fleischhauer

The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a $20,000 grant from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority (MHAA) for research to be conducted as the initial phase of the “Parkers Creek Heritage Trail”. According to the grant application:

“For more than 10,000 years, people have hunted, fished, worked and made their homes around what would come to be known as Parkers Creek in Calvert County. Just as their lives and cultures shaped our local heritage, the ruggedness of the terrain and the characteristics of the waterways shaped their lives. The environment and its people leave a mark on each other and are inextricably intertwined.

The American Chestnut Land Trust seeks to fully explore that relationship within 5 significant eras of human habitation. The results will, in future phases, be shared through comprehensive interpretation for the public along ACLT’s current 22 miles of trails and heritage sites and 2 new trails slated for creation in 2019 and 2020.

Phase 1 of this long term project will result in the following: conclusion of primary research for each era and production of supporting online materials. At the conclusion of Phase 1, ACLT will hold a community event presenting the results of the research. Future phases will included development and installation of an interpretation plan and may include, but not be limited to, signage, framework edge display of excavated buildings, and sculptures/artwork representing buildings and historic life in the watershed, enhancing the visitors experience and strengthening their connection to the land.”

In its award of the grant, MHAA points out that “heritage areas foster broad public-private partnerships to preserve and enhance the best of Maryland’s historic sites and towns, unspoiled natural landscapes, and enduring traditions. These tangible links to both place and past help residents recognize their communities have a special piece of the American story to treasure and share with others and, in doing so, contribute to the economy of Maryland’s communities by preserving and enhancing places that attract heritage tourists. Every dollar of MHAA state grant funding has a return on investment of $4.45, generates $19.8 million in state and local taxes, and creates 3,146 jobs annually.”

Visit www.acltweb.org for more information about ACLT.

Earth Day at 50 – Are We Doing Enough?

ACLT’s Earth Day Events:

ACLT Receives $20K Grant for Parkers Creek Heritage Trail