Everybody stands on it, everybody uses it, but does everybody really take the time to honour it? April is Earth Month and Saturday, April 22, is Earth Day. Lund has rekindled its tradition of organizing the perfect way for the whole community to rejoice in planet Earth by holding a festival.
“I think the Lund Gazebo is a perfect place to celebrate Earth Day,” said Christine Morgan, one of the festival organizers. “We have a beautiful venue out in Lund. A lot of effort and love has been put into the gazebo over the years. We would like to see it utilized.”
Sheila Butts has joined Morgan on the organizing team.
“Christine is the one who really got this ball rolling,” said Butts.
The two have divided the jobs, with Butts scheduling performers on stage while Morgan looks after booth and vendor details.
This year there are two events at Lund Gazebo to enjoy. The first is the evening before Earth Day, Friday, April 21, starting at 7 pm. Music and dancing will take place from 8:30 pm-12 am, with Wild Woods Social Club, Little Pharmer and DJ The Chad performing at the all-ages event; admission is by donation.
Earth Day will be fun for the whole family from 12-6 pm with admission also by donation. Kristi McCrae from Lund Farmers’ Cooperative is this year's MC.
A kids area will include activities such as a worm display, creating seed bombs and exploring a giant nature loom. Organizers see the nature loom as being an ongoing interactive community art project throughout the summer.
“We have made paper with some of the Lund kids for nature and paper crafting,” said Morgan. “We will have a white sheet for a push-spray bottle mural and stencil painting Earth Day flags and rocks. We are planning some great crafts for all ages, hoping to inspire adults to get in and craft with the kids.”
There will also be food from local providers, information and craft booths, workshops and an electric-vehicle display partway through the afternoon. Tree seedlings will also be available for people to take home.
Throughout the afternoon, speakers will talk about a multitude of environmental issues, initiatives and climate change.
Proceeds from both events will go toward local salmon enhancement.
“We want to plant a seed to support these initiatives,” said Butts. “The traditional name of Powell River, Tees Kwat, means lots of fish going up the river. Hopefully, there will be again.”
Statistics show Canadian youth spend one hour a day outdoors, which is not enough, said Butts.
“In order for them to understand nature, we need them to be outside discovering it,” she said.
Organizers request that people carpool when driving to Lund, adding that fewer cars on the road lowers the cost to the environment and makes it easier to park at the venue.
