By Gari Voss
The weekend of April 20, 2024, was rather brisk in temperature, but it did not stop Earth Day enthusiasts from participating in outdoor activities.
Allegan Conservation District Event
At the new Allegan Conservation District facility on Taft Road, staff sold trees and bushes that would be planted by the new owners. Visitors were able to tour the new building and learn that when the walls are complete, the team will be able to not only store equipment but host workshops and other learning activities for adults and children.
Special kudos go to the Gun River Band as it was rather chilly for fingers to fly up and down strings, but they were great! A little hot coffee and those great pinwheels from Mug Shots kept the music flowing.
For those purchasing trees and others who were just interested, Forester Ben Savoie demonstrated how to plant seedlings.
John Pigeon from the Potawatomi Band engaged onlookers in Indigenous crafts. Participants worked at removing the growth ring layers of a small log. The pieces were then split and made more pliant to create fiber that could be used in making other materials. The pieces would be used to make small baskets.
The beauty of the day was summarized as John spoke about the Earth as being the source of all life. The reminder that the care of the soil, the earth, is the foundation to which we must give special attention.
Downtown Clean Up
Perrigo (Fri., Apr. 19) and Sassy Olive (Sat., Apr. 20) hosted city cleanup days. On Saturday, about 35 individuals stopped to pick up bags and maps at Sassy Olive. Thanks to the generosity of Pizza Hut, when participants finished their areas, they could stop and enjoy a nice variety of pizza.
Allegan Earth Day Event
The City of Allegan will celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 26, 2024. At 10am, the city staff and all interested can meet at the Allegan District Library to plant a tree to replace what was removed during the Downtown Improvement efforts in 2023.
