Earth Day Celebration - April 22nd

"There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." - Carl Sagan

The Garland County Library will be celebrating Earth Day 2011 by offering a number of programs that will teach different practices of good stewardship. On Earth Day, April 22nd @ 11 am, we will host a discussion with Bill Burrough, Hot Springs Sanitation Director, about the city's very successful Earth Angel recycling program. This will be followed by a talk with Adam Roberts, Executive Director of the Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission.

Also during this time, Master Gardener Diane Daniel will be giving a demonstration about how to compost. Composting is an integral part of keeping a healthy garden, which in turn saves water, improves soil quality, and alleviates the need to ship food long distances from farm to table. Keeping a compost pile also keeps tons of beneficial nutrients in the ecosystem and out of landfills. It is, in short, in the interest not only of national security, but the continued survival of the human species.

These events will feature prize giveaways and participants are invited to bring a (recyclable) brown bag lunch.

Then, on April 29th from 12-2pm, we will be holding a class on upcycling. For those who do not know, upcycling is the repurposing of old items into new items! We will be turning old t-shirts into book totes, knapsacks, or anything else you wish to create by cutting, stitching, tying, and sewing together. You don't have to know how to sew to take the class, but you do have to register.