On April 22, 1970, millions of people protested in the streets against the negative impact of industrial development. This marked the first Earth Day in history. Today, Earth Day is a global event that countries around the world take part in. People march, sign petitions, clean up their towns and plant trees.

Join English Gardens on Earth Day, April 22, from 10am to 2pm and Pledge Your Promise to the Earth. Sample promises include:

• Recycle all paper products.
• Turn off the water while I brush my teeth.
• Turn off the lights when I’m not home.

Once you pledge your promise, you will receive a packet of three seed balls with Botanical Interests Precious Pollinators Seed Mix. This beautiful mix of wildflower seeds in vibrant yellows, reds and blues, provides food and nectar to all of our pollinator friends.

These hand-crafted seed balls were created by SMART, a local program serving adults aged 18 to 26 with developmental disabilities. In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that only 18% of individuals with a disability were employed. The SMART Program is looking to change these statistics by partnering with local businesses. Students worked tediously on creating over 2,000 seed balls for English Gardens Earth Day.

“This was a great project for students to work on,” says Sheri Germane, the SMART Program Coordinator. “We are so grateful for this job. Students were able to advance their skills in organization and time management.”

For more information on the SMART Program, email Sheri at sheri.germane@hvs.org.