Earth Calendar

Earth Day is designated to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. Earth Day was first observed on March 21st, 1970 and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network. Earth Day is now celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. Many communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day. This year more than one billion people around the world will celebrate Earth Day 2012 and help mobilize the earth.

Every year, US businesses and citizens lose billions of dollars to corporate fraud and espionage. Most companies spend millions of dollars protecting confidential information. However, when no longer useful, that same information ends up in a dumpster or a recycling bin where it is legally available to anyone. Shredding paper documents is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent fraud and identity theft.

Every year, Americans generate 250 million tons of trash - enough to fill a line of garbage trucks that would stretch from the Earth halfway to the moon. Studies have shown that at least 75% of our waste could be recycled or composted. On April 2nd, thousands of students in schools across the country will aim to "recycle right" for four weeks during the 2012 Green Cup Recycle Challenge, a student-driven recycling competition for grades K-12 sponsored by the Green Schools Alliance.

If you're thinking of improving the appearance of your pond or adding a pond to your landscape, the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District will be offering a free pond clinic for county citizens. Topics will include pond maintenance, safety, regulations, stocking, aeration, weed control, hazardous algae, construction, nuisance wildlife, and storm water retention ponds. These ponds you see in many newer subdivisions not only provide a scenic addition to the community landscape, they are also beneficial to the environment.

Many yards are sprouting daffodils this time of year but none have such a legacy as those at Cincinnati Nature Center. The blooms that spread across CNC's acres of land were originally planted over a hundred years ago by Carl Krippendorf. The daffodil was Carl's favorite flower and it thrived in Cincinnati's soil and climate. Today, thanks to Carl's hard work and love of flowers, daffodils greet Cincinnati Nature Center's visitors at the entrance and spread all the way out to the forests.

The city of Forest Park is bringing back a popular program that offers all local residents a 50% discount to make home energy improvements. The city is partnering with the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance to provide homeowners a full home energy assessment and access to financial incentives, which can mean savings on utility bills. The Forest Park Residential Energy Efficiency Program was launched last year, during which time 50 homes received energy efficiency upgrades.