This year the theme of Earth Day is Green Cities and on the Earth Day Network website they state that "As the world's population migrates to cities, and as the bleak reality of climate change becomes increasingly clear, the need to create sustainable communities is more important than ever."
Greener cities will have more efficient buildings, cleaner energy and transportation options while they transition to a cleaner and healthier future.
Sustainability and combating climate change are interests of the local Woodland League of Women Voters.
In the line with the Green Cities theme, this Earth Day the Woodland LWV decided to highlight the importance of community and school gardens in helping to green communities. Community and school gardens are also a great way to help maintain the agricultural heritage of Yolo County.
Community gardens not only help green our cities by supporting local cultivation of plants such as fruits and vegetables as well as flowers and trees, they also serve other functions. As the American Community Garden Association notes they help in "beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food ... conserving resources."
Additionally they can attract bees and other pollinators. Yolo County opened a community garden in Woodland in the fall of 2013 and this spring began accepting applications for plots for produce and flowers. As part of the Woodland LWV's effort to highlight community gardens they donated an apricot tree to the community orchard portion of the garden.
More and more school gardens are being planted throughout the region. Just as with the community gardens, not only do they help green the community but they help teach children where their food comes from and help provide healthy food for their lunches. There are many school gardens in Woodland including at least 8 at elementary schools and 2 at middle schools.
"As we explored what the various schools in the Woodland School District were doing we were excited at how much is happening and impressed by the enthusiasm of those helping to lead the programs," according to a league representative. "The Yolo Farm to Fork program recently awarded 16 grants to schools in Yolo County to help them "build and maintain edible school gardens."
Five of these were in Woodland.
This year with the drought, gardening will be a challenge but it will also present an opportunity to learn about ways to reduce water usage in gardens through mulching techniques and plant choices.
While Earth Day is just one day, the earth and the environment need our attention throughout the year. As such, the Woodland LWV plans on sustainable communities / Green Cities being one of their areas of focus via education and advocacy throughout the coming year. We will also explore other ways to help community and school gardens. We encourage all those who want a sustainable future for Woodland, to make their voices heard to their elected officials.