Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Nature’s way
UAMS celebrates Earth Day No. 55 with myriad environmental activities
Earth Day became an annual event starting on April 22, 1970. The goal was to have a day to support the environment and protect our planet for future generations. Each year since then, more than a billion people participate in some activity around Earth Day.
Locally, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is gearing up to support the cause. Next Friday, they will hold their own Earth Day celebration on the UAMS campus from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Events will take place adjacent to Parking Deck 2, off of Markham Street and Hooper Drive, on Campus Drive.
Spearheaded by the UAMS Landscape and Grounds Department, landscape manager Penny Talbert said the goal was to encourage their employees to protect the planet, and to get outside and enjoy the beautiful state and campus. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. There should be plenty of parking on Deck 2: The first 30 minutes are free and $1 per hour after that.
To help promote recycling, Shredit will be on hand to shred any paper. There will also be a drop-off for plastic and cardboard. A small electronic recycling center where you can drop off small appliances, computers, etc., will be available, as well as a prescription drug takeback station for out-of-date meds. You do not need to worry about parking for these activities. You can drive through and volunteers will be on hand to help you unload. Turn onto Hooper Drive off Markham, and follow the signs toward Parking Deck 2.
After you have dropped your recycling off, there will be plenty of educational opportunities. Several people will be on hand to educate and demonstrate.
■ The Arkansas Forestry Commission will host a Free Tree Friday event with a variety of small tree seedlings, including bald cypress, Shumard oak, cherrybark oak, red mulberry, and river birch.
■ Arkansas Game and Fish will have a nature demonstration.
■ Representatives from the city of Little Rock will share information about the city’s composting program and the avail
ability of organic matter.
■ The Little Rock Zoo will have a booth, complete with small animals to view.
■ Representatives of Keep Arkansas Beautiful and the Arkansas State Parks, Heritage and Tourism Department will be there to talk about their services and to promote annual cleanup days across the state.
■ In addition, I will be there to answer your gardening questions, identify plants or discuss any plants problems you may have. The Pulaski County Master Gardeners will also be around to talk gardening and help pass out trees and seeds.
BEES, PLANTS AND MORE
Did you know UAMS has its own beehives and produces honey? Local beekeeper and founder of Calm and Confidence, Lauren Anderson helps harvest the honey. She will be there to talk about beekeeping and give you a taste of UAMS local honey. Calm and Confidence installs beehives all over Central Arkansas, including UAMS, and teaches new beekeepers. They also mentor young people interested in STEM careers and partner with organizations to establish beehives in community gardens. Anderson will also do honey sampling and you can watch as she builds beehives to put out in the community.
Along with Lauren, is Chris Peralata a local gardener and designer who helps maintain gardens where there are Calm and Confidence bees. She will be working with Lauren and can give pointers on how to design your own bee garden.
If you want to buy some plants that day, ACCESS Schools will give a sneak peek at all the plants they have at their Little Rock campus. Members of their Project Search team will have some plants available for sale. The ACCESS horticulture program is a student-run business located at the ACCESS Academy and Young Adult Campus at 1500 N. Mississippi St. The spring plant sale, which began on April 1, is open to the public and will continue on Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through May 27 or until the inventory is sold out. All proceeds of the plant sale benefit the ACCESS Gardens horticulture program in providing therapy, educational and vocational training opportunities for individuals with special needs.
Krause House Farms, a first-generation family farm in Ferndale that raises produce naturally, will be at the event as well. It will have some fresh salad greens to sell and talk about its farm, particularly straw-bale gardening, which is how it grows tomatoes on the farm.
April is a prime gardening month, and what better way to kick-start your gardening year than by celebrating Earth Day at UAMS by learning new things, buying some plants and getting free trees and seeds, recycling items, getting outside and enjoying some fresh air, and learning more about our state. For more information: (501) 5260000, uamshealth.com