Celebrate Earth Day at Various Queens Spots

This Wednesday marks the 45th anniversary of the first official Earth Day, which many people consider the birth of the modern environmental movement. Since it’s mid-week, there will be a few related activities on the actual day and additional ones over the weekend. Here’s a short list with information on the big Arbor Festival last.

• Green Garden/Green Planet: Celebrate with urban gardening, sustainable art-making, hands-on workshops, and a spring garden tour with natural plant-and-backyard care tips. At 1 pm and 3 pm, participate in a workshop on starting flowers, herbs, and vegetables from seed and make a recycled bird feeder. Learn about recycling, composting, and local earth-friendly resources. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Avenue, Flushing, April 22, 1 pm to 4 pm, $4/$3 for students and children/free for infants and toddlers.
• Earth Day Craft and Mini Garden Tour: Celebrate by taking a stroll and making a botanically themed craft. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing, April 22, 3:30 pm, free.
• Spring Fling for Earth Day: Celebrate by touring this historic house and its gardens, and enjoy crafts, games, music and entertainment. Onderdonk House, 1820 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood, April 25, noon to 4 pm, $5.
• Composting in the City: Celebrate with the NYC Compost Project, which teaches how to reduce waste and create “black gold” for gardens by composting leaves, kitchen scraps, garden trimmings, and weeds. Queens Botanical Garden, April 25, 1 pm to 3:30 pm, registration required via compost@queensbotanical.org, $5.
• Let’s Talk About Pollution: Celebrate by learning how to help clean up Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek. There will be time to share stories and brainstorm solutions. Flushing YMCA, 138-46 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, April 25, 3 pm.
• Arbor Festival: Activities for all ages, including a petting zoo, live music, food and craft vendors, compost demonstration and a beer tent. Queens Botanical Gardens, free with admission, but there are extra fees for some activities.

Photo: Onderdonk House