Those of us who work and volunteer for The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) consider every day as Earth Day. We know how fortunate we are to live in a beautiful place, our very own heaven on earth, and in our work we care for this special region designated a National Heritage Corridor in 1994.

Earth Day began in 1970 when America was still relatively oblivious to environmental concerns. Rachel Carson’s bestseller Silent Spring had been published in 1962 and it represented a watershed moment for what is today our modern environmental movement. Her book and activism raised our national consciousness and concern about all living organisms and public health – specifically the use and long-term deleterious impacts of synthetic pesticides such as DDT.

I participated in the first Earth Day in 1970 when I was a freshman in high school and remember reading Silent Spring for the first time that same year. Recently I was reintroduced to Carson’s work. I purchased an early edition of Silent Spring and her other books, The Sea Around Us and Under the Sea Wind. I am pleased to have added these books to my growing collection of works by important and influential writers on the environment.

Carson’s influence as the spark for Earth Day can’t be denied. Her role is even more poignant when we learn about the difficulty she withstood from unfounded criticism aimed at her by the chemical industry as a result of Silent Spring. She also testified before Congress about the effects of DDT, all the while suffering from cancer. Unfortunately she died in 1964 and did not live to see the banning of DDT, let alone the first Earth Day. I urge readers of this column to learn more about Rachael Carson and her work.

If you’re looking to learn about the history of Earth Day and the impact this movement has had on our country and the world, I suggest you check out the website for the Earth Day Network, earthday.org.

Another way to celebrate Earth Day is to participate in or organize a cleanup. If your town or local non-profit organization is interested in hosting a cleanup in your community, you may want to consider contacting TLGV. We provide up to $500 for cleanup funds to be used for purchasing supplies such as gloves, trash bags, food for volunteers and so forth. Funds are available on a reimbursement basis, the application process is easy and approval turn-around time is quick.

Your cleanup doesn’t have to be held near Earth Day but you’ll want to get your application in soon while TLGV still has available funds. You can find the details here.

TLGV-supported Earth Day cleanups don’t just happen. Each and every one takes commitment, time and a fair amount of sweat from people like you. Rachael Carson may have sparked our greater awareness and understanding of the role each of us plays in protecting our earth. But it is up to you and me – in the here and now – to continue her work. Only we can care for and pass on to future generations our special place we call home. Only together can we make every day Earth Day here in The Last Green Valley.

Bill Reid is the Retired Chief Ranger of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor and has lived in the region for more than 40 years.