Compiled By Brandy Centolanza
“This year for Earth Day, our family is going to forgo the use of pesticides in our garden and instead substitute with the use of praying mantis egg cases placed throughout our property. Each case produces hundreds of baby mantises that will serve to both keep the pest population under control and provide a wonderful opportunity to teach our youngest about nature.” —Kimberley Koprowski, WILLIAMSBURG
“My enjoyment in life is sailing. My project has been to paint a catamaran, a fuel free boat. When [spring] arrives, my neighbors and I hope to be on the water enjoying the wind’s best efforts to offer us entertainment.” —Gary Herbert, HAMPTON
“I plan to recycle my water bottle and Capri Sun drink pouches. I also think it’s important to turn the water off when I brush my teeth. I want to make a conscious effort to make sure I help save the planet for the future. I think if everyone did just a little bit then all of those little bits would make a big difference.” —Ronnie Littman, WILLIAMSBURG
“I have rain barrels on all of my gutters to water my herb and vegetable gardens. I just ordered a composter to make my own fertilized soil and I ordered solar panels to charge my cell phone and laptop. If they work out, I plan to add more and get an electric lawn mower that will be charged by the sun.” —Cynthia Wool,
VIRGINIA BEACH
“The teen librarian (at Tuckahoe Library) will celebrate Earth Day at the library with a group of 25 teenagers who meet monthly to promote environmental awareness. “The Virginia Cooperative Extension will provide plants for repotting…We’ll collect clothing and books for the Christmas Mother, and clothing will go to Goodwill. Everyone is invited.” —Mary Menk, HENRICO
“This is the first Earth Day in our new home and we’re excited to have a backyard. To celebrate, we’ll be breaking ground on a vegetable garden. We’re also installing a rain barrel, to make our project even more environmentally friendly and self sufficient.” —Susan Cusher, NEWPORT NEWS
“I am going to stop purchasing individually packaged snack-sized items for my son’s lunch and snacks. Instead of using Ziploc bags to pack his lunch, I am going to pack his lunch in reusable containers. I think if more people did this, it would make a difference.” —Heather Del Negro, WILLIAMSBURG
“I’m going to help the Go Green Club [at Bruton High] maintain a trail and create an outdoor classroom for use by teachers. We hope to raise money for reusable and eco-friendly cafeteria trays. Through these projects and more, I hope to inspire the members of the Green Club as well as the school that going green can be easy.” —Callie Houghland, YORK COUNTY
“I plan to replace all of the light bulbs in my house with energy-efficient ones. The Steward School [where Brandt serves as assistant head) is committed to sustainability and has placed recycle bins on campus, performed an energy audit and changed all of the school’s light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs. Our Upper School has adopted a water theme for the 2011-2012 academic year, encouraging all students to become aware of water-related issues.” —Carolyn Brandt, HENRICO COUNTY
“In honor of Earth Day, I pledge to continue reducing our waste. We use cloth diapers and a baking soda and lemon juice combination for laundering. I would like to support more local farmers and use my car less. I pledge to start composting my kitchen waste again and to use a clothesline for drying my laundry this spring.” —Angela Zere-Bullock, WILLIAMSBURG