Earth Day Everyday

The purpose of the Hendo Earth Fest is to promote community education for all ages on environmental and sustainable practices, inspire action, and renew and expand commitments to protect our planet. Local and regional environmental allies focus on participation/hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to educate, renew and expand action to protect our Western North Carolina environment and natural resources.

Additional information on the event is available at www.hvlnc.gov/hendoearthfest   

Did you know? The City of Hendersonville started our rain barrel program back in 2017 as part of our overall storm water program. Collecting and reusing rainwater reduces the amount of water flowing into storm drains, waterways, and ensures that every drop of water is being used efficiently. Our Assistant City Manager, Brian Pahle is setting the example by having not one, but two rain barrels at his home!

“We love our rain barrels, we have used them to provide water for our front gardens and to assist with drainage in the front of our house during large rain events. It’s nice knowing that we always have some water stored away for our flowers if we go without rain for a couple weeks."

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Did you know? One of our previous Council Members Jerry Smith, has been composting with his family for many years.

“We started composting as a way to cut down on waste going into the landfill. We also noted that when we added recycling to composting, we had less trash each week than we had compostables and recyclables. We guess that a third of our waste actually goes to trash now. We have been conscious to only put compostable materials in our pile meaning that there are no smell or odors. We are happy that some of our food waste goes back to our yard. We also know that organic material in a compost pile decomposes aerobically which means no methane gas is produced... a more potent gas than carbon dioxide for greenhouse gases.”

Composting At Home Guide

You can also visit our Sustainability Demonstration Station which features multiple sustainability practices community members can implement at their own homes with a focus on composting. Led by the City of Hendersonville's Environmental Sustainability Board, the site offers the City’s first small scale community compost drop off location.

The City of Hendersonville celebrates Earth Day every day by being certified as a Bee City USA affiliate. In their joint effort to continue to fulfill the city’s commitments to create healthy habitats for pollinators, the Hendersonville Tree Board and Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board partner to manage the program. 

HENDERSONVILLE BEE CITY

The first Earth Day, the brainchild of then Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, was held on April 22, 1970. Growing concerns about the environment (spurred in part by the 1962 publication of biologist Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" about the impact of pesticides on the environment) inspired more than 20 million Americans to participate in rallies and cleanup campaigns across the U.S. That first Earth Day is widely considered the seminal beginning of the environmental movement, and today Earth Day is celebrated by an estimated 1 billion people around the world [source: EarthDay.org].

One simple and easy way for residents to celebrate Earth Day every day is by recycling. Learn about the City of Hendersonville’s recycling program.

Another great way to celebrate Earth Day every day is by choosing to drive a hybrid or electric vehicle. Did you know? Our very own Hendersonville Mayor, Barbara Volk, owns a hybrid vehicle! We asked her what Earth Day means to her and how she celebrates every day.

“I believe we should be stewards of this earth. Earth Day serves as a reminder of what we can do to keep its land, air, and water cleaner and healthier. I try to be mindful of conserving water and energy, to follow the three Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—and to compost my vegetable scraps. Those are all easy to do, taking just a little extra time and effort on my part. But I was able to go a bit further. I purchased a Chevrolet Volt, one of the first hybrid cars available. Most of my driving is on battery power, which emits no pollutants. I’m pleased that I can do at least a little toward making our mountain air easier to breathe.”