Ode to PLANET Earth

PLANET is a national trade association that represents landscape industry companies, who create and maintain healthy, green living spaces.

The United States has been celebrating April 22nd as Earth Day since 1970 after Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson made the suggestion. In 1990 Denis Hayes took the holiday international, organizing events in 141 nations.

Today, 192 countries show their environmental protection support through various events, and have now expanded the tribute to mother earth to an entire week.

One way to celebrate Earth Day is to join lawn and landscape professionals as they volunteer to renovate and enhance green spaces across the country.

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) has arranged events for its annual Day of Service and National Volunteer Week, in honor of Earth Day.

"Day of Service is yet another way that PLANET and its members can give back to communities by doing what we do best – creating outdoor areas that help families and communities come alive outside," explained Norman Goldenberg, Landscape Industry Certified, president of PLANET.

In Lindenhurst, New York volunteers will help Hurricane Sandy victims clean up and restore yards at up to 200 homes. PLANET member Belknap Landscape, located in Gilford, New Hampshire, along with other volunteers from the New Hampshire Landscape Association, Gilford Rotary, Gilford high school and West Point Academy, will clear debris, rake yards and leave each home with flower-filled pots for each doorstep.

Thousands of other lawn and landscape professionals will mulch, prune, plant, mow, weed, and clean up locations across the country, some of which include:

Smithtown Historical Society in Nesconcet, NY, where an edible landscape will be installed; Good News Community Health Clinic in Portland, OR, a free health clinic for the uninsured that will get a much needed grounds clean up and pruning; Riverside Cemetery in Denver, CO, where volunteers will help re-vegetate the historical cemetery; and Langley Residential Support Services in Potomac, VA, a non-profit serving adults with intellectual disabilities that will enjoy a new patio with memorial bricks commemorating donors.

In 2012, PLANET landscape professionals volunteered at more than 150 projects in 36 states and Canada, with a value of more than $675,000. Will PLANET beat last year's monetary volunteering total? Check back to find out.

For more information about Earth Day, please visit earthday.org, or if you would like to join PLANET's festivities click here.

In the comments section below, let us know how you will celebrate Earth Day.

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