Earth and Spirit to observe Earth Day
More than 30 years ago, people across the country realized the importance of preserving and protecting the environment. As a result of the growing concern, Earth Day was established and continues to be celebrated each year in April.
Joining in the festivities, Earth and Spirit Garden Gallery will host its second annual Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 16. All are welcome to meet local environmentalists, artists, and earth conscious people who will gather from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Earth and Spirit on Maria Drive in St. James City.
Festivities will include seminars, music, food, a fashion show, artist demonstrations, a drum circle and raffles to the support the work of the Calusa Land Trust on Pine Island.
Opening the day-long event will be a performance by the St. James Creek Bluegrass Band at 10 a.m. Then taking the stage will be island resident Lee Tapager, who will demonstrate and practice Qi-Gong, a form of Chinese meditation.
Tapager will be followed by a writer/poet corner at 11:30 a.m. presented by book author, Marsha Perlman, who will share a selection of poems found in her latest book “Spirit Life.” According to Perlman, her poems were inspired by the unique Southwest Florida environment.
At 12:30 p.m. Earth and Spirit will host a unique fashion which will be facilitated by Deb Zwetsch of ZWear based in Bokeelia. Each piece shown will be one-of-a-kind, handpainted silk fashioned into scarves, wraps, blouses, skirts, dresses and accessories.
At 1:30 p.m. another island resident, Dick Workman, will present a seminar titled “Going Native” and will explain the benefits of growing native plants.
Workman will be followed by another writer/poets corner at 2 p.m. featuring local book authors, Laura Schulkins and Deb Luten. The author of “Divine Inspiration, Divine Understanding,” Luten’s book takes an in depth look into every day events and how people deal with them. Schulkins will share her book, “Happy to be Mia” which is geared to young readers and teaches valuable lessons with regard to the importance of not littering.
At 2:45 p.m. the winners of the Pine Island Elementary School Earth Day writers contest will be presented.
The seminars continue with a presentation from Dick Anderson on Celebrating Restoration.
At 3:30 p.m. Lynda Mastronadro will present Southwest Florida Naturally and wrapping up the event will be a drum circle led by renown African Drum instructor, Ndakhte Ndiaye of St. James City. Beginning at 4 p.m. all are welcome to pick up a drum and join Ndiaye as she demonstrates drumming techniques and dance movements from the people of West Africa.
In addition to numerous raffles that will be held throughout the day to benefit the Calusa Land Trust, Diane and Scott Lampitt also are encouraging people to come to the event on bicycles.
In keeping with the spirit of the day, the Lampitt’s will award an Earth and Spirit gift certificate to the individual who travels the longest distance by bicycle to attend the Earth Day event.
The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, and is said to be the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Today, Earth Day is recognized and celebrated globally with more than 175 nations recognizing the movement.
For more information about Earth and Spirit Garden Gallery or the Earth Day Festival, visit: earthandspiritgardengallery.com.