Celebrating Earth Day!

In Wisconsin and Illinois, where most Michael Fields Agricultural Institute staff live, it's been a GORGEOUS Earth Day - sunny, in the high 70s, and alive with the sounds of migrating birds. Of course, our Wisco staff are very proud that Earth Day in fact originated in the state. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson mobilized 20 million people in a bi-partisan environmental protest.

His original intention was to have a "National Teach-In On the Crisis of the Environmental" to convince legislators in Washington, DC, that public opinion was firmly behind bold action for environmental protection. And it worked! This first big nationwide Earth Day demonstration inspired the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all living creatures.” -Gaylord Nelson

Now, over 1 billion people participate worldwide in Earth Day observances. Today MFAI celebrated by launching our newest farmer network, Illinois Women in Conservation (ILWiC), with an education event at Silver Tree Spirits, an organic farm distillery in Paxton, IL. Below are some early photos from the event, which is still happening. It was sold out, with 30 women in attendance. They'll be wrapping up this evening with a Happy Hour networking time. MFAI Farmer Education Coordinator Christine Johnson is on the ground there, heading up this effort.

Follow ILWiC on Instagram and Facebook, and learn more about all of our women's conservation networks at michaelfields.org/wic .

"I celebrate Earth Day with gratitude for the countless gifts of the earth, especially our oldest teachers, the plants." -Robin Wall Kimmerer

The rest of our Institute staff spent Earth Day at our quarterly in-person work retreat, which was in the lovely Johnson Creek, WI, Public Library. We enjoyed playing with dinosaurs, sharing a potluck, getting trained in promotion protocols, and delving into our strategic plan. We also were thrilled to be signing a grant agreement to launch a Farm to School program in SE Wisconsin - working with Milwaukee urban farmers and other small- to medium-sized growers to facilitate delivery of fresh local food to schools.

We at MFAI are working every day through our research trials, education events, farmer networks, and policy advocacy to support land and water conservation efforts that build resilient farm and food systems. Saving soil is our superpower! But it's your superpower, as well. All of us can do our part for the Earth and the future - through how we live on the land, how we spend our resources, and how we plant seeds through giving. Would you consider supporting MFAI with a financial gift as part of YOUR Earth Day observance? Help us help farmers!

Donate to our Spring Fund Drive: "Planting Seeds for a Regenerative Future" and help cultivate healthy systems for generations to come.

Give to our Spring Fund Drive

"I urge everyone to treat every day of the year as Earth Day." -Jane Goodall

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