Thursday, April 1 (3:30PM - 5PM) Hidden Gems: Revival of the Muddy River within the Emerald Necklace. Learn more about how revitalizing urban waterways provides essential ecosystem connectivity. Event hosted by Park Watershed in partnership with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and the National Association of Olmsted Parks. Register at: https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/event/hidden-gems/.
Thursday, April 8 (11AM - 1PM) CTrides Virtual Tabling Event. Details to come. Access the event here: https://ctrides.consultation.ai/
Wednesday, April 14 (6PM - 8PM) North Main St Streetscape Meeting. The City is undertaking a design project that is the culmination of over 15 years of study for the stretch of Main Street from Earle Street to the Windsor Town Line. The project will include improved curb and sidewalk, landscaping, improved bus stops, updated traffic signals, decorative lighting, and bicycle facilities. Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/195619538731164/
Thursday, April 15 (2PM - 3PM) HPL Basic Gardening Skills. Join HPL and Ms. Auden to learn some tips on how to start a basic garden. A "Take and Make" bag will be provided with some basic gardening essentials. Registration is required to get your take and make bag. Registration is limited. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Cu4JTFLlVsxxcMVxCciV2q8L58aQ8lxaSJmGMdzICl8/edit?usp=sharing
Thursday, April 15 (6PM) Open Streets in Hartford - Q&A. Open Streets are programs that transform streets by making them vehicle-free. There are various forms of open streets that can be found throughout the U.S. and beyond: ciclovias, play streets, slow streets, summer streets, and programs that happen weekly, monthly, or a few times a year. How would Open Streets look in our neighborhoods? Join the City at a virtual Q&A session with three of the founders of CicLAvia, and learn about the benefits of and mechanics for organizing open streets in Hartford. You can RSVP at: https://forms.gle/SZnSGPx3ziCPxA359
Saturday, April 17 (8:30AM) Hartford Earth Week Riverfront Bike Ride. Bring your helmet and bike, and join BiCi Co., Riverfront Recapture, and friends for a leisurely, social ride along Hartford's riverfront trails. Registration is required: https://centerlatino.wufoo.com/forms/sat-april-17-earth-week-hartford-ride/
Sunday, April 18 (2PM) Celebration of Color and Word. Join the Asylum Hill neighborhood and Immanuel Church Congregation at 2:00pm, at the corner of Farmington Ave. and Marshall St. for a celebration of art, music, dance and food! Together, community members will honor the mural created through a "Love Your Block" grant by artist Louisa Barton DuGuay and friends. Special guests will be Friendz World Music. (Rain date April 25). For more info, email lynnsilverwolf@gmail.com.
April 18 - 25 (All Week) Earth Week Bike for Foodshare! Sponsor an Immanuel Eco Kid's bike ride during Earth Week by making a donation to Foodshare, and help support hungry neighbors. For information on how to join the bike ride or a link to donate to Foodshare, please email lynnsilverwolf@gmail.com.
April 19 - 22 (All Week) KNOX Celebrates National Volunteer Week. KNOX is hosting a series of volunteer events in recognition of National Volunteer Week. As a quick preview, check out the themes for each day of the week. Register at https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E351653&id=39
- Monday, April 19. Community Gardens
- Tuesday, April 20. Green Crew Apprentices + Volunteers
- Wednesday, April 21. Tree Planting and Beautification
- Thursday, April 22. Urban Farming
- Thursday, April 22. Hartford Cleans Up Gardens on Earth Day.
- Friday, April 23. Environmental Education
Monday, April 19 (3:30PM) Earth Week Walk/Bike/Transit Audit in Coltsville. Join BiCi Co., Transport Hartford Academy, The Hartford Athletic, Friends of Colt Park, The Hartford Garden Club, and the Hartford Complete Streets Working Group for a walk around Coltsville. Gather information about street conditions, which can inform future planning and traffic safety projects. Register at: https://centerlatino.wufoo.com/forms/monday-apr-19-earth-week-coltsville-walk-audit.
Tuesday, April 20 (3PM - 4PM) CTrides Virtual Tabling Event. Details to come. Access the event here: https://ctrides.consultation.ai/
Thursday, April 22 (12PM - 1PM) Earth Day Conversation. Join the CT Green Bank webinar to hear a special address from White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy highlighting the federal action on climate and hear from Mayor Bronin and other elected officials about various green projects and initiatives. Learn more on the CGB Webinar Series Page.
Thursday, April 22 (12PM) Lunch Bunch: Earth Day. The CT Science Center is excited to celebrate Earth Day 2021 with you on this special Lunch Bunch feature. Come explore the Earth and learn ways you can celebrate at home this year. Ask questions, interact, and have some virtual fun in a live setting. All of the fun starts at noon on the Connecticut Science Center Facebook page or at https://ctsciencecenter.org/livescience/.
Thursday, April 22 (2PM - 3PM) Earth Day Community Planting. Join Hartford Public Library (HPL) on Earth day at the Dwight branch to plant your own flower. No registration needed. First come, first serve, and all ages welcomed! Find more HPL events at: https://www.hplct.org/classes-seminars-exhibits.
Thursday, April 22 (3PM) Scooter Share Is Rolling Into Hartford. Drop by Burr Mall (550 Main St., Hartford), and get introduced to the new Link e-scooters that are coming to Hartford. There will be remarks from the City of Hartford, Link scooter share staff, CRCOG, and other partners. While you wait, read safety tips for all road users, from bicyclists to pedestrians and drivers (scooters follow the same laws as bicyclists) at: https://watchformect.org/.
Thursday, April 22 (3PM - 4PM) Earth Laughs in Flowers - HPL Barbour Branch. Celebrate Earth Day with potting a pansy or planting herb seeds in a pot to take home. Receive Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem that gives earth a voice. Also, walk away with a poem written by Lucy Cooper Summers, renowned Hartford community leader, whose mission was “to plant beauty in gardens and in the hearts of urban dwellers.” Learn more on the HPL Event Page.
Thursday, April 22 (4PM - 7PM) Fish with CT DEEP Fisheries at Keney Park. CARE fishing Instructors will be on hand at these fishing field trips with loaner equipment, bait, and instruction to help you have a positive and successful fishing experience! Registration is required, and space is limited to the first 35 people. Getting a fishing license in advance is also encouraged. Register at: https://he.aspirafocus.com/huntersafety/Account/Register?controllingSpc=9.
Thursday, April 22 (6PM - 7PM) Women in Science Virtual Panel, Nature & Nurture: Restoring Mother Earth! The Science Center is celebrating Earth Day 2021 and Women in Science with an environmentally-minded panel of renowned experts and passionate community leaders. Learn more at: https://shop.ctsciencecenter.org/56351
Thursday, April 22 (6PM - 8PM) Complete Streets Public Meeting. Share your voice on making our streets safer and more welcoming for all users from pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. Learn more on the CS Event Page.
Friday, April 23 (10AM - 1PM) Affleck St. Community Garden Clean-up. The Hispanic Health Council's "Mujeres Empoderadas en Accion" will join Graciela, from HPL's Park Branch, in some garden projects at the Affleck Street Community Garden: Rock painting, the assembly of 3 new raised garden beds, and the painting of two new benches. To register: call or email Graciela Rivera at 860-500-8492 or grivera@hplct.org.
Saturday, April 24 (9AM - 1PM) Our Earth Day Cleanup. Join Kamora’s Cultural Corner for a cleanup at the Sterling Street Sanctuary on 75 Sterling Street, Hartford CT. This is KCC's first event of the season, and it includes a seedling and book giveaway too! Come dressed comfortably, bring joy and a willingness to do some physical work and a gallon of water! More information at: https://www.facebook.com/events/350282126380285/.
Saturday, April 24 (6:30PM) ISH, A Shadow Puppet Show with Felicia Cooper. ISH, a puppet show from the UCONN Puppet Arts program, will be performed in the Hudson St Park on April 24 at 6:30pm. For kids and families, this performance uses shadow puppets and music to talk about ocean exploration, isolation, and creative problem solving. This event is supported locally by Bici Co @ Center for Latino Progress. More details at: https://fb.me/e/E40snwGd.
Sunday, April 25 (11AM - 2PM) Celebrating Earth Day. Join the Free Center and Lauren Little Edutainment for flower planting, painting, and compost creations. The location is 460 New Britain Ave., Hartford. See the flyer at https://www.facebook.com/freecentercommunity/photos/pcb.1366904777010760/1366904717010766/?type=3&theater
Sunday, April 25 (1PM - 4PM) Join Sunrise CT and help cleanup the riverfront, speak with legislators, hear from powerful speakers, and share your passion about a Green New Deal for CT. Register at bit.ly/sunrisectearthday2021.
Week of April 30 (Multiple Dates) Hartford Celebrates Arbor Day. The City of Hartford, its Department of Public Works, the Hartford Fire Department, the Tree Advisory Commission, and more are recognizing Arbor Day and celebrating our 27th year as a Tree City USA, a distinction bestowed by the Arbor Day Foundation. The Garden Club of Hartford is also having a separate planting at the Woodland entrance of Keney Park. Please stay tuned for more details.
Friday, April 30 (TBA) On Earth Celebration. The idea of On Earth is to build on the volunteer-driven work to create a celebration of the Earth that incorporates arts and culture with local and regional sustainability initiatives. Join fellow volunteers and community members at the On Earth celebration, which will feature live music, speakers, and more. The event will be virtual this year, and managed by Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner (BLD). More details to come.
(Throughout April) Hartford Public Library - Park Branch Seed Giveaway and More. Have a green thumb? Participants can fill out forms to share / submit garden themed things of interest such as garden seed kits/ giveaways available through contact free pick up, gardening tools kit, and reserve garden themed books in the HPL catalog. Learn more on the: HPL Sign Up Page.
(Throughout April). KNOX Earth Month Initiative on Litterati. Are you looking for an innovative opportunity to get involved and support your community without gathering in person? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Pick up litter, snap a photo, and measure your impact through KNOX's Earth Month Initiative on Litterati! Here’s how:
- Go to your IOS Apple Store or Google Play Store and download the Litterati App.
- Enter Challenge Code 911384.
- Start taking photos of your litter pickup efforts! Any items tracked through the app will count towards our organizational goal of 500 pieces of litter collected. It's as easy as 1,2,3!
(Throughout April) Journey of the Universe. Immanuel Church Congregation is making the acclaimed film, Journey of the Universe, available for viewing. Come go on a cosmic adventure of incredible beauty, and explore space, evolution, and the impact humans have had on our planet. Email lynnsilverwolf@gmail.com for more information.
(Throughout April 9 - 25) Our Changing Earth / Open Exhibits During Spring Break ($). When the kids are out of school, don’t panic, the Connecticut Science Center will be open daily to explore! Start planning your adventure to travel back in time and walk among life-size dinosaurs, then visit a tropical butterfly oasis, journey into space, unravel mysteries of the human genome, and investigate the impacts of our changing climate. There will be plenty of room for safe distancing and masks are required for everyone ages 2+. Tickets must be reserved online before your visit at CTScienceCenter.org.
(Coming May 22 @11AM) MakeFest: Make it Grow. The CT Science Center celebrates Family Gardening Day on May 22nd. In keeping with its theme, the Science Center aims to highlight the importance of growing healthy, smart, green, and local through engaging on-site and virtual demonstrations, displays, or activities, all centered around Connecticut gardening and agriculture. Local gardeners, farmers, makers, and artisans are invited to serve as exhibitors. Please sign up in advance by emailing KRogers@ctsciencecenter.org.
In Case You Missed It. Last year we brought you talks, tours, and tutorials organized by the Mayor‘s Office of Sustainability and friends from across the community for a virtual Earth fest. If you're interested in our archived content from last year, check out our past events and videos on Facebook @hartfordsustainability.
Green Programming
Did you know that there are numerous programs and resources that are available to you as residents? Check out a list of some of the ongoing/yearling programs from our community partners:
- Energy Efficiency. Get free or discounted energy audits and efficiency upgrades through Energize CT.
- Solar for All. Get affordable solar through the CT Green Bank Solar for All Program.
- C-PACE and the Hartford Housing Preservation Loan Fund can help you upgrade and improve your home.
- Grow Hartford. A Hartford Food System program for community youth that also features different special projects from free raised garden beds for residents to local food hubs/boxes.
- CT Grown is a state certification for farmers producing goods in Connecticut. Buying CT Grown when you can helps support our farmers and the regional economy.
- Community Gardens. Various organizations offer community garden beds to residents. KNOX, Inc. has the broadest coverage, but you can also find separate community gardens hosted by others including Summer of Solutions, Broad St. Community Garden, the Free Center, and many more.
- Small Grant Funding. A number of neighborhood gardens, murals, and vacant lot beautification projects have been supported by the City's Love Your Block Program , the City's Hartford Decide$ Participatory Budgeting initiative and the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund. All three sources have open applications at this time.
- Tool Lending Library. Looking for tools for your next neighborhood cleanup or planting event? Borrow equipment from shovels and rakes to garbage bags and more from KNOX, Inc. (for small groups) and the City of Hartford's Office of Community Engagement Adopt Your Block Trailer (for larger groups).
The celebration of Earth Day 2021 is intended to connect residents to community activities, events, and local and regional programs. The City of Hartford does not guarantee any savings, promote any touted benefits, or assume any risk associated with the content, products, and/or services of the organizations supporting and/or participating in this effort. All related questions should be directed to the respective organizations.