FOR THIS YEAR THE WORLDWIDE THEME IS
”Invest in Our Planet”.

OVERVIEW

08.30 — 10.00 Set up
10.00 — 16.00
Earth Service Projects: Work Parties in Catstream & Food Forests, kids activities, booths, music, campfire, Free Store

10.00 — 12.00 Bike Decoration
11.00 — 12.00 Neighborhood tour | meet in the field
12.00 — 12.30 Bike Parade
12.30 — 13.30 Lunch & Welcoming Words | Bring your own bowl! | Drumming
13.30 — 15.30
Workparties, kids activities, drumming, etc. continued
15.45 — 16.00 Closing Ceremonies in the field
16.00 — 17.00 Site take down | Volunteers welcome!
19.30 — 22.00
Dance party in the Forest by the Catstream
22.00 — 23.00
Site take down | Volunteers welcome!
This is where we get down to business of walking our talk when it comes to caring for the earth. We have all the know how, tools, equipment, materials needed for you to show up and lend a hand.
FOOD FORESTS
10 – 12
13.30 – 15.30
CATSTREAM RESTORATION
10 – 12
13.30 – 15.30
*****************

Details
FOOD FORESTS
These are our collective foodlands. They are part of what makes us an up and coming agri-hood. Our food forests are growing over 80 fruit and Nut trees as well as a plethora of berry bushes and other supportive plants.

WHAT
For Earth Day we will be:
– planting out vegetables,
– mulching the soil with woodchips,
– building, weeding,
– and planting out berry bushes,
– and the most fun of all for kids:
digging holes!
WHERE
Meet At Bayview Food Forest above the school fields
WHAT TO BRING
Tools will be provided as well as gloves, but if you have your own, please bring them.

Details
CATSTREAM RESTORATION
The Catream is our neighborhood waterway that we care for. It is one of the most polluted streams in Nanaimo, but it also has the most promise for supporting the largest fish populations.
WHAT
Work in the forest and stream of the Catstream will include:
– Removing garbage
– Pulling out invasive plants, such as Himalayan Blackberry, Daphne, Holly, and Ivy.
– Trail maintenance
– putting wood chips on trails
– ditching
WHERE
Meet at the Silver Bridge for the work Parties

WHAT TO BRING
Tools will be provided as well as gloves, but if you have your own, please bring them.
10 — 12 Decorate your bike!
A bike decoration station will supply natural materials to decorate your wheels. Don't hesitate to pretty up your bike before coming though!
A flat tire? Bring your bike anyway, show it to Taylor at the Hub City Cycle Repair & Safety Check Station for minor adjustments and a safety check.
12 — 12.30 BIKE PARADE
At noon, there will be a bike parade around the neighbourhood to kick off lunch time.
What you need:
Bring your bike, your helmet, and join the revolution.
A walking tour through the S.E.E.D neighbourhood to give both a historical account of the neighborhood. As well, it will highlight all the various initiatives and projects that have been started in the last several years by neighbors and other community groups.
MEETING SPOT
Find Michael in the field
There will be a hearty soup and Bread for all Earth Day participants at lunch time. Some Cafe’s are donating baked goods as well as coffee.
You are invited to bring a snack or lunch item to share with others, regardless, there will be plenty of food. Please label ingredients to care for allergy sensitivities. Reusable plates and cutlery will be provided, however, please bring your own if you can.
EARTH DAY FREE STORE
10.00 — 15.30
The idea
Living in a society of take-make-waste consumerism where most things stay with us for less than our lifetime and where we have to pay (and work) for getting them, receiving things for free, with no demand or exchange attached can be a deeply liberating experience.
Please TAKE WHAT YOU'LL USE — AND USE WHAT YOU TAKE, WE DO NOT ACCEPT TRASH.
WHAT & WHEN TO BRING
For items, we are requesting the following: Books, Working Appliances, Toys, Childrens Items, Clothing (no soiled or used undergarments), Garden Supplies and Tools.
Bring items between 10— 16 to the Free Store location (see event map) in garbage bags or boxes.
Any left over items will be donated to the Haven Thrift Store afterwards.
This is where we get down to business of walking our talk when it comes to caring for the earth. We have all the know how, tools, equipment, materials needed for you to show up and lend a hand.
FOOD FORESTS (details below)
10 – 12
13.30 – 15.30
CATSTREAM RESTORATION (details below)
10 – 12
13.30 – 15.30
******************

Details | FOOD FORESTS
These are our collective foodlands. They are part of what makes us an up and coming agri-hood. Our food forests are growing over 80 fruit and Nut trees as well as a plethora of berry bushes and other supportive plants.

WHAT
For Earth Day we will be:
– planting out vegetables,
– mulching the soil with woodchips,
– building, weeding,
– and planting out berry bushes,
– and the most fun of all for kids:
digging holes!
WHERE
Meet At Bayview Food Forest above the school fields
WHAT TO BRING
Tools will be provided as well as gloves, but if you have your own, please bring them.

Details | CATSTREAM RESTORATION
The Catream is our neighborhood waterway that we care for. It is one of the most polluted streams in Nanaimo, but it also has the most promise for supporting the largest fish populations.
WHAT
Work in the forest and stream of the Catstream will include:
– Removing garbage
– Pulling out invasive plants, such as Himalayan Blackberry, Daphne, Holly, and Ivy.
– Trail maintenance
– putting wood chips on trails
– ditching
WHERE
Meet at the Silver Bridge for the work Parties
WHAT TO BRING
Tools will be provided as well as gloves, but if you have your own, please bring them.
There will be live music at the event in the field with various local artists from Nanaimo.
Throughout the day
If you like what you’re hearing bring some change to toss into their hat to support the local artist! Dancing welcome !
PROCESSION OF DRUMMERS
After Lunch | 13.00
A procession of drummers will lead volunteers down into the Catstream to the beat of the drum. There they will jam out to liven up the forest atmosphere with rhythms to support your play, your work… and your dancing!
MUSIC ON STAGE | THROUGHOUT DAY
Farmer Folk | Beatles | Punk
BANDEIRA PARKER
Bandeira Parker will be performing some of their favorite Beatles tunes. Dan Parker will be singing and playing percussion, and Daniel Geselbracht will be playing guitar and backing up vocally.
DANCE PARTY at CATSTREAM
19.30 –22.00
DJ Zaman will be delivering a mix of funk, house and hip hop that will make your feet and hips move.
Dancing in the forest is something that humans have been doing for a long long time. Be surrounded by trees with the softness of the forest floor under your feet, and give in to music that will bring you into a rapturous state of earthiness.

Nerdy Nanoosian DJ Zaman will be gifting us the tunes while live drumming with Eric Boucher will compliment Zaman's tunes of funk, house and hip hop that will make your feet and hips move.

WHEN
19.30 — 22.00

WHERE
Forest floors by the Catstream

WHAT TO GIVE
Donations for our DJ are welcome
0—10$.
WHAT TO LEAVE
This is a no-drug event, just high on earth vibes.
How to build Climate Resilience / SEED Community Projects Hub
Jenni Ottilie will (co)host a space for sharing and connecting ideas around How to create neighborhoods that support their community in the face of the changing climate looking at social and ecological components, touching on cultural aspects.
Influenced by ecology, systems thinking, Transition Towns, Deep Adaptation.
Veggie Seedlings
Some of our local farmers will be selling vegetable seedlings. One of them is Azimuth Farms.
Bike Repair Station by Hub City Cycle Coop.
10am — 12pm
A flat tire? Bring your bike anyway, show it to Taylor at the Hub City Cycle Repair & Safety Check Station for minor adjustments and a safety check before joining the bike parade.

Advocates of ‘Sue Big Oil’
12.30pm — 3.30pm
Sue Big Oil is a collaboration of ordinary British Columbians concerned about harmful climate change impacts in BC communities, and the skyrocketing costs for BC’s local governments and taxpayers. Given the role of the fossil fuel industry in knowingly causing climate change and blocking policies and actions to address climate change, we urge our local governments to take legal action to force the world’s largest fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share of climate costs. You can support the campaign in Nanaimo by adding your signature at the Earth Day event or online to the declaration: https://suebigoil.ca/declaration/
Other booths will be
– Earth Day Welcome Desk
– Face painting with natural paints
– Bike Decoration Station
– CoHousing by Pacific Gardens
…
Face painting Self serve – Face painting station will offer a variety of natural paints i.e. mud, clay, and charcoal to provide a very earthy face decor.
Field games / activities – TBD
Street Chalk Art on the basketball courts
Art Making with Larissa
Bicycle Decorating for Bike Parade
Chalk Art at Basketball Field
Play ground
Bayview School has an excellent playground for kids to monkey around on.
Come play and discover in the Catstream Forest where worlds of creatures and creativity wait for you on the forest floor.
HOSTS
Hosted by several forest school programs in the city including Nanaimo Forest Kids and The Sanctuary.
WHO IS THIS FOR
This nature play environment is perfect for children 3–6, 6–12, and for parents to help supervise.
WHEN
TBD but likely 10 — 12 and 13.30 — 16
We will have a WELLNESS STATION at the event for people who need some wellness care. Carl Smith from /V.I. Pain Clinic will be bringing his massage chair to offer support by donation.
SHARE YOUR CARE
Two other massage tables and other chairs will be available for participants to give and receive body care.
– Bowl and spoon for lunch
– Water bottle
– Coffee mug
– Outdoor work clothes.
– A snack or baked good to share
– Food Donations to our Food Bank kiosk are welcome
– your bike for the bikeparade
– Free store Contributions bring before 12:00 noon
– Outdoor dance clothes if you stick around for the dance.
Our event will be centred above Bayview elementary school located at 140 View Street. The school and neighborhood have limited parking, so we encourage participants as much as possible to take public transit, bike or walk. There is a bus stop for #7 Bus at Victoria @Needham) that drops you off right near the event grounds. Bayview School is located a 20 minute walk from downtown.
Vehicle parking will be given priority first to vendors, workshop facilitators, for wheelchair accessibility and then to all other attendees.
We are asking for donations for our event. Sliding scale from 0-5$ No one will be turned away. Funds raised will go towards building a community notice board in the neighborhood
April is famous for its rain and wind, so if the weather is super problematic, then we will use Bayview School’s gymnasium to host some of the activities.
In the event of rainier weather where the gym gets used, please do not bring high heels or nor marking shoes to the the event to keep the gym floor healthy.

EARTH DAY in the S.E.E.D. NEIGHBORHOOD

Neighbours here in the S.E.E.D.* have been ‘Investing in our hood’ and we want to celebrate Earth Day with you, whether you live in the S.E.E.D. or in another Neighborhood! We have all sorts of fun and meaningful activities planned for all community members, including children. Our event grounds cover a school field and playground, and a part of the Catstream forest.
*South End Ecological Development

THERE WILL BEe

EARTH SERVICE WORK PROJECTS ,
FOOD ,
a FREE STORE ,
a BIKE PARADE ,
MUSIC & DRUMMING ,
WHEEL BARROWS with WOOD CHIPS,
FOREST PLAY AREAS ,
creative ART PROJECTS ,
a DANCE PARTY ,
FACE PAINTING ,
some VEGGIE STARTS for sale ,

and much more…

LOOK AT THE FULL LIST OF ACTIVITIES BELOW

We love living in our neighborhood here and we’ve been joining forces to green up our streets by planting gardens and food Forests, litter picking, and restoring the Catstream.

Our hope is to make our neighborhood into a place that shows deeply that we care for one another and for the land we live on. As well, we like to inspire other neighborhoods to do similar. Earth Day 2023 is one way we are walking our talk! We look forward to seeing you there.

Let us know you're coming! RSVP

Come volunteer with us!