April 1, 2023
VC Star
Since this year’s Earth Day, on April 22, falls on a Saturday, most events will be held on the official day of commemoration. However, as usual, gatherings throughout the month will celebrate Earth Day.
Here are some local events, listed by city:
Fillmore
• April 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fillmore City Hall Plaza, 250 Central Ave. The city of Fillmore’s event features a chalk fest presented by the Fillmore Arts Commission, which will create a type of public art that requires no paint or canvas and generates no waste. A community yard sale will support reuse of goods. The city’s Facebook page has details at facebook.com/cityoffillmore.
Ojai
• April 20, 3-7 p.m. at the Ojai Farmers Market, 414 E. Ojai Ave. Live music, dancers, booths and handmade goods will be on hand, with an opening ceremony led by a Chumash elder. Speakers will explain regenerative farming and oak tree preservation methods. A $2 voucher that can used at the market will be given to attendees who don’t drive to the event as a way to encourage walking, biking or riding the city trolley. The winner of the O-Haiku competition will be announced. Haiku poems, due to OHaiku4Peace@gmail.com by April 10, should be about “The Business of Bees” sculpture at the Ojai Valley Business Park in Bryant Circle.
Santa Paula
• April 22-23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Agricultural Museum, 926 Railroad Ave. The Museum of Ventura County will celebrate Earth Day with displays, presentations, a garden tour and a native plant sale hosted by the Native Plant Society. Second-day highlights include a wildflower and weed show. For more information, look at the “VC plants to know and grow” links on the events calendar at venturamuseum.org or call 805-525-3100.
Thousand Oaks
• April 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road. The city’s Arbor Earth Day will feature environmental workshops, kids crafts, compost and plant giveaways, music, an electric vehicle display, bike helmet giveaway and more. Workshop topics include drip irrigation and caring for landscaping in drought. For information, click on the “more events” link to bring up calendar listings at toaks.org/home. You can also sign up to volunteer for the event.
Ventura
April 8, 12-4 p.m. at Topa Topa Brewing Co., 4880 Colt St. The Ventura Land Trust’s Gear Garage Sale will simultaneously promote reuse, outdoor enjoyment and preservation of open space. Quality outdoor gear, from backpacks to kayaks and car racks, can be donated during drop-off events at several locations. For drop-off hours and details or to volunteer, look under the “events” tab at venturalandtrust.org.
April 13-15. The Ventura Land Trust is also hosting several educational events. At 7 p.m. on April 13 at the Museum of Ventura County, a marine biologist will share her adventures with whales and dolphins off the local coast during a free talk. Starting at 9 a.m. on April 14-15, naturalist educators will give guided walks at the Ventura Settling Ponds and Harmon Canyon Preserve. The walks require tickets, which can be bought on the trust’s website.
April 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Ventura Charter School, 2060 Cameron St. The charter school’s event will showcase local businesses engaged in green technologies and will feature yoga classes, low-waste food options and raffle prizes. A bicycle valet will park bikes at an expo for electric vehicles. More information is at facebook.com/VenturaEarthDay.
April 21, noon to 1 p.m. at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave. The county’s General Services Agency Earth Day Tour will meet at the fountain near the Hall of Administration and visit environmentally important sites on the grounds, including water-efficient landscaping, pervious pavement and a compost site. Register by searching for “earth day” on the county’s website at ventura.org.
April 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Big Rock Preserve. In another Ventura Land Trust gathering, volunteers will remove flood debris and invasive weeds. Reservations are required for this important land stewardship work, but before volunteering, consider the trust’s warnings about hazards including exposed roots, poison oak, sun exposure and wildlife.
April 22, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Hayden Preserve, 234 Canada Larga Rd. Ventura Land Trust educators are offering a program for young children and their parents. Participants will play games, collect bugs, work on crafts and read books about nature. Register through the events link at venturalandtrust.org.
David Goldstein, an environmental resource analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, can be reached at 805-658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.