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Do It For The Trees
Earth Day’s Midwestern roots

By Erin McHenry

 
The Midwest isn’t just fields. There are some trees, too. And it’s a day like today that we can celebrate the sprawling forests we’ve grown to love. It also helps that Earth Day has its roots in the Midwest.

We have a politician to thank for Earth Day, and not just any politician, a Wisconsin senator. Gaylord Nelson organized Earth Day in 1970 and on its inaugural day, 20 million Americans across the country rallied for greater emphasis on environmental protection in the U.S., whether that meant protesting, cleaning up the park or recycling. Nelson is most known for his work with Earth Day (he even won the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1995), but he was also an active opponent of the Vietnam War, advocate for civil liberties and organized Congressional hearings to require birth control pills to come with side-effect information. He died 35 years after his first Earth Day.

Many credit Earth Day as the catalyst for creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which was established in December 1970.

For that, we tip our hats to you, Nelson, and take a big gulp of fresh air.

Want to get involved in your community today? Find an event near you, or orchestrate a tree scavenger hunt using Fifty Trees of the Midwest, an app designed by Purdue University students that identifies Midwestern trees and offers descriptions and facts about them.

Interested to see what your state tree is? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered:

Illinois – White Oak
Iowa – Oak
Indiana – Tulip Poplar
Kansas – Eastern Cottonwood
Michigan – Eastern White Pine
Minnesota – Red Pine
Missouri – Flowering Dogwood
Nebraska – Eastern Cottonwood
North Dakota – American Elm
Ohio – Ohio Buckeye
South Dakota – Black Hills Spruce
Wisconsin – Sugar Maple

Not a fan of trees? Well, check out your carbon footprint — and then wallow in the fact that it would take 4.2 Earths to sustain your not-so-eco-friendly life. Happy Earth Day!

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Photo courtesy of Ellenm1

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