Rutland celebrates Earth Day

The Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC) was the place to be in Rutland on April 20. From 3-6 p.m., locals poured in to enjoy the community’s second annual Earth Day Celebration. Members of the VFFC and the Rutland Area Climate Coalition volunteered their time to organize a celebration for this nationally recognized day.
Farmers sold local goods, area health practitioners offered free services, thoughtful citizens shared their passion for the environment and earth-conscious companies and colleges put up tables to show their support.
Children received free face painting, free bike tune-ups and seed give-aways. Others learned of alternative energy options, local hiking trails, gardening tips and ongoing community activities.
Smiles were shared and the room echoed as everyone joined in a guided practice of laughter yoga.
The theme of Earth Day this year was “Heal our earth, heal thyself.” New this year, too, was a new tradition of making a collaborative painting. The painting can be viewed at the VFFC.
“The ambitions of this celebration are to help individuals achieve a higher standard of living, which in return improves the land from that we live,” said Rutland Area Climate Coalition and Earth Day organizer Tyler LaRose. “I hope that from Earth Day we will carry the momentum to Green Up Day, which is right around the corner.”