Find inspiration this Earth Day: Meaningful Ways to care for San Diego

Education and community involvement come together in the mission of San Diego Canyonlands created to protect and preserve San Diego, the most biodiverse county in the continental United States. Stewardship Saturdays, weekly volunteer events at various sites throughout San Diego, engage participants in caring for native plants and removing invasive species, trash, and debris.

Over 40 percent of all food goes uneaten in the U.S., yet 1 in 4 San Diegans face food insecurity. Fight waste and feed your neighbors by donating excess fruit from your yard or volunteering with ProduceGood. Short on time? Donate to help move their mission forward.

“For 25 years, Wildcoast has been safeguarding some of the most spectacular coastlines, wildlife, and ocean ecosystems on the planet,” says Wildcoast Executive Director Serge Dedina, PhD. The public is invited to support its mission as the organization hosts its annual Baja Bash fundraiser at a private home in Solana Beach on June 14, featuring dishes prepared by notable San Diego chefs, live music, and more. “Our Baja Bash fundraiser is a celebration of that impact and a call to keep our blue planet wild for generations to come,” says Dedina.

Designed to bring natural solutions to the built environment — aka plant trees in the city — and care for our urban forest, Tree San Diego not only gets trees in the ground but ensures they are planted where they should be, maintained, and healthy. Sponsorships fund sustainable infrastructure, tree care, and more, and regular local events provide a hands-on education on our local trees and their eco-benefits.

Created by surfing legend Rob Machado, the Rob Machado Foundation aims to engage and empower children to be active contributors toward a healthier planet. Monthly beach cleanups are an ideal opportunity to capture waste before it enters the ocean.

This certified organic nonprofit community farm and education center in Encinitas is a haven for those seeking the freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Register for a farm tour, hosted biweekly, or schedule a private tour to learn more about regenerative agriculture, or get your hands dirty at Coastal Roots Farm‘s Sundays in the Soil, weeding, planting, harvesting, and maintaining the farm.

For more Earth Day inspiration, learn how I Love A Clean San Diego empowers people to make simple, everyday choices can make a lasting impact on the environment.