A weekend to remember our roles as stewards of our environment

Earth Day is April 22, and several events are being held through the weekend as a precursor to the Big Day.

“Sustainable San Juans: Greening Your Home, Business and Food,” began today at The Whale Museum with a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the founding of The Whale Museum, the San Juan Preservation Trust and Friends of the San Juans.

A stewardship fair and workshop is scheduled Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Friday Harbor Middle School. The fair will feature displays from local stewardship groups and green businesses, as well as presentation of the 2009 Good Steward Awards, a lunch prepared by the Experience Food Project and local chefs, and a series of workshops on how to live green at home, in the kitchen and at work. Registration is $5 before the event or $10 at the door.

Sustainable San Juans is sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans and the San Juan Island Community Foundation.

To register, call 378-2319 or visit www.stewardshipsjc.org.

Also on Saturday, Earth Day Creation Fest is 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gardens at Ackley’s Corner, 76 Gilbert Lane, Friday Harbor.

Ackley’s Corner is a community garden facilitated by local organic food advocates in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which owns the land. Barbara Low said the event is a “free event for people who appreciate our earth and its Creator.” The event will feature children’s activities, free food and workshops.

Sunday, several field trips will be offered: farm tours, wildflower walks, shoreline wildlife viewing and water-based trips:

— San Juan Farm Flavors: A Narrated Farm Tour, 9 a.m. to noon. To sign up, call Naoni Zervas at 378-4730 (limited to 14). Cost: Free.

— San Juan Food Co-op Open House, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Surina Business Park, 50 Malcom St., No. 701, Friday Harbor. Call Cloud, 378-4065; or Steffi at 317-7566.

— Earth Day Beach Clean-Up, noon to 2 p.m., South Beach parking lot, San Juan Island. Call Jana, 378-2319.

— Land-Based Wildlife Watching on San Juan, noon to 3 p.m. To sign up, call The Whale Museum, 378-4730. Cost: $30 (includes transportation).

— Friday Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour, 1 p.m. To sign up, call 378-2810 (limited to 20). Cost: Free.

— Flowers and Ancient Gardens on Lopez Island, 2-5 p.m. Meet at Agate Beach County Park on the south end of Lopez Island. Free. Call 468-2808.

— A Sampler of the New Trails at Roche Harbor, 2:30-4 p.m. Meet at the parking lot across from the OPALCO station at the corner of Roche Harbor and West Valley Roads, San Juan Island. Meet Mike Buettell.

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