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Earth Day at Farmers Park: Unearthing New Ways to Celebrate the Joy of Nature

Earth Day gives all of us the opportunity to focus on conservation and look for ways to green our routines and protect our wonderful, special planet.

At Farmers Park, sustainable living is a top priority every day for residents, guests and businesses.

So, we’ve put together a list of four fun and healthy things you can do to celebrate Mother Earth while keeping her healthy for future generations.

Plant a Garden

Planting a garden is an excellent way to do something kind for the Earth, your community and yourself. People who garden are more likely to get enough fruits and veggies in their diets, and to get enough physical activity.

  • To fulfill our vision of creating a thriving network of local growers, Farmers Park offers individual garden plots in our community gardens, where members can grow their own organic vegetable garden. Urban gardening encourages wise stewardship of our land, integrates more growers into our local food system and fosters a sustainable way of life among our neighbors.
  • Patio and kitchen planting options provide additional ways for Farmers Park residents and businesses to get into the growing spirit.

If you need a little inspiration for the spring planting season, or you want to cultivate a green thumb of your very own, we invite you to join Farmers Market of the Ozarks for their Spring Gardening Workshop series, part of FMO’s annual Earth Day Celebration.

Recycle & Compost

Single-stream recycling and new on-site compost bins make it easy to embrace a healthy environment at Farmers Park. Small kitchen composters give residents and business another convenient way to preserve our valuable resources instead of sending them off to the landfill.

Besides reducing the size of our landfills, recycling yields a number of important benefits, such as conserving natural resources, promoting biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Composting organic materials means healthier plants in your garden, less waste cluttering up the land and even more money in your pocket from not having to buy pre-made soil or mulch from the store. Compost has a number of valuable uses:

  • Conditioning the soil
  • Flower and vegetable gardens
  • Trees and shrubs
  • Lawn care and mulch
  • Potting soil for house plants

Go Meatless

A plant-based diet rich in fiber, vitamins and other key nutrients can boost your well-being in a number of ways:

  • Fewer calories and fat
  • Better weight management
  • Lower risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Even if you’re not a vegan or vegetarian, going “flexitarian” by enjoying a few meatless meals a week can also benefit your health, according to the Mayo Clinic.

  • The Press Coffee and Juice Bar refreshes visitors with organic cold-pressed juices and soothing nut milks. If you’re looking to nourish the body, mind and soul, you can choose from a delightful menu of vegetarian and vegan recipes made from fresh, organic local ingredients.
  • Savor fresh salads and European-inspired plant-based meals at The Aviary Cafe.
  • Or stop by Farmers Market of the Ozarks for locally grown fruits and veggies to make your own meatless recipes come alive at home.

Relax

When we protect the earth, we’re literally protecting our own health. That’s because spending time in nature has a number of potential benefits:

  • Improve short-term memory and concentration
  • Sharpen up your thinking and creativity
  • Relieve stress and improve your mental health
  • Boost immunity and reduce inflammation
  • Reduce the risk of premature death

Visitors seeking year-round contemplation will also find inspiration amidst a collection of outdoor art installations along the trails at Farmers Park, from the sweet interactive sounds of Harmony Park to the Frankentractor tribute to all things ag.

And just down the road, the Springfield Conservation Nature Center lets you explore the diverse habitat and get acquainted with the abundant wildlife along over 3 miles of hiking trails — right here at home within Springfield City Limits.

We at Farmers Park wish everyone a Happy Earth Day and hope these ideas will inspire you to live green and prosper throughout the year!

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