By: Dezirae Burnett
Last week, University of Montevallo students celebrated
Earth Week, with the help of the UM Environmental Club.
Students took part in the festivities by participating in
eco-friendly activities like making sure the E-Club’s Community Garden cultivated
for summer harvest.
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| Students from Dr. Sally Hardig's Biology 100 class help transport mulch across the garden. |
“This is Earth Week. We are planting lots of plants and
getting things ready,” says garden manager, Holly Wadley.
Produce grown in the community garden are donated to Shelby
Emergency Assistance, for community members in need.
“It’s all about giving back into the community,” she says, “and
helping those to get fresh vegetables and fruit they would not normally get.”
Throughout the week, students also had opportunities to watch
a screen of Take Back the Tap, a film about tap water being safe for
consumption and the dangers of plastic bottled water.
Additionally, students and community members toured
Montevallo’s newest park, Shoal Creek Park, as well as participated in a
bicycle maintenance workshop, put on by the Montevallo bike-share organization,
Vallocycle.
Earth Week came to a close Friday with Earth Fest, and an
appearance by the University’s living mascot, Legacy.
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| Legacy is a rescued falcon whose mother lined his nest with fishing line. Legacy suffered trauma to his toes, leaving him unable to fly. |
“We are here today with Legacy. He’s our American Kestrel,
which is the smallest species of falcon in North America,” says Brittany
Muncher, a UM alum with the Alabama Wildlife Center. “He is native to Alabama.
We actually see these kinds around areas kind of like Ebenezer swamp here in
Montevallo.”
Friday’s event also included life music, a clothes swap,
booths from wildlife, conservation and environmental organizations from across
the state and arts and crafts.
“We are making pine cone bird feeders and clothespin
dragonflies,” says Earth Fest attendee Hanna Irelan.
Earth week activities such as these help to teach UM students
and Montevallo community members how to give back to the environment.
Though Earth Week has ended, there is never a time to stop
caring for our planet.
Contact Dr. Susan Caplow in Environmental Studies for more information
on how you can help, or visit the E-club’s Facebook page here:
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