PARIS — Since 1970, hundreds of nations have celebrated Earth Day on April 22 as a day of service to Mother Earth. Thanks to Rijah Newell, Norway has celebrated the day on April 21 since 2007. This year, The Alan Day Community Garden will continue the tradition on Sunday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located on Whitman Street, across from the Norway Grange, the ADCG invites the public to share in a day of teaching, learning and service to the earth.

The event will begin with a variety of workshops. Barbara Murphy, Cooperative Extension educator, will offer Gardening 101 that will cover the basics of community gardening and an introduction to this particular garden and its practices.

Alex Miller of Norway will lead an activity to map the borders of the garden with a GPS. And new garden participant Zack Williams will offer a short talk about natural pest management. Anyone interested in gardening and soil-building is welcome to attend. The workshops are free.

In service, participants are encouraged to bring clean, non-waxy, non-colored cardboard for use in preparing new garden beds.

As in year’s past, at noon, participants will gather for a ceremony that blesses the garden for the upcoming growing season. Local musician Rusty Wiltjer will lead a drumming circle and participants are invited to bring musical instruments.

After the ceremony, gardeners can enjoy free healthy snacks and also purchase food from Daquan Labuta, owner of Caribbean Catering.

The ADCG’s three acres grow more fertile by the year. Volunteers have built a composting system that feeds the soil, and each year compost and loam are added to what was previously a vacant lot to create beds for growing vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Begun in 2009 to honor the memory of Alan Day, local philanthropist, father, artist and community leader, the garden has grown from three small beds to include more than 20 raised beds along with more than a dozen rows cultivated by individuals, families and organizations. For $20, anyone can “rent” a half-row at the garden and grow his or her own food. The cost is $10 for a raised bed.

Also in April, the ADCG will hold an online silent auction of one-of-a-kind items. The auction will culminate on June 29 at a illuminated evening event which will feature food from the garden, music and celebration.

Workshops throughout the summer are being planned.

For more information, contact Garden Coordinator Rocky Crockett at [email protected] or 743-2423 and/or visit alandaygarden.wordpress.com.