Every day should be Earth Day. But for most people, it’s not.

So we urge you to start thinking about ways to make our island more beautiful on April 22 – the one day of the year when citizens around the globe make the planet sparkle.

It doesn’t have to be a big community event. It can be individual acts of clean-up that make a huge difference.

One of our staff members goes to Buck Park several times a week. While there, she picks up soda cans, beer bottles and candy wrappers. She recently encountered another islander picking up handfuls of trash.

“I do this every time I come here,” he said.

We ask you to pick an area to focus on; bring your trash bags and pick up all the litter you can find. The transfer stations accept bags of beach trash for free.

The Friends of Moran State Park is sponsoring its annual spring clean-up day on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting at the  Cascade Lake Day Use Shelter.

“With the park budget cuts and staff cuts, this year it’s crucial that we gather as many volunteers as possible,” say organizers.

As there is only one ranger to lead the group, volunteers are needed to direct those cleaning up. Sign up at www.friendsofmoran.com. During the event there will be a free lunch and botanical lecture by Russel Barsh of Kwiaht, Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea.

Also think of ways to reduce your plastic footprint. Carry reusable shopping bags; use a stainless steel water bottles; try not to use plastic produce bags; carry reusable coffee mugs; choose glass over plastic whenever possible; and for your next gathering, use non-plastic flatware, plates and glassware.

Earth Day is intended to get people thinking about garbage, waste and taking care of the planet. Try to extend those good habits to all 365 days of the year.