Wednesday April 22, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Executive Lead, Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society
April 22 is Earth Day. For decades this date on the calendar has reminded people to honour the environment and cycles of the planet.
“There is no Planet B” has been a slogan for years. Those who have their eye on humanity one day living in outer space might disagree.
But there’s no arguing that Planet Earth is a haven for humanity.
On Earth we have water to make life possible, air to breathe, plants to feed us and a protective atmospheric layer to protect us from radiation. Not to mention gravity that is so precise that we can walk upright without being crushed or floating away. It’s heavenly.
On the food aspect, plants that become our food (whether as veggies and fruit or further along the food cycle through animals to become dairy, eggs and meat) we can assure the healthiest possible food by growing it ourselves.
Healthy plants in healthy soil. Properly watered and nurtured (sunlight and compost/fertilizer), then harvested at the right time for optimal nutritional value and processed (eaten fresh or properly stored for later use), plants are fundamental to healthy human life.
Plants also provide shade in the heat, wood for building, and beautiful landscapes. Plants contain all the medicines we need — many pharmaceuticals are developed from compounds found in plants.
If you are celebrating Earth Day, plant some veggies or a tree! It’s an easy thing to do. The sense of satisfaction for self and planet is palpable.
Happy Earth Day!