April 22 marks the world’s 55th Earth Day. The theme of Earth Day 2025 is: Our Power, Our Planet, and NC State’s Earth Fair kicked off the campus’ Earth Day celebrations early on April 9.
A variety of partners, including Wellness and Recreation, came together in the spirit of sustainability, to promote free and reduced-cost opportunities with our ThriveWell and Outdoor Adventures teams. Below you will find a list of ways to keep celebrating Earth Day and our beautiful world.
SOL Garden on NC State Campus
Students for Organic Living (SOL) Garden is a student-led organization on campus. The SOL Garden is located in Parent’s Park behind Lee Hall. Workdays are twice a month, with the dates and times varying based on the season. These workdays are open to anyone in the community and no prior experience is necessary to volunteer. SOL Garden also meets on the last Thursday of every month for a club meeting. If you are interested in volunteering as a part of SOL Garden, check out their Instagram or join their GroupMe for updates.
Campus Sustainability Service Opportunities
There are plenty of service opportunities on or around campus to get involved and celebrate our Earth. Lake Raleigh Earth Day Cleanup will be on April 25 and is an amazing way to volunteer while spending time in nature. Additionally, Zero-Waste Wolfpack Baseball will be April 25 or April 26. This is a perfect opportunity if you are passionate about recycling or composting. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for sorting waste as well as educating fans on how to correctly sort their compost, recycling, and landfill items.
Finally, NC State’s Zero-Waste Move-Out offers volunteer opportunities on April 29, April 30, and May 1st. The Zero-Waste Move-Out is an initiative that encourages students to donate items they no longer need as they are moving out. As a volunteer, you will support this initiative by sorting donated items and educating students on what can/cannot be donated. All of these opportunities are open to anyone from the community who is interested.
Give a New Life to Old Belongings
Aside from volunteering, there are plenty of other ways to practice sustainability this month. One major way is by giving a “second life” to old belongings instead of simply throwing them away. If you are moving out of University Housing at the end of this month, donate belongings you no longer use to a Pack-Rat in support of NC State’s Zero-Waste Move-Out. Pack Rats are large, donation bins that can be found outside each residence hall.
Additionally, give a used item a second life in your closet or home by shopping second-hand this month. Estate sales, flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores are great places to look. You can also check out Habitat for Humanity’s Restore located in Raleigh if you are looking for household items such as furniture, appliances, and building materials. Lastly, you can channel creativity by upcycling materials to create something new.
Some ideas include combining pieces of old jewelry together to create a new necklace or painting cans to transform them into pencil holders. Use Pinterest to search for inspiration and you will find that the opportunities are endless!
Support Raleigh’s Local Farmers Markets
Spring is the perfect time to visit a local farmers market to shop sustainably for food. The North Carolina State Farmers Market is less than a 10-minute drive from Talley Student Union. It is open every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendors show up each day to sell a variety of items – ranging from produce to fresh-cut flowers to baked goods.
The Black Farmers Market is also open in Raleigh on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m. It is located at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. Attending a farmers market is the perfect activity for when the weather is nice and is an amazing way to support local businesses.
Spend Time in Nature
Finally, celebrate Earth Day by simply taking time to be present with nature around you. Cultivate a sense of appreciation for the natural beauty of Earth by spending time outside. As you walk to class or work, take note of the nature – the trees, the flowers, the insects – that you see. Recognize the unique role that each play in sustaining the Earth around you. Use this time to reflect on the role you play in the environment and how you could go forth in a more mindful, considerate way.
Remember that Earth Day truly is every day. Every effort, no matter how small it may be, is important and a crucial step to seeing significant change in our world. This is your call to join the NC State community in honoring, fighting for and never giving up on the Earth we call home.
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