Martin Luther said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” 

Those celebrating the 46th Annual Earth Day this year feel the same way.

The theme for Earth Day 2016 centers on trees.

Earth Day Columbus is asking volunteers to “Branch Out!” and plant 20,000 trees around the central Ohio area. They will provide the trees, the places to plant, gloves, shovels, and anything else necessary. They just need the manpower to plant the trees–which means they need you.

The City of Columbus also has an initiative of the same name, but they want to plant 300,000 trees by the 2020 Earth Day weekend.

The Earth Day Network is calling on activists to plant 7.8 billion trees across the planet as Earth Day heads toward its 50th Anniversary in 2020.

For ways you can get involved in Earth Day, visit the Earth Day Network web site HERE.

Learn more about Earth Day and events you can participate in around Ohio by going HERE and HERE. Below are a few that are taking place in Columbus and surrounding counties.

The Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club will be celebrating with various events. For information on all of their events, click on the link for their web site and then click on “Calendar.” They are hosting an OSU wetlands clean up on April 23 and a Little Cuyahoga clean up, as well.

Green Columbus will celebrate their 10th Earth Day with Earth Week from April 16-23 and a celebration on Saturday, April 23 at Columbus Commons. On Friday, April 22, CD102.5’s Big Room Bar will feature Forest and the Evergreens. Join in the fun with music, food, and drinks beginning at 7 pm. Forest and the Evergreens will come in at 9 pm. They will also perform at the Columbus Commons celebration.

For a list of volunteer activities in Columbus and central Ohio, go HERE.

Like Green Columbus on Facebook HERE.

Help Green Columbus raise money to plant trees by supporting their Earth Day Branch Out tree fund by going HERE.

Several of the area Metro Parks will also be honoring Earth Day with programs throughout the Central Ohio area. To find a program you would enjoy, go HERE.

For great Earth Day books for kids, go HERE.

By the way, Arbor Day is April 29. Continue to plant trees throughout April as you celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. For more information on Arbor Day, visit the Arbor Day Foundation web site HERE.