Jesus Martinez of Community Roots Farm hands out free plants to visitors at his booth. Photo: Gina Yarbrough

By SDCN Editor

Oceanside, CA–The City of Oceanside hosted an Earth Day celebration with a day of service, and environmental-friendly activities Saturday at Buccaneer Park.

The free event was filled with information booths, arts, crafts, and activities centered around sustainability and taking action to preserve and protect the planet and community. 

Volunteers participated in the Buccaneer Park clean-up effort, complete with trash pickers and a fanny pack clean-up kit to help remove litter from the city’s creek and waterways.

Oceanside has partnered with I Love a Clean San Diego to offer five clean-up locations that are critical to the health of the region’s watershed and natural environment. Each location offered volunteers t-shirts and clean-up supplies. 

“We’re so excited to bring another innovative initiative for Earth Day this year that brings people to Buccaneer Park to celebrate and serve our local environment,” Oceanside’s Environmental Officer Colleen Foster said. 

Marines from Camp Pendleton showcased their environmental efforts and joined in on the community clean-up. The military base recently received the 2021 Recycling Hero Award from Keep California Beautiful.

Aside from festivities at the park, residents can get involved in making Earth Day every day with a number of resources available all year round.

Residents can schedule a free pick up of their excess backyard produce with ProduceGood to benefit local feeding agencies while also preventing food waste. Residents with backyard bounties can contact ProduceGood at info@producegood.org and (760) 492-3467.