Now celebrated around the world, Earth Day’s roots are in D.C. area

Every year on April 22, cities, states and countries around聽the world celebrate Earth Day. But the idea for the annual day of environmental recognition sprouted in 1969 on a plot of land just an hour’s drive from D.C. (Photo courtesy Airlie)

Photo courtesy Airlie

In 1956, Dr. Murdock Head purchased a聽1,200-acre farm in Warrenton, Virginia, and converted the old barns and buildings into a conference center, called . Thirteen years later, Senator Gaylord Nelson met with a group of medical and law students聽at Airlie and introduced his idea for Earth Day. By 1990, 140 nations participated in celebrating Earth Day. In this photo, the staff at Airlie raise the Earth Day flag in front of the Airlie House to kick off a full week of Earth Day activities. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very happy about our part in that process and it鈥檚 a crucial aspect of our identity,” says Kevin Carter, managing director of Airlie about the tradition that started at the center more than 40 years ago. (Photo Courtesy Airlie)

Photo Courtesy Airlie

Earth Week is celebrated with gusto at Airlie, but聽Carter says聽the center’s聽focus on environmental sustainability lasts all year.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 not just something that is a day or a week,” he says. Throughout the year, Airlie emphasizes recycling, composting, energy reduction, organic gardening and environmental education. Here, guests and local visitors are encouraged to walk the gardens and relax on the grounds. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

Twenty-three years after Senator Gaylord Nelson first proposed Earth Day, he returned to Airlie to plant a tree in commemoration of the tradition that started in Warrenton. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

Each year during Earth Week, Airlie’s staff continues to plant trees alongside聽Senator Nelson’s. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

Airlie has a 4-acre organic garden on its property, where head gardener Kae Yowell grows organic fruits and vegetables, as well as herbs and hops. Airlie Culinary Director Jeff Witte says the garden is used both as a platform for education and as a food source for its on-premise restaurant. During Earth Week, Airlie partners with a local elementary school to teach kids the ins-and-outs of sustainable agriculture. 鈥淎 lot of these kids just have a genuine interest in getting their hands dirty, knowing where their food comes from. They want to make sure that they know their food is coming from an area that is sustainable, that鈥檚 not going to harm the Earth,” he says. (Photo Courtesy Airlie)

Photo Courtesy Airlie

鈥淭he benefit for our culinary department is that we have fresh, organic produce year-round,鈥澛燱itte says. In addition to gathering food from the on-site garden, the chefs at Airlie source聽ingredients used in the restaurant’s kitchen from more than 35 farms in the region. (Photo Courtesy Airlie)

Photo Courtesy Airlie

鈥淚n terms of landscape, we don鈥檛 use chemicals, we don鈥檛 use pesticides,” Witte says.聽鈥淲e compost all of our food scraps, they go right back into our organic garden.鈥� (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

Each month, Airlie partners with a local brewery, distillery or vineyard to host a dinner that highlights the bounty from the region’s farmers and producers. Once a year, Airlie hosts a harvest dinner in its garden to highlight its plot-to-plate philosophy. (Photo Courtesy Airlie)

Photo Courtesy Airlie

The Airlie garden is also home to hens, looked after by the center’s gardener. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

During Earth Week, Airlie hosts a number of activities for staff, guests and visitors. And it is tradition for staff to plant trees. For Earth Week 2015, Airlie is starting a fruit orchard on its grounds. The dedication of the new orchard will take place Wednesday, April 22 at 3:20 p.m. in the garden. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

The聽signature salad greens in Airlie’s dining room are grown in the 4-acre organic garden. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

Want to ditch the pesticides this spring and start your own organic garden? Airlie’s Culinary Director Jeff Witte says a little bit of patience goes a long way. “You鈥檝e got to have persistence and start small,” he says. “[It takes] a聽little more attention, a little more care, a little more labor, but it’s definitely worth it in the long run.鈥� (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania

Interested in celebrating Earth Day in the same spot where it originated? You can find more information about the on Airlie’s website, or make a visit the center and set up an anytime throughout the year. (海角社区app/Rachel Nania)

海角社区app/Rachel Nania