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

Every year on April 22, cities, states and countries around 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 1,200-acre farm in Warrenton, Virginia, and converted the old barns and buildings into a conference center, called Airlie. Thirteen years later, Senator Gaylord Nelson met with a group of medical and law students 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. “We’re very happy about our part in that process and it’s 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 Carter says the center’s focus on environmental sustainability lasts all year. “It’s 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. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/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. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Each year during Earth Week, Airlie’s staff continues to plant trees alongside Senator Nelson’s. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/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. “A 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’s not going to harm the Earth,” he says. (Photo Courtesy Airlie)

Photo Courtesy Airlie

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

Photo Courtesy Airlie

“In terms of landscape, we don’t use chemicals, we don’t use pesticides,” Witte says. “We compost all of our food scraps, they go right back into our organic garden.” (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/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. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/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. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

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

WTOP/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’ve got to have persistence and start small,” he says. “[It takes] a little more attention, a little more care, a little more labor, but it’s definitely worth it in the long run.” (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

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

WTOP/Rachel Nania