Earth Day came early to Mt. Pleasant this year. Residents and community members celebrated on last weekend with a full day of activities at RevLove Farm on the corner of E. 123rd Street and Imperial Avenue.

Shirley Bell, a third generation Mt. Pleasant resident and the executive officer of RevLove farm, offered lessons in ground water irrigation, seed planting, an art kit raffle, and healthy snacks for everyone who attended. 

“I think it’s important for people to know how to grow their own food,” said Bell, noting that in today’s society, food security is not guaranteed.  

“We want people to leave with a skill or to leave with some type of tool to support them growing at home.” 

Growers can be of any age or skill level — gardening is an activity families can do together. Children as young as one year old attended RevLove Farm’s Earth Day event. Bell taught them how to “poke a hole with your finger” in the dirt and drop in a small handful of seeds. Toddlers old enough to stand up, follow visual directions and not eat the seeds proved successful at planting.  

Older kids learned about different water sources and the anatomy of a plant with paper activities Bell had planned for them. The children also helped Bell clear tree branches and weeds from the many plant beds around the farm. 

Adults learned about ground water irrigation techniques from a short demonstration given by Bell. “We’re focusing on something else that’s important to Earth Day, water conservation, how we’re collecting water or treating water,” she said. 

She then demonstrated how to start a drip irrigation system using a rain barrel to get “watering that goes right to the roots of the plants.”

RevLove hosts monthly events to help support local growers and the surrounding community, including wellness expos, bonfire nights, and a special Community Appreciation Day each summer.