The TIGUrS Urban Garden will play host to bees, butterflies, bicycles and a beautiful celebration of nature this Earth Day, Thursday, April 16.
Karyl Buddington is heading the 6th Annual Earth Day celebration and has lined up a complete day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. filled with a variety of healthy lifestyle related activities.
“This year’s focus is on ways people can live healthier and contribute to a cleaner and healthier planet,” Buddington said.
A 100-foot mural depicting endangered species, completed by local artist and animal rights acivist, Vinodini Jayaraman, lines the retaining wall in the back of the garden. The mural took 27 days to complete, and was featured at India Fest this year.
Similar to last year’s festival, after the opening ceremony, there will be a morning outdoor yoga session led by Elizabeth Heeren.
There will be two lunches, provided by Subway. The first lunch will be served at 11 a.m., and the other will be served at noon.
“The two lunches will hopefully encourage more students to come check out the garden,” Buddington said. “So if students can not make the first lunch because of class, then they will have a chance to make it to the other lunch.”
Live music from local artists will be featured in this year’s celebration, with performances by classical guitarist Aaron Brock, and the Mason Jar Fireflies.
Art Johnson, the garden coordinator for the TIGUrS Urban Garden and the Tiger Bike program will be the master of ceremonies for the day.
“Your mother takes care of you, so it’s a great chance to come celebrate her and learn about how to make improvements in nature,” Johnson said.
A larger focus of this year’s event will be the inclusion of All Things Bikefest, sponsored by the Planning Student Organization, which kicks off with a bike safety demonstration led by Captain Kevin Langellier at 11:30 a.m.
There is also a bicycle parade immediately following the safety presentation. All riders are invited to participate in the bicycle parade.
There will also be a bike repair truck and a “bike blender smoothie’ station.
Vendors including Bikesmith, MATA, and the Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club will be present throughout the day.
One of the featured activities of the day is the annual butterfly release, which is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m.
“If the weather cooperates, it is going to be a lot of fun,” Buddington said. “The butterfly release is going to be awesome.”
Attendees will be able to check out information stands featuring sustainability initiatives by organizations both on and off campus.
There will be an afternoon Zumba session led by Lashundra Epps after the second lunch is served.
Free snacks will be available, along with handouts, t-shirts and other giveaways throughout the day’s festivities.
The closing ceremony will begin at 1:45 p.m., ending the celebration at 2 p.m.
The TIGUrs Urban Garden is located on campus directly behind the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, adjacent to the entrance of the Zach Curlin Parking Garage.
Photo by Tyler Park
