Every year, Earth Day rolls around with a flood of reminders: plant a tree, turn off your lights, pick up trash. And while those actions matter, they barely scratch the surface of what it means to truly care for this Earth.

For me, Earth Day is more than a calendar event. It’s a reflection of everything I love—the vibrant world of plants, the way emotion flows through art, the power of honest communication, and the deep, unwavering call for justice.

These passions are not separate. They are woven together, forming the very reasons why this planet is worth fighting for.

Herbalism: Reconnecting to the Wisdom of the Land

Herbalism teaches us to slow down and truly see the world around us. It invites us to kneel in the soil, to recognize the plants at our feet, and to remember that healing has always been rooted in nature.

It’s not just about remedies. It’s about relationship. When we honor the plants growing in our backyards and forests, we remember that the Earth has always offered us what we need. We simply have to pay attention.

Art: A Mirror, A Protest, A Prayer

Art helps us process what words cannot. It gives shape to our grief, joy, rage, and hope. Throughout history, it has served as both a personal outlet and a public call to action.

On Earth Day, I find meaning in creating something beautiful or provocative with my hands. Whether it’s painting a bee, building with reclaimed wood, or crafting with foraged materials, art becomes a form of reverence for the Earth and a commitment to its future.

Communication: Stories That Spark Change

The way we talk about the planet shapes how we care for it. Too often, we are flooded with fear and statistics that leave us feeling helpless. But there are other stories: ones of resilience, regeneration, and people working together to protect what matters.

As someone who loves language, I believe our words can plant seeds. When we speak with purpose and compassion, we can inspire action, connection, and a collective sense of responsibility.

Social Justice: Because Climate Justice Is Social Justice

Earth Day cannot exist in a vacuum. Environmental destruction impacts everyone, but not equally. Communities of color, Indigenous peoples, and low-income neighborhoods are often the first to suffer and the last to be heard.

Caring for the Earth means advocating for those communities. It means acknowledging systems of oppression and working to dismantle them. Real sustainability is not just about the environment, it is about equity and access too.

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So this Earth Day, I’m not just hugging trees, though I probably will. I’m honoring the ways herbalism, art, communication, and justice are all connected. They give me hope. They remind me that even small acts of care matter.

The Earth doesn’t need us to be perfect. It needs us to be present, creative, and committed.

Happy Earth Day. Let’s continue to tend to this planet, and to each other, with love and purpose.

Love you. Mean it. ~Sami