Help us plant 10,000 seeds at The Living Desert

As residents of the Coachella Valley, I know that we are a passionate community that cares deeply about preserving our beautiful valley. However, sometimes it can feel overwhelming to tackle environmental issues as an individual, and people often wonder how they can make a difference.

As Earth Day approaches on April 22, I want to share ways that you can get involved with The Living Desert to make a positive environmental impact. We actively restore desert habitats, save wildlife, work with local and global community partners and educate people about desert ecosystems. We invite you to join us in our efforts to protect deserts, choose sustainable options and advocate for your social network and elected representatives to do the same.

This year, we have set a goal to plant 10,000 seeds for Earth Day, and we need your help to achieve it.

How you can helpFrom April 10-23, we will be hosting an event called “10,000 Seeds: A Pollinator Plant Party” at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Join us at the Hoover Discovery Center from 10:00-11 a.m. on any of these days to plant your own desert-native, drought-resistant seeds to take home along with aftercare instructions.

The event is free with paid park entry.

By using alternatives to pesticides and planting native pollinator plant species, you can create essential habitats for local and migrating pollinators. Pollinators, such as the endangered western monarch and other butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and bats are crucial for the health and survival of plant communities, including the food we eat. Unfortunately, pollinator populations have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change.

You can also contribute to community science by using the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper to track where you’ve photographed monarchs and their milkweed host plants. Monarchs are impressive migrants, traveling thousands of miles across North America. By uploading your photos to the Monarch Mapper site, you contribute to the knowledge of monarch migration routes and current population size.

Planting for the PlanetWith your help, the 10,000 seeds planted will also be used to establish pollinator gardens at other locations across the Coachella Valley. Our team at The Living Desert will be collaborating with community partners to develop native community gardens that meet the requirements for becoming certified wildlife habitats. Our goal is to create at least five new habitats for local and migrating pollinators in the Coachella Valley. At our Pollinator Plant Party, you can learn how to get your own garden certified as a wildlife habitat.

On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, our Pollinator Plant Party will be expanded into a larger event from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. You can learn about the desert tortoise and North American songbirds, and how to help them while earning limited-edition trading cards that feature these iconic species.

Earth Day started in the United States in 1970, which is the same year The Living Desert was founded. Earth Day has grown into a global event occurring in nearly 200 countries with over 1 billion people. So, plan on celebrating the earth in good company! Join The Living Desert in protecting deserts by rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty – literally – in potting soil. Together, we can make a difference, one seed at a time.

Dr. Anna Young is the director of education engagement at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella Valley, help us plant 10,000 seeds at The Living Desert