Children make crafts from recycled materials at the Methow Recycles craft booth. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Volunteer helping a child at the Methow Recycles craft booth. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Poet Martha Flores drove from Wenatchee to attend the 3rd annual Earth Day event sponsored by Methow Recycles. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Methow Recycles Interim Executive Director Nancy McKinney Milsteadt welcomes everyone to the event from the main stage on John Doran Ranch as emcee Kevin Bevis looks on. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Cowboy poet John Doran performs his first poem, “Riches,” which is about finding wealth in the beauty of nature. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Cowboy poet John Doran performs his poem, “Coyote,” about being one with the coyote in the spirit world. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Methow Press publisher Greg Wright reads a poem on the main stage on the John Doran Ranch. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Attendees relax in the early afternoon of Methow Recycles’ Earth Day Celebration on John Doran Ranch April 27, 2024. Photo by Julia Babkina 
The clouds moved in, but it didn’t rain on the Earth Day celebration on the John Doran Ranch on April 27, 2024. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Repair Café volunteers help keep objects out of landfills by repairing them. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Bag Monster leads kids and adults in a parade through the John Doran Ranch. The kids’ costumes are made of recycled materials provided by Methow Recycles. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Kids enjoy the tire swing on the John Doran Ranch on Methow Recycles’ Earth Day celebration on April 27, 2024. Photo by Julia Babkina 
People dance to the music of reggae band Island Bound on the John Doran Ranch. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Attendees relax to the music of reggae on Methow Recycles’ third annual Earth Day celebration on the John Doran Ranch on April 27, 2024. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Smokey Bear and forester Carissa Camenson pose for a picture on Methow Recycles’ Earth Day celebration on April 27, 2024 on John Doran Ranch. Photo by Julia Babkina 
A poster provides statistics about plastic bag use in the U.S. as attendees enjoy food and drink in the background. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Robin “Tuck” Stebbins of Methow Dark Sky Coalition shares trivia with a group of kids on Methow Recycles’ Earth Day celebration April 27, 2024 on John Doran Ranch. Photo by Julia Babkina 
Attendees listen to one of the last songs by reggae band Island Bound as the sun descends behind a hill on John Doran Ranch. Photo by Julia Babkina
Methow Recycles celebrated its third annual Earth Day event at John Doran Ranch just north of Twisp. The event is a fundraiser for Methow Recycles. The event included poetry readings organized by Methow Press publisher Greg Wright, craft booths, a costume parade, a fix-it booth by Recycle Café, food from local vendors, and music by Tacoma-based reggae band Island Bound, with an opening by local funk-rock band The Crunk Monks.
The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. The event was founded by Wisconsin Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson and was inspired by the protests of the 1960s. He proposed the concept of Earth Day at a conference in Seattle in fall 1969. It began as a teach-in and was held April 22 to maximize the number of students that could participate. Since then, its audience has diversified and the event has grown to Earth Week, an examination of humans’ impact on the planet.
