Want to celebrate Earth Day? Plant a plant ...

SOUTH AMENIA — The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) has come up with a great way to celebrate Earth Day, albeit a day early.

This Saturday, April 21, at 9:30 a.m., HVA members and volunteers will converge at Still Point Community Farm in South Amenia, a location that has been adversely impacted by erosion along the banks of the Webatuck River.

According to Tonia Shoumatoff, HVA’s Tenmile River watershed coordinator, the Community Foundation of Dutchess County, as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program, have contributed to the project by donating 200 plants.

The shrubs, which will be planted along the banks to prevent erosion, include red osier dogwood, streamco willow, silky willow and buttonbush, plants that support habitats and are aesthetically pleasing, Shoumatoff said.

"These will be very good for the area. They provide shade for fish and places for birds to hang out," the coordinator explained. "They also protect the river."

Adults aren’t the only ones who will reap the benefits of the replantings.

Webutuck Central School District FFA Advisor Miriam Strauss and her students will participate in another planting that will take place next Wednesday.

"The kids will really get some hands-on experience out of it," Shoumatoff said. "It’s a chance for them to learn about the riverbanks and what it takes to keep a healthy stream."

Shoumatoff said she’s "really, really excited" about the replanting on the Webatuck River, especially since this is the first time HVA has beautified this particular area.

However, with the planting rapidly approaching, the HVA still needs more volunteers.

Anyone who wants more information on volunteering or directions should contact Shoumatoff at 845-373-8610.

"It’s just a great way to celebrate Earth Day," she noted.

For more information on HVA, go to hvatoday.org.