This past Sunday was Earth Day. Did you know that? I sure hope so. While attending the Syracuse Gun Show, a friend asked me why I did not add it in last week’s column and calendar. My thoughts were simple: Should I have to remind everyone when Earth Day is? Shouldn't “every” day be Earth Day?

Famed conservationist, Aldo Leopold, once said, "we treat the earth like we have a spare in the trunk.” With that, my feelings are that rather than put one day aside each year to be "earth-friendly,” we should make it a daily occurrence. So...what did you do on Earth Day? What are you doing to continue that today? As for me, for starters, 250 spruce seedlings are being planted on my land for more wildlife habitat. Here's some ideas to get you started on being "earth friendly" every day.

*Walk around your town and pick up trash

*Plant a tree - there is still time to order trees from the NYS Nursery (www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7127)

*Start a compost pile (www.howtocompost.org)

*Prepare the ground to plant a garden so you can use your compost pile (home-vegetable-gardening.com/implement/seedbed.html)

*Take a hike in the woods - join the bullthistle hiking club (www.bullthistlehiking.org)

*Start recycling if you haven't been (www.co.chenango.ny.us/dpw/waste-management/recycling)

*Go bird watching - join the Chenango Bird Club (www.nybirds.org/FedClubs)

*Go on your own photo safari of local nature (www.naturephotographers.net)

*Make a salad of greens from your backyard using dandelion greens, wild leeks, garlic mustard and other wild edibles (www.trails.com/list_2865_edible-wild-plants-new-york)

*Buy some reusable shopping bags - you can always find them at Dollar General, Real Deals, and other bargain stores

*Join your local Freecycle to pass along items instead of throwing them away (groups.yahoo.com/group/ChenangoCountyNYFreecycle )

*Collect hazardous materials like paint and batteries and dispose of them properly (www.co.chenango.ny.us/dpw/waste-management/recycling)

*Join a Community Supported Agriculture group (www.localharvest.org/csa )

*Grab hold of your loved one and go dance in the rain, watch the sun rise or set, go picnic beside a stream...and enjoy nature!

___

For sportsmen on the federal front, Tuesday, April 17, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the most significant pro-sportsmen legislation in the last 15 years — the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012. The vote was 274-146 in favor." Locally, Representative Hinchey voted AGAINST this bill, Representative Hanna voted FOR it. Thank you Mr. Hanna.

The following summary was written by the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan arm of the Library of Congress, which serves Congress.

“Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012 - Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act - Requires federal public land management officials to facilitate the use of, and access to, federal public lands and waters for fishing, sport hunting, and recreational shooting, except as restricted by specified limitations, including statutory authority that authorizes or withholds action for reasons of national security, public safety, or resource conservation. Requires that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands, excluding lands on the Outer Continental Shelf, be open to recreational fishing, hunting, and shooting unless the managing agency acts to close lands to such activity for specified purposes, including resource conservation, public safety, energy production, water supply facilities, or national security. Allows federal agencies to: (1) lease their lands for shooting ranges, and (2) designate specific lands for recreational shooting activities. Sets forth requirements for a withdrawal, change of classification, or change of management status that effectively closes or significantly restricts 640 or more contiguous acres of federal public lands or waters for fishing or hunting or related activities. Recreational Shooting Protection Act - Requires National Monument land under BLM's jurisdiction to be open to access and use for recreational shooting, except as limited by the Director of BLM for reasons of national security and public safety and to comply with an applicable federal statute. Prohibits the issuance of closures or restrictions on such land that are substantially similar to those that were previously issued and not approved by federal law. Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act of 2012 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue a permit for the importation of any polar bear part (other than an internal organ) from a polar bear taken in a sport hunt in Canada to any person: (1) who submits proof that the polar bear was legally harvested before February 18, 1997; or (2) who has submitted, in support of an application submitted before May 15, 2008, proof that the bear was legally harvested before such date from a polar bear population from which a sport-hunted trophy could be imported before such date. Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to exclude from the definition of "chemical substance" for purposes of such Act: (1) any component of any pistol, revolver, firearm, shell, or cartridge the sale of which is subject to federal excise tax, including shot, bullets and other projectiles, propellants, and primers; and (2) any sport fishing equipment the sale of which is subject to federal excise tax and sport fishing equipment components”.

___