Earth Day San Francisco

With its community gardens, mandatory composting rules, aggressive recycling policies, bike lanes, green business incentives and liberal ethics, San Francisco is among the most Earth-friendly and sustainable large cities in the U.S.

True to form, the Bay Area is celebrating Earth Day with a slew of events on or around April 22nd.

From a large company like Starbucks just giving away coffee so long as you don’t use (and throw away) a paper cup, volunteering opportunities in our beloved Dolores Park, the huge Earth Day celebration in Civic Center or Hayes Valley Farm’s weeklong activities, we’re paying attention to Mother Earth.

Earth Day 2011 Highlights
San Francisco Bay Area

Starbucks Free Coffee Day if You Bring Own Mug
Friday, April 22 — All Day
In an effort to encourage everyone to switch from paper cups to reusable travel mugs on Earth Day, Starbucks is offering a free freshly brewed coffee on April 22, 2011 as long as you bring in your own travel mug.
– All Starbucks locations if you bring in your own mug.

Try “Squid-Printing” Book Binding Earth Day Party
Saturday, April 23 —11 am to 5 pm
It’s the Center for the Book’s sixth annual Earth Day Extravaganza with fun, free sustainable printing and book arts activities. Try squid printing using two big, beautiful Pacific Humboldt squids or learn a book-binding technique.
– SF Center For The Book at 300 Haro Street in Potrero Hill

San Francisco Earth Day Festival in Civic Center
Saturday, April 23 —10 am to 6 pm
San Francisco celebrates Earth Day in Civic Center Plaza on April 23, 2011 with a multi-cultural music festival and sustainable living roadshow featuring international keynote speakers on multiple stages and eco-zones filled with prominent sustainability activists and workshop leaders, nonprofit organizations, green businesses and more.
– Civic Center Plaza at 355 McAllister Street in San Francisco

Earth Day Celebration & Community Clean-Up
Saturday, April 23 — 10 am to 2 pm
Every little actions counts, which is why you should spend Earth Day cleaning up your neighborhood. Come out and volunteer at Dolores Park’s Earth Day Celebration and Community Clean Up. You’ll collect trash and debris with other volunteers, then eat a free bagged lunch then give away free recycling bags to picnickers.
– Dolores Park on 18th Street & Church Street in the Mission

Start of Full “Earth Week” of Activities at Hayes Valley Farm
Sunday, April 24 through Friday, April 29
Hayes Valley Farm is following San Francisco’s official (and huge) Earth Day celebration with their own Earth Week, filled with Free activities, classes, workshops, and fun events during the week of April 24 through April 29
– Hayes Valley Farm at 450 Laguna Street in SF’s Hayes Valley

Other Earth Day 2011 Events
Friday, March 22 -Earth Day Yerba Buena Gardens, $3 Lunch Deal @ Crocker Galleira
Saturday, March 23 -Earth Stroll at Crissy Field, Tree Tour of Cole Valley, Berkeley Earth Day Celebration