Earth Day 2025: Small Steps, Big Impact

Earth Day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a gentle nudge to reconnect with the natural world around us, and a reminder that everyday actions can shape a more sustainable future. Whether you’re tending a garden, removing invasive plants, or picking up litter while out on a walk, these small steps add up to a healthier, more resilient planet. This year, our team found a few fun and meaningful ways to mark the occasion—and we hope this inspires you to get outside and get growing, too.

Get Your Garden Spring-Ready: 5 Simple Tips

Spring is the perfect season to take action in your yard or community green space. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, here are a few tips from our team to help your garden thrive:

1. Prep Your Soil: Loosen the ground and give it a good soak before planting. This helps roots settle in and access nutrients more easily.
2. Choose Natives: Native plants are adapted to local conditions, support pollinators, and often require less maintenance and water.
3. Tame the Invasives: Remove or reduce invasive species early in the season before they take hold. It’s a simple way to give native plants room to grow.
4. Tickle Those Roots: When transplanting plugs or potted plants, gently loosen the roots. It helps the plant establish itself faster.
5. Water Deeply: Give new plantings a thorough watering to help them recover from transplant shock and get settled in their new home.

Looking for more tips? Princeton Hydro landscape architects Jamie Feinstein, RLA and Cory Speroff, PLA, ASLA, CBLP shared their top spring gardening tips in an “Ask Me Anything” Facebook live Q&A session, including:

• How to choose plants that complement one another;
• Tips for starting seedlings indoors;
• Steps for preparing outdoor beds before planting;
• Things to consider when choosing native edible plants like mountain mint or wild strawberries; and
• Knowing how and when to transplant from pot to garden.

Click here to watch the full Q&A session on-demand.

Princeton Hydro Garden Day: Teamwork in Bloom

To welcome spring, members of the Princeton Hydro team spent an afternoon outside tending the native garden bed at the Trenton headquarters. Located at the front of the building, the perennial planting area features climate-adapted, drought-resistant native species chosen for their ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal.

Although perennials return year after year, they still benefit from seasonal care. Tasks like weeding, pruning, and loosening the soil support strong root systems, encourage healthy growth, and help maintain a thriving, sustainable garden ecosystem. Recognizing the garden’s significance and the value of collaboration, our team united to accommodate and nurture this year’s growth.

“It was a fun chance to unplug, get our hands in the dirt, and connect with coworkers in a different kind of ‘team meeting,’” said Mikhail Velez, Communications Coordinator. “It’ll be exciting to see how the space fills in over the season, and we’re looking forward to doing small things throughout the year to keep it healthy and thriving.”

Feeling inspired? Organizing a gardening day is a fun, low-cost way to give back to your environment and bring people together. Celebrate Earth Day 2025 by starting a garden, volunteering with a local environmental group, or organizing your own mini planting day with friends, family or coworkers.

Rain Gardens 101: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

Rain gardens are a beautiful, low-maintenance green infrastructure solution for managing stormwater, reducing erosion, and improving water quality by filtering pollutants before they reach local waterways. They also provide valuable habitat for pollinators and other beneficial wildlife.

On April 12, Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey M. Goll, P.E. led a free public workshop on how to build a rain garden of your own. Hosted in Yardley, PA by the Lower Makefield Township Environmental Advisory Council as part of their Environmental Lecture Series, the session offered practical, approachable guidance for managing stormwater at home.

Using photos from his own yard, Geoffrey walked attendees through how he designed and installed a rain garden to reduce runoff and eliminate pooling water. He shared ten easy-to-follow tips and answered questions on plant selection, drainage strategies, long-term maintenance, and when and why to amend soil before planting.

Want to learn more? Watch Geoffrey’s full presentation and get inspired to create your own eco-friendly solution to stormwater management:

Make Every Day Earth Day

The real spirit of Earth Day lies in our ongoing commitment to care for the natural world—not just once a year, but in everyday choices and community actions. As Geoffrey quoted in his rain garden presentation, “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” – Howard Zinn.

From backyards to boardrooms, each of us has a role to play in shaping a future where people and nature thrive side by side.

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