Every Day Is Earth Day: How Project EverGreen Turns Purpose into Action

Every day is Earth Day for Project EverGreen. Earth Day is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to care for the planet. At Project EverGreen, that responsibility isn’t limited to a single day – it drives our work every day. Our focus is simple: create and sustain healthy green spaces that benefit people, communities, and the environment.

From Awareness to Action and Now, Measurement

Lawns, landscapes, parks, and managed green spaces are more than aesthetic. They actively:

  • Sequester carbon
  • Improve air quality
  • Reduce urban heat
  • Manage stormwater
  • Support healthier communities

What’s new and critical is the ability to measure that impact in real terms. That’s why Project EverGreen developed the Clean Air Calculator.

The Clean Air Calculator translates green space into tangible environmental benefits: quantifying carbon sequestration, clean air production, and the number of people positively impacted. It turns something people value into something they can see, understand, and advocate for.

Because protecting green space is no longer just about belief, it’s about proof.

Supporting Military Families Through GreenCare for Troops

Environmental stewardship and community support go hand in hand. Through GreenCare for Troops, lawn and landscape professionals volunteer their services to maintain outdoor spaces for military families with a deployed service member. The impact is immediate and meaningful:

  • Reduces stress for families
  • Maintains safe, usable outdoor spaces
  • Ensures landscapes continue delivering environmental benefits

Healthy, maintained lawns don’t just look better, they function better for families and the environment alike.

Revitalizing Public Spaces Through GreenCare for Communities

Across the country, Project EverGreen transforms underperforming parks, athletic fields, and shared green spaces into thriving community assets. These projects go beyond visual improvement and deliver the following:

  • Restore soil and turf health
  • Introduce sustainable landscaping practices
  • Create cooler, safer, more functional environments

And increasingly, tools like the Clean Air Calculator help demonstrate the long-term environmental return of these investments.

A Collective Effort with Real Results

This work is powered by a network of partners, volunteers, and industry professionals committed to a common goal: advancing environmental stewardship through action. Together, we’re not just improving spaces. We’re elevating the conversation around the value of green spaces by pairing on-the-ground impact with measurable outcomes.

Beyond Earth Day

Earth Day sparks awareness. But lasting change requires consistency and accountability. At Project EverGreen, every day is Earth Day. And today, we’re doing more than acting – we’re quantifying the difference healthy green spaces make.

Join the Mission – Learn More About Project EverGreen

Whether you volunteer, partner, or advocate, you play a role. Explore how you can get involved – and discover the impact of green spaces in your own community. Because when we can measure the difference, we can multiply it.

Learn more about our initiatives and programs, and see where you can lend your time and talents.

More About the Clean Air Calculator

What is the Clean Air Calculator?

The Clean Air Calculator is a tool that measures the environmental benefits of green spaces including lawns, landscapes, parks, sports fields, golf courses and more.

How does the Clean Air Calculator work?

The Clean Air Calculator is a web-based mapping tool that measures the positive environmental impact of plants – specifically lawns, trees and shrubs – on a property. The Clean Air Calculator combines geographic information system (GIS)-based interactive maps with a scientific data model to identify the value of actual green space in cities, neighborhoods, communities and individual properties. After the mapping is completed, the tool tallies the measurements and estimates the environmental benefits of that property.

Who can use the Clean Air Calculator?

Anyone! Homeowners, service professionals, schools, municipalities, parks can all benefit from using the Clean Air Calculator, to name a few.

 

Spring Yard Cleanups – A Fresh Start for Military Families

Spring yard cleanups bring a fresh start for military families – greening lawns, budding trees and more time outdoors as warmer days return.

For military families with a loved one deployed, however, spring can also bring added stress.

Seasonal yard work does not pause for deployment. Leaves left behind from fall, broken branches from winter storms, compacted soil and matted turf all demand attention. What might normally be a weekend project for two adults can quickly become overwhelming for the spouse or caregiver managing home, work and children alone.

That is why spring yard cleanups are more than cosmetic. They are practical, protective and deeply meaningful.

Removing Winter’s Wear and Tear

Winter leaves its mark on every landscape. Snow mold can mat turf down. Salt from walkways can damage grass edges. Fallen limbs, debris and leftover leaves block sunlight and trap moisture.

A thorough spring cleanup typically includes:

  • Removing sticks, branches and debris
  • Raking and dethatching matted turf
  • Cleaning out landscape beds
  • Pruning damaged shrubs
  • Edging and redefining borders

These steps allow air, water and nutrients to reach the soil surface again. They also reduce the risk of fungal disease and pest activity that can take hold in damp, compacted areas.

For a military spouse juggling daily responsibilities, having volunteers step in to complete these tasks removes a physical burden and a mental one. It restores order after a long winter and creates breathing room at a time when it is needed most.

Setting the Stage for a Healthy Summer Lawn

Spring cleanup is not just about appearances; it is foundational to long-term lawn health.

When debris is cleared and turf is upright and exposed to sunlight, grass can begin active growth more evenly. Early-season aeration and proper fertilization are more effective when the lawn is not smothered by thatch or leaves. Pruning damaged branches encourages healthier, stronger growth throughout the growing season.

The result by summer is:

  • Thicker turf that crowds out weeds
  • More resilient grass during heat and drought
  • Healthier root systems
  • Cleaner, safer outdoor spaces for children and pets

For families awaiting the return of a deployed service member, a healthy lawn and maintained yard become more than landscaping goals. They become the backdrop for homecomings, backyard barbecues and simple evenings outside together.

Stability During Deployment

Perhaps the most powerful benefit of a spring yard cleanup is a sense of stability.

A well-maintained property signals that someone cares. It helps families avoid potential homeowners association notices or neighborhood concerns. It prevents small maintenance issues from becoming costly problems later in the season.

Most importantly, it allows the family at home to focus on what matters most – staying connected to their deployed loved one and managing daily life with confidence.

When green industry professionals donate their time and expertise through programs like GreenCare for Troops, they are not just mowing grass or trimming shrubs. They are lifting a weight from a military family’s shoulders.

Spring is a time of renewal. For military families navigating deployment, a simple yard cleanup can provide structure, dignity and encouragement at exactly the right time.

As lawns green up across the country, so too does the reminder that small acts of service can create lasting impact – one yard, and one family, at a time.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

To learn more, register as a volunteer, or review eligibility requirements, visit:
https://projectevergreen.org/greencare-for-troops/

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is proudly endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

 

Greener Goals for a New Year

Cleveland, Ohio
Greener Goals for a New Year is about strengthening green spaces, supporting healthier communities, and elevating the work of green industry professionals.

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