The Day After Tomorrow

Great news! Don't stop doing wonderful green things because guess what? It's still Earth Day - Every Day!

Never Doubt Your Contribution

For more than 30 years, Earth Day has been celebrated every April 22. From recycling cans and bottles, to community cleanups, individuals come together to work side by side to protect our environment. But, shouldn’t that spirit, that progress, last for more than one day? Two days, a week? How about a month?

Yes. Earth Month Coachella Valley is a local project inviting kids, residents, businesses and government to raise awareness and share in the simple things we can do to help the planet! Help celebrate Earth Month Coachella Valley by letting others know about what your organization, business or group is doing for the environment including your projects and activities. Earth Month Coachella Valley starts a new year for the environment. So join us at the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery and start right now!

Since 1997, the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery has been an environmental leader in providing recycling education and activities to youth throughout the Coachella Valley and Riverside County. In 2003, the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery received the Award of Achievement in Education from the Natural Resources Council of America.

At the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery, students of all ages learn to address environmental issues that face our valley and our world. All of us can make a difference and Earth Month Coachella Valley is just one more opportunity that can change the world!

For more information or to participate in Earth Month Coachella Valley, please contact us at 760/863-7777 or www.earthmonthcoachellavalley.org.


“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

The Race Is On!

So the first official Tour de Trash - Recycle Bicycles is on!

If you ever thought the wheels in your head were spinning, wait until you see the kaleidoscope of materials, colors and old bicycles that will be unveiled at the Indian Wells Arts Festival, April 4-6. As part of the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery's participation, the Tour de Trash - Recycle Bicycles more than 25 "new" sculptures will be on exhibit, created from more than 100 nonfunctioning bicycles and/or bike pieces, fragments and parts!

My idea behind the project came from a spring trip last year to Chicago where all along Michigan Avenue, bikes had been painted by kids from an after school program. That's when the wheels in my head started spinning! How could I translate a similar project for the Coachella Valley? By recycling, of course, but with a twist.

Recycle Bicycles uses only nonfunctioning bikes or parts because there are great programs that refurbish functioning bikes and give them a whole new life with new cyclers, primarily kids. Locally you can donate a bike not exactly ready for sculpture to Wheels For Kids of the Desert at http://Wheels4kidsofthedesert.com. Internationally Bikes Not Bombs (http://www.bikesnotbombs.org) promotes bicycle technology as a concrete alternative to war and environmental destruction. For parts that are not reused, like a leftover greasy chain, you can easily recycle and become a rebicycler with a program similar to cell phone and printer cartridge recycling programs by going to http://www.resourcerevival.com/recycle.htm.

Featured in the Tour de Trash are sculptures by artists, kids, clubs and individuals. All the bikes used for the sculptures were donated by valley police departments and citizens. The Tour will start in Indian Wells and then head onto stops in Cathedral City, Idyllwild, Indio and Palm Desert during April and May. Along this artistic bike trail of sorts, you will see the very abstract, animal inspirations, color clashing and even relaxing pauses. I think that you will see a sculpture for every mood! I encourage you to check the sculptures out and let me know what you think and which one is your favorite Recycle Bicycle.