Saturday is not only Arbor Day, it’s “Earth Gay”…Go hug (or plant) a tree.

Oh, that Cartman...that lovable sociopath! Ignore his rantings, and participate in "Earth Gay".

Arbor Day is ALWAYS exciting for Mr. Strangeways because he’s originally from Nebraska (Go Cornhuskers) and Arbor Day was created by J. Sterling Morton a native of Nebraska City, Nebraska which is about 60 miles north of my hometown. As school kids, we were forced into arborial labor every year and paid a lot of pilgrimages to the Shrine of Mr. Morton. You can pay hommage to Mother Earth and treat her with some much needed love and kindness this Saturday, April 23 from noon to 4pm by lending a hand to Earth Gay 2011 a project conceived by Out for Sustainability and partnered with the City of Seattle, Gay City, Starbucks Pride Alliance, Seattle Works, Boeing BEAGLES and Tutta Bella among many others. For this year’s Earth Gay event, the group will be restoring a walking and biking trail along the Southeast corner of Lake Union in the Eastlake neighborhood at the foot of Capitol Hill.

Anchored by Fairview Ave and stretching along Cheshiahud Loop Trail to Terry Pettus Park (Newton St), this is the start of refurbishing the trail around Lake Union! In partnership with the Urban Forestry division of Seattle Department of Transportation at the City of Seattle, we will be planting trees, mulching, removing invasive species, clearing trash and having a great time together. Prior to the work party we’ll hear brief remarks by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, the Seattle Department of Natural Resources and Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. This is also a time to officially award Seattle as a Tree City for our Arbor Day tree planting.

They’re looking for volunteers of all ages, genders and orientations but don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes (layers!) and closed-toe shoes. Oh, and kids willing and able to work, are welcome, too. To RSVP for the free event, go to earthgay.org/registration. For questions, contact Gerod at outsustainability@gmail.com.

AND, volunteers will be rewarded for their hard work with a Pizza Party/Cruise on Lake Union from 4pm to 7pm on the cruise ship, “The Islander”. Enjoy a 1 hour cruise and pizza provided by Tutta Bella. It’s a fitting treat for a day of hard work.

It’s nice to recommend a community event that DOESN’T involve booze, burlesque or bondage…though, all those things CAN be enjoyable. Check out “Earth Gay 2011” and give something back to Mother Gaia.