Gallatin Valley
Earth Day

Find out about events by reading our newsletter!
Sign up for our newsletter here.
Watch past event recordings here:

UPCOMING EVENTS
Grasslands: Our Least-Known & Most-Threatened Ecosystem
with Beth Madden, wildlife biologist
Wednesday, February 12th at 6:30 pm
Bozeman Public Library, Community Room
REGISTER for the live stream (and to receive a link to the recording) HERE.
Join wildlife biologist Beth Madden for an overview of the history, geography, and ecology of the prairies; including the adaptations of the unique plants and animals that live there, and the ecosystem services that prairies provide. Beth will also explore the magnitude of prairie loss, current conservation efforts, and how Montana is a stronghold for these initiatives.
About Beth Madden
Beth Madden is a wildlife biologist with more than 30 years of experience, mostly as a federal biologist in Montana and North Dakota with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She has an M.S. in biology from MSU, where her research focused on relationships between prairie birds and fire ecology. Her subsequent work on national wildlife refuges involved managing and monitoring grassland habitats and wildlife. In retirement, she enjoys engaging others in discovering our natural world.

REGISTER for the link here.
Rewilding and the Promise of American Prairie
with Daniel Kinka, Director of Rewilding, American Prairie
Thursday, February 27th at 7 pm
Zoom webinar
REGISTER for the livestream (and/or a recording of the talk) at
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ytLv7sLDReu3EFmVn79R_Q#/registration
Two hundred years ago central Montana was the very portrait of wildness. Between about 1830 and 1890 the wildlife of the region were decimated and the frontier closed. Montana still holds one of the largest areas of intact prairie habitat on the continent with some of the greatest species diversity anywhere in the Great Plains, but these grasslands are being converted to croplands at an alarming rate. Further, artificially suppressed and shrinking abundance of numerous bird and mammal species threatens the overall functioning and resilience of the ecosystem itself.
Join us to learn how American Prairie seeks to restore a vast and fully-functioning prairie ecosystem around the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, that contains ecologically meaningful populations of all non-extinct native species, with management focused on maximizing the integrity, complexity, and resilience of the system. In practice this includes the return of bison, the proliferation of prairie dogs, the natural recolonization of grizzly bears, and much, much more. Part of a global movement to rewild the world around us and restore hope to conservation, our efforts focus on shifting land use practices, habitat restoration, and increasing social carrying capacity for wildlife.
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Healing the Earth by Growing Food as Medicine
with Bob Quinn, Montana organic farmer and businessman
Tuesday, March 11th at 7 pm
Museum of the Rockies
(in person and live streamed)
FREE
Register for the live stream HERE.
Presented in partnership with the Community Food Co-op.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Since WWII, our national ag goal has been plentiful, low-cost food. Now we have the most abundant, cheap food in the world. However, this cheap food has come at a very high cost. Let’s start with rural America - what % of the farms from our grandparent’s era still exist? - hardy half - Look down Main Street of most small towns. What % of the businesses are boarded up? - again about 1/2. Look at the pollution due to ag chemicals throughout our country and throughout the world. What % of your family and friends have at least one chronic disease? The national average is now 60%. All these problems can be mediated by growing food as medicine. We start by healing our land, then our communities and finally our people. I will be taking my personal experiences and observations over the past 70 years to suggest a few solutions that can involve everyone in a very positive way.
About Bob Quinn
Bob Quinn is a leading green businessman, with successful ventures in both organic agriculture and renewable energy. Raised on a 2,400 acre wheat and cattle ranch in Montana, Quinn earned a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry at UC Davis before coming home to farm in 1978. In 1986, he planted his first organic crop, and by 1989, he had converted his entire farm. He served on the first National Organic Standards Board, which spurred the creation of the USDA's National Organic Program, and has been recognized with the Montana Organic Association Lifetime of Service Award, The Organic Trade Association Organic Leadership Award, and Rodale Institute's Organic Pioneer Award. In 2023 he donated 700 acres of his farm to create a regenerative organic research, education and health institute. The vision and mission of Quinn Institute is “Healing the Earth by Growing Food as Medicine”.
Recordings of 2025 events
"Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Heal the Planet"
with Ben Goldfarb
Thursday, January 16th
Emerson Center for the Arts, Bozeman
WATCH the RECORDING here.



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Gallatin Valley Earth Day Festival 2024


































































Gallatin Earth Day Business Stewards
Click HERE for a list of participating businesses
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Who we Are
In 2019, a group of community members volunteered to plan an Earth Day festival, “Community Solutions for a Healthy Planet”. 500 people attended the festival at the Bozeman Public Library, enjoying talks, exhibits, and food as well as music, dance, art, and theater!
Our multi day in person celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day was cancelled in 2020, but we held two virtual events with more than 1000 attending.(Watch a recording on our YouTube channel). In 2021, we had over 2000 people attend our many online & in person events, including our in person festival in front of the Bozeman Public Library and our first annual Earth Day Fun Run at the Gallatin County Regional Park.
In 2022 we celebrated Earth Day with virtual and in person events from February through April. In 2023 and 2024 we held events from January through April. See the YouTube channel for recordings of live streamed events!
Our Fiscal Sponsor:
Great Gallatin United Way (GGUW) serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Earth Day Festival 2020 Committee. All donations made to GGUW on behalf of the Earth Day Festival will be designated solely for Earth Day Festival events and programs.

Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers
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In the News
Check out local coverage of our events:
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Expert: To protect trout from climate change, maintain diverse habitat, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, March 31, 2023.
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Experts weigh costs, benefits of wildlife crossings at Bozeman talk, Bozeman Daily Chronicle ,Feb. 24, 2023.
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'So much opportunity': Author says conservation can start in your yard, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, January 6, 2023.
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Earth Day Festival 2022: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, April 24, 2022.
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Earth Day Festival 2022 preview: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, April 20, 2022.
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Gallatin Valley Earth Day presents talk on climate change in the GYE: Explore Big Sky, March 2022
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Earth Day Fun Run and Earth Day in the Parks 2021: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
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Gallatin Valley Earth Day to celebrate 50 years of Progress: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
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Families Turn Out for Earth Day Festival 2019: Bozeman Daily Chronicle



Resources
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Earth Day Guide 2023: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Earth Day Guide 2022: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
City of Bozeman 2021 Planting Guide
Creating a Zero Waste Home by Julie Fathy
Gallatin Conservation District Pollinator Guide
Gallatin Valley Earth Day Guide 2021: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Montana Bee Identification Guide (.pdf) Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Recycling information from Republic Services:
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For a map of Gallatin County’s FREE recycling drop-off locations, click here.
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For information on alternatives to traditional plastic garbage bags, here are some options.
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Alexis Alloway's favorite source for staying up-to-date on the recycling industry is https://resource-recycling.com/ (and you can sign up for plastics-related newsletters and updates).


D"Nature's Best Hope" with Doug Tallamy
Resources
To watch the video recording click HERE
To watch the high resolution recording click HERE
Resources to help you:
Check out Pages 8 & 9 in this Bozeman Daily Chronicle magazine for a great article about Doug Tallamy and native plants HERE
Find native plants for your area with: https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/
Links to "Nature's Best Hope" partners:
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Sacajawea Audubon Society (video on landscaping for birds)
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MT Native Plant Society
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Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance
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Great Bear Native Plants
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Wild Birds Unlimited
Movies


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Looking to stream movies that GVED has offered for free viewing in the past?
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“KISS THE GROUND", is a powerful documentary exploring soil regeneration and its place as a compelling and effective solution to our planet's climate crisis. Stream it on NETFLIX.
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"THE STORY OF PLASTIC" looks at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution and the worldwide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people that inhabit it. Watch on the Discovery Channel HERE.
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"2040" is a delightful film, directed by and starring award winning Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau. The film looks at the effects of climate change over the next 20 years and what technologies that exist today can reverse the effects. See streaming options HERE.
Partners
The Gallatin Valley Earth Day Festival is thrilled to partner with many organizations in the Gallatin Valley (and beyond):
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Alpacas of Montana
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American Prairie
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Audi Bozeman
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Backcountry Bozeman
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Belgrade Public Library
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Beth MacFawn Landscape Design, Inc.
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Big Sky Land Management
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Blake Nurseries
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Big Sky Wind Drinkers
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Bozeman Doc Series
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Bozeman Farmers' Market
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Bozeman Green Build
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Bozeman Public Schools - Solar Schools Club
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Bozeman Tree Coalition
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Bozeman Winter Farmers' Market
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Bridger Bowl Ski Area
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Bridger Brewing
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Buff City Soap Bozeman
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Cashman Nursery
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Citizens' Climate Education Montana
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City of Belgrade Public Library
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City of Bozeman Clean Up Day
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City of Bozeman Dept of Water Conservation
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City of Bozeman Parks & Recreation
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City of Bozeman Public Library
- City of Bozeman Sustainability Office
- City of Manhattan Public Library
- City of West Yellowstone Public Library
- Columbos Pizza
- Cottonwood Law Center
- Eco Montana
- Empire Gardening Club
- Families for a Liveable Climate
- First Security
- Fjallraven Apparel
- Footloose Montana
- Fork & Spoon
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Gallatin Conservation District
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Gallatin County Emergency Management
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Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance
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Gallatin River Task Force
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Gallatin Subaru
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Gallatin Valley Beyond Plastics
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Gallatin Valley Farm to School
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Gallatin Valley Food Bank
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Gallatin Valley Land Trust
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Gallatin Watershed Council
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Gallatin Wildlife Association
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Gallatin Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance
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Great Bear Native Plants
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Great Old Broads for Wilderness
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Greater Yellowstone Coalition
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Green Up West Yellowstone
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Grow Wild
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Happy Trash Can
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Headwaters Academy
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Hope Lutheran Church Creation Care Team
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Kenyan Noble
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KGVM
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Intermountain Opera Bozeman
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La Châtelaine Chocolat Co.
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League of Women Voters
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Lot G Cafe
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Madison Gallatin Trout Unlimited
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Manhattan Public Library
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Michaels
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Montana Angler
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Montana Citizens' Climate Education
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Montana Conservation Corp
- Montana Conservation Voters
- Montana Environmental Information Center
- Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Montana Freshwater Partners
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Montana Interfaith Power and Light
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Montana Mindfulness Project
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Montana Native Plant Society
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Montana Parent Magazine
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Montana Raptor Conservation Center
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Montana Renewable Energy Association
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Montana Science Center
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Montana Trout Unlimited
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Montana Wildlife Federation
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Moraway Adventures
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MSU Bridger Solar Team
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MSU Citizens' Climate Lobby
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MSU Master Gardeners
- MSU Sustainability Now
- MSU Institute on Ecosystems
- Museum of the Rockies
- Norwex
- Oboz Footwear
- Once Upon a Child
- Open & Local
- Purelight Power
- Random Acts of Silliness
- REI Bozeman
- Republic Services
- Rocky Mountain Toy Company
- Root Cellar Foods
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Sacajawea Audubon Society
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Save Soil
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Sierra Club
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SIMMS
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Stio
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Streamline Bus
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Sunrise Movement
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The League of Women Voters
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The Roofing Center
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Tin Works
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Treeline Coffee Roasters
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Trout Unlimited
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Uphill Pursuits
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USFWS Bozeman Fish Health Center
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Volkswagen of Bozeman
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Valley of the Flowers Landscaping
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Valley of the Flowers Project
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Vegans of Bozeman
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Wild Birds Unlimited (Billings & Bozeman)
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Wild Montana
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Yellowstone Harley Davidson
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Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities
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Yellowstonian
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YES Compost