While Americans across the country celebrate Earth Day, those celebrations mean a little more in Wisconsin. It was former Wisconsin Gov. Gaylord Nelson who originated the idea of Earth Day during his three-term stint as a U.S. senator.

According to CBS News, Nelson struggled to get more people interested in conservation until a large oil spill near Santa Barbara, California, changed the tenor of the conversation. Borrowing a strategy used during the Vietnam War to raise awareness about its dangers, he called for April 22 to be a day when teachers across the country would talk with their students about the environment.

Nearly 60 years later, organizations like the Door County Land Trust continue that call to action, making Earth Day an everyday effort. Door County Land Trust Executive Director Emily Wood says Wisconsin’s connection to Earth Day makes her work even more rewarding.

The Door County Land Trust, the Climate Change Coalition of Door County, and other like-minded organizations are holding events throughout the month, with some extending into May. You can hear more from our conversation with Wood, including details about a free plant giveaway May 9, by clicking this link.