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They work indoors — in meetings, on the phone, or in front of computers and CAD systems — but on April 22, EDM employees ventured out of their offices to commemorate Earth Day the best way possible — by making a positive difference in their communities’ environments. 

The crew — which in addition to architects, designers, and other team members included EDM CEO Jeromy Richardson — traded the usual tools of their trade for shears, rakes, and other landscaping implements to volunteer at Earth Day events at two area environmental education sites: Spicebush Swamp Park (Westmoor Park) in West Hartford, Connecticut and the April Hill Conservation and Education Center in South Egremont, Massachusetts.

At Spicebush Swamp Park, which serves as a 33-acre “outdoor classroom” for area schools — complete with trout pond, the EDM team used the paid day of service offered by the company to remove invasive trees and plants — work that paved the way for planting native species, both further beautifying the area and ensuring an even more welcoming habitat for birds. These efforts were organized for the Town of West Hartford and coordinated by the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut as part of its Year of Caring initiative.

Volunteers said the work was hard — but rewarding. They reported the feeling of contributing to something worthwhile — while also having the opportunity work outdoors with colleagues on a perfect spring day — made the experience very enjoyable.

“It’s a good feeling to know that just taking a few hours of your day to help — no matter how small it may seem — will make a difference to the environment,” said volunteer Thomas Schneider, Structural Designer, who volunteered at Spicebush Swamp Park. “The event also provided a chance to release a little stress by being outside and having a good time.”

Meanwhile, at April Hill, the location of a farm where area students learn about regenerative farming practices that are responsive to climate change, and much more about sustainable farming, EDM employees readied the vegetable garden for planting and undertook other tasks, including mulching, and splitting and stacking firewood. April Hill is operated by Greenagers, which provides employment and volunteer opportunities for teens and young adults in the fields of conservation, sustainable farming, and environmental leadership.

“It was fun, it helped us build a stronger team, and it provided a real sense of accomplishment,” said Jeromy, who spent the day gardening and stacking firewood at April Hill. He described the feeling at the end of the day as 'absolutely amazing'. “It’s wonderful to come together to do something good for the environment and the community.”

Monica Perez del Rio, Architect, said the volunteering events reflect EDM’s deep commitment to sustainability.

“We develop every project on a foundation of sustainability,” she said. “That means we pay careful attention to the environmental impact of everything from the building materials we choose to the design of heating, cooling, plumbing, waste, and ventilation systems — while at the same time ensuring the built environment is well-integrated into the natural landscape. We look forward to sharing many examples of how we are minimizing the negative environmental impact of our projects through our focus on sustainability.”