The other day while I was at the farmer’s market, I came upon a small fruit stand. Lined with canning jars full of jams and jellies, the stand was heaping with delicious-smelling, fresh produce. Just behind the oranges, I saw two bright, friendly eyes staring back at me with a smile. The man belted out a “Hallooo!” before getting up and asking what he could get for me.

The man’s name was Jim, and he was a farmer from Reading, Pennsylvania. All the fruit in his stand was homegrown, right on his family’s fourth-generation farm. During our conversation, we got to talking about the rewards of farming. At one point, Jim said, “I like to think that if the world — the ground, the trees, the grass — is happy, then I’ll be happy. If the Earth is happy, then I’m happy.”

Each year on Earth Day, I remember farmers just like Jim — farmers who truly care about the Earth and the livelihood that it provides for them and their families. Because a healthy Earth means healthy watermelons, so get out there and celebrate the Earth!

10 FACTS ABOUT EARTH DAY

1. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970.

2. Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day while he was working as a U.S. senator.

3. Earth Day originated in the U.S. but became recognized worldwide by 1990.

4. Every year on April 22, men, women and children collect garbage, plant trees, clean up coral reefs, show movies, sign petitions and plan for a better future for our planet.

5. On Earth Day 2009, Disney released a documentary film called “Earth” that followed the migration paths of four animal families.

6. Earth Day was renamed officially by the UN in 2009 as International Mother Earth Day.

7. Some schools and communities celebrate Earth Day for a whole week to allow for more time for people to focus on the earth and how they can preserve it.

8. On Earth Day 2012, more than 100,000 people rode bikes in China to reduce CO2 emissions and save fuel.

9. In an Earth Day celebration in 2011, 28 million trees were planted in Afghanistan by the Earth Day Network.

10. In Panama, 100 endangered species of orchids were planted and maintained to prevent their extinction in honor of Earth Day.

UP NEXT: A recipe for Watermelon Lemonade Cream Pie

If you’re a watermelon lover, you automatically have a vested interest in Mother Earth. She’s the one (with a little help from the farmer) who nurtures the watermelon seeds until they grow into plump, delicious fruit. Without a healthy Earth, we can’t have a healthy watermelon crop.

And if you’re concerned about the Earth and keeping it healthy and clean (and you should be, regardless of your preference for produce), you probably know that Tuesday, April 22, is Earth Day. But what is Earth Day? More importantly, what can you do to get involved? Those are good questions, and I’m glad I asked them. Here are some answers:

WHAT IS EARTH DAY?

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for the Earth and environmental protection. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 and attracted 20 million participants. Not bad for the very first year!

Since then, Earth Day has grown into a global observance, celebrated in 192 countries each year with more than one billion participants.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

Truth is, there are lots of things you can do to participate in Earth Day. Almost every community in the nation will have activities planned for April 22 which you can take part in. For example, my own region hosts Earth Day parades, bike rides, educational sessions and group clean-up efforts. But, even if you don’t want to join a group activity, you can still do something on your own or as a family.

Some of the things you may choose to do include cleaning up your neighborhood or public park, planting trees, starting that recycling program at home or at work that you’ve been thinking about for a few years or just taking some time to learn more about the Earth and the environment. For more ideas, check out this website, which lists lots of things you can do to celebrate Earth Day (yes, it really is a celebration).

However you celebrate or participate in Earth Day, a common reminder is that every day is Earth Day. In other words, keeping your neighborhood clean, recycling things around the house and learning more about the environment is something you should do all year-round. If you do that, Mother Nature will be grateful and next year’s watermelon crop might taste that much better!