Williston’s first Sustainable Gardens Tour a success

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Last night 18 of us, from the garden-curious to master gardeners, traveled to 5 different gardens around Williston, getting to know not only the different gardens with their differences in soils, experience of gardeners, crops, challenges, and triumphs, but also other Williston folks and corners of the town that some of us had never seen.

Despite predictions of thunderstorms we went ahead, and to my astonishment the rain held off completely. 15 minutes per garden turned out to be just about perfect, and it was easy for us to stay on schedule through the whole tour. Sue Stanne served us blueberry buckler with blueberries harvested from her yard just the day before, and we sampled crops like cucumbers (three kinds: traditional, European, and Silver Slicer), Tatsoi (an Asian green), and thimbleberries. We saw peppers grown in hay bales, Adirondack chair backs and large pretzel containers repurposed to hold tools, my monstrous corridor trellis, stirrup hoes, drip irrigation, anti-rabbit measures, and much more of interest.
 
Almost everyone who signed up made it to the event, and it seemed to be well enjoyed. Several of us got pictures, and Marie-Claude Beaudette got the beautiful set you see above.

Williston Sustainable Gardens Tour Tuesday 8/5 at 6pm

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Sustainable Williston will host a free Sustainable Gardens tour of local gardens that use little or no chemical help. Here’s a chance to see what other gardeners have tried and talk about what has and hasn’t worked for them and for you.

For full information and to reserve a spot, click here for the Sustainable Gardens project page.

Chapin Kaynor appointed to CCTA Board

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Chapin KaynorWilliston Resident Chapin Kaynor was recently appointed by the Williston Selectboard to the Board of Commissioners of CCTA, the Chittenden County Transit Authority, which runs commuter and local buses throughout the area. Chapin, a habitual CCTA rider and Sustainable Williston member, will represent Williston on the Board and is a great person to talk to about mass transit.

Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables

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French supermarket chain Intermarche launched this promotional campaign to help reduce food waste of “undesirable” fruits and vegetables. Rather than throw out ugly, deformed, or damaged produce, Intermarche instead sells them with a unique twist.

CSWD Seeking Citizen Advisory Committee Participants

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From Clare Innes at Chittenden Solid Waste District:

The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) is forming a Citizen Advisory Committee to get public input on a proposal to change how trash and recycling is picked up from households in Chittenden County. CSWD has been examining a system called “consolidated collection,” whereby the County is divided into trash and recycling collection districts. Each district would be serviced by one hauler, who will be selected based on how they meet specific criteria.

CSWD is investigating introducing consolidated collection to Chittenden County because of its potential to reduce collection costs and the impact of excessive truck traffic on roads and the environment. Largely due to these economic and environmental efficiencies, consolidated collection is the most common form of residential service in the country. However, residents would no longer be able to choose their hauler.

For more information on consolidated collection, visit http://cswd.net/consolidated-collection.

The Committee of 12-15 members will meet four times, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on July 31, August 14 & 28, and September 11 at CSWD’s Administrative Office in Williston. A light meal will be provided.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email the following information by noon on July 16th to advisory@cswd.net (the information will be used to ensure a wide spectrum of participants):

Name:
City/Town/Village of residence:
E-mail address:
Phone number:
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Whether you rent or own your home:
Number of units in your building (e.g., single-family, duplex, 4 apartments, etc.):
Whether a hauler collects your trash curbside or you self-haul to a drop-off center:
Name of current hauler:
Have you heard of consolidated collection systems? If so, based on what you currently know, would you support or oppose this kind of system for Chittenden County?
Confirm availability on the 4 dates:

Sustainable Williston meets Wednesday, July 16, at 7pm

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Sustainable Williston, our town’s grassroots environmental group, meets Wednesday evening at 7pm downstairs in the community room at the Dorothy Alling Library, and anyone interested in local environmental issues is welcome.

NOTE: Due to a typo, the meeting was originally listed as occurring on the 26th. The 16th is the correct date.

Vermont Organization Offers $500 Rebates on Electric Vehicles

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The Federal government already offers tax credits of up to $7,500 on the purchase of a new, qualifying electric car. This isn’t just a deduction: a tax credit increases your refund or decreases your amount owed rather than just affecting your taxable income. Well, if that wasn’t enough to whet your wallet, now a Vermont organization called Drive Electric Vermont is offering an additional $500 incentive for each electric car.

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S

Electric vehicles are sometimes restricted in terms of range, though some (the Chevy Volt, for example) have backup gasoline engines, and others (e.g., Tesla models) have such a long driving range that it generally isn’t an issue. Regardless, owning an electric car means changing some habits, including getting used to charging the vehicle, sometimes over the course of hours, rather than filling gas in minutes.

Chevy Volt

Chevy Volt

However, electric vehicles are much less expensive to drive in terms of fuel than gasoline or diesel powered vehicles. Regardless of the source of the electricity, they’re also far better for the climate, though of course the most climate-friendly way to go is to charge your vehicle with a renewable energy source like wind or solar.

Many Vermont communities now offer rapid EV charging stations, sometimes for free. For example, my credit union (Vermont State Employees Credit Union) is adding a new charging station at its Montpelier location.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf

Electric vehicles do tend to be a good bit more expensive than gasoline-powered vehicles, but Federal rebates and this $500 incentive can help take some of the sting out of that.

Disclaimer: Sustainable Williston has no affiliation or direct experience with Drive Electric Vermont.

People’s Climate March

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Save the Date – the weekend of September 20 is the People’s Climate March in NYC.

People’s Climate March
Bill McKibben calls it an invitation “to anyone who’d like to prove to themselves, and to their children, that they give a damn about the biggest crisis our civilization has ever faced.”

People's Climate MarchWithout a doubt, the People’s Climate March will be the largest single event on climate that has been organized to date.

In September, world leaders are coming to New York City for a historic UN summit on climate change. Organizers are hoping the People’s Climate March will be the largest-ever demonstration demanding action on climate change.

The goal of the march is to take to the streets to demand for “a world with an economy that works for people and the planet. A world safe from the ravages of climate change. A world with good jobs, clean air, and healthy communities for everyone. This is the moment to bring our different movements together, articulate our common challenges and solutions, and go big.”

See Bill McKibben’s article from Rolling Stone

ice riverA Call to Arms: An Invitation to Demand Action on Climate …
When world leaders gather in New York this fall to confront climate change, tens of thousands of people and maybe you will be there to demand they take action before …

Sustainable Williston meets Wednesday, June11, at 7pm

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Sustainable Williston, our town’s grassroots environmental group, meets Wednesday evening at 7pm upstairs at the Dorothy Alling Library, and anyone interested in local environmental issues is welcome.

Topics may include reducing plastic waste, the Williston Farmer’s Market, the Birth Tree Project, and more.

Wind Farm Open House This Weekend

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Georgia Mountain Wind Farm

 

Passed on via VPIRG:

Join us in celebrating local, renewable energy in Vermont and get a chance to see an operational wind facility up close at this year’s Georgia Mountain Community Wind Open House and Wind Turbine Tours. Bring along family, friends and your camera (no pets please). Informational guides will be on site and tours will take you inside the wind turbines.

WHAT: Georgia Mountain Community Wind Open House and Wind Turbine Tours – Celebrating Local Energy and Local Jobs

WHEN: Sunday, June 8th, 1 – 4 pm

WHERE: ALL parking is at the Husky facility located at 288 North Rd. in Milton and shuttle buses will run from 1 to 4 pm. For more information, please visit our website at gmcwind.com or contact us at georgiamtncommunitywind@gmail.com.