April 2023
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Meeting chair: Bill Greene
Bill Greene opened the meeting by explaining how SW is positioned to help with great projects like the Coolest Recycling Drive (see more below) and the new Transformation Trails (see more below) at Wickham Lake. Sustainable Warwick is always looking to provide funding and other support for projects that promote sustainability in Warwick. Please let us know if you have a good proposal.
New developments in the Transformation Trails: Geoff outlined the plans for the development of the land ‘between the fences’ with many features, such as:
an arboretum with hundreds of native trees
planted meadows that will attract birds and pollinators
a sculpture garden
pathways that wind through the area, some incorporating exercise stations
a possible small amphitheater for outdoor concerts and events
The grand opening of Transformation Trails will take place in Wickham Woodlands Park at 10am on Sat, April 29, the day after Arbor Day. A description and images of the plans for this space can be seen here. All of SW is invited and encouraged to be part of this joyous celebration. Go to Wickham Woodlands and follow the signs to the event.
Composting: Geoff and Bill reported on the Food Scraps Collection initiative. We are planning to continue and enhance the composting campaign started last summer. Volunteers are needed to help with:
Attending farmers’ market events to gather compost
Schlep compost to the composting facility
Promote composting in Warwick
Organize volunteers
Please contact the Steering Committee by replying to this email if you would like to help out with this earthy and valuable project.
Presentation on changes being considered for New York’s Climate Law: MIchael explained the significance of the recent wrangling in Albany. Governor Hochul was temporarily proposing to change a fundamental part of New York’s climate law by switching the Global Warming Potential time frame from 20 years to 100 years. The environmental groups in New York were so vehemently opposed she backed off including it in this year’s budget. Sustainable Warwick supports carrying out the foundation drafted in 2019 and developed in the Scoping Plan over the last three years. Thank you to all who reached out to our representatives to express your opposition to any changes in the plan. It made a difference!
Committee Updates
Green Screen: Interviews have started for the candidates running for the School board. The goal is to give the voters an understanding of the candidates’ views on sustainability and the environment. The election is May 16th.
Zoom Garden Plot: The Zoom Garden Plot meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month to share questions, answers and insights on local gardening. Gardeners of all levels are welcome to join us. Send an email to SteeringCommittee@sustainablewarwick.org to receive the Zoom invitation for these sessions or catch up on what you've missed here.
Sustainable World Book Club: At the April meeting we discussed two books, Last Child in the Woods and Late Migrations. Both were popular reads. Our next book is A Poison Like No Other, which is about microplastics. Copies of the book are available at the front desk of the library. We will meet on May 9th to discuss. Contact BookClub@sustainablewarwick.org to join in.
Coolest Recycling Drive: Michael reported that the Coolest Recycling Drive was an immense success. We collected 130 appliances plus a few tanks with more refrigerants. The greenhouse gases we collected could total as much as 400,000 pounds of CO2 equivalent over a 20-year timer frame, or roughly the same amount of greenhouse gases emitted by 40 passenger vehicles driven for one year. We are still finalizing the refrigerant management and will circulate a press release soon. Many thanks to everyone who helped out!
Repair Café on the Today Show!
Elizabeth and Roger Moss were on the Today Show to talk about Repair Café. See the clip here. Congratulations and thank you to the Repair Café team!
Upcoming Events
Earth Day Celebration at the Library: SW will have a table at the Albert Wisner Public Library Earth Day celebration on April 29th, from 11am to 2 pm. Alice, Christy, Kate, Geoff and Mary will help distribute information on Sustainable Warwick’s various activities and collect food scraps to be composted.
Too Good to Toss: will be held May 20th and 21st this year. Go to Wickham Works for more details. Sign up to volunteer here.
SW Website Request: Let's keep our website current and helpful to people wanting to know more about us. Committees, please look at your page on the site and let Christy know any updates that need to be made. Also, do you have an upcoming meeting or event you want the membership to know about? Please provide event calendar items to Christy so she can post them. Click here to submit.