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Upcoming
Events

Chester County Agriculture Forums; All About Equine; Size, Scope and Impact of the Equine Industry in Chester County, May 4th.

Choosing Conservation in the 21st Century: An Evening with the Natural Lands Trust at People's Light Dividing the Estate, at People's Light & Theatre Company, RSVP for this Free Event, May 16th.

Creating Community Character. Sustainable Tourism and Commercial Corridors in the Schuylkill Highlands, May 5th & 6th.

Gardening101  It's Easier Than You Think! Presented by the Chester County Master Gardeners and the Penn State Cooperative Extension, April 30th.

Green Roof Technologies, May 12th.

Green Roof Tours; Green is in the Air at PECO. Tours will occur on the third Tuesday of every month at 5 pm starting in April and ending in October 2011.

Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies, Community Day, May 1st.

Innovative Agriculture for the 21st Century, Feeding the Future: Food, Agriculture, and Land Use in Uncertain Times, April 28th.

Master Planner Subdivision and Land Development Review. Subdivision and Land Development Review, the 3nd Master Planner course of the 2010 - 2011 cycle. Classes are presented beginning May 5.

Mow Down Pollution. Trade in your old gas powered mower and receive $50 towards a cleaner and greener lawn. May 7th.

Pennsylvania Native Plant Sale, May 7th.

Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens, April 27th.

Tree Planting at Sadsbury Woods, April 30th.

Yellow Springs Farm Open Farm Days, May 7 & 8th.

 

Chester County Announces a New Website Devoted to Sustainability

The Board of County Commissioners invites you to visit the Chester County Sustainability website, ChescoPAGreen. This website serves as a portal for promoting sustainable practices within the County by:

Content will be added frequently to the site, including recognitions of sustainable practices occurring in the county as well as a series of videos that will display sustainable tools in practice in each landscape as defined by Landscapes2.

Sustainability and Landscapes2 references

Pennsylvania has learned to think green. Since 1988 when the statewide mandatory recycling law – Act 101 – went into effect, more than 9 Million Pennsylvanians recycle. We don't litter, we plant trees, we carry reusable shopping bags, we use energy-efficient light bulbs, we drive hybrids, and we build with recycled materials.

Ten Tips for Sustainable Living. Learn the difference between "being green" and "being sustainable." Owning a hybrid car is green, getting around by bicycle is sustainable.

Chester County Conservation District - Rain Barrel Sale! Harvesting rainwater using a small rain barrel helps supplement irrigation. Storing rainwater also helps reduce stormwater runoff, which can lead to reduced levels of pesticides and fertilizers in our water.

CSA: 1984 to 2011 Video. Growth of CSA's since 1984!  Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer.

DCNR Recognizes Chester County Parks and Recreation with Second Annual Green Park Award  for its oversight of Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville. The award honors excellence in connecting people to nature and in sustainable park practices. 

Environmental Sustainability at Westtown School, inspiring and preparing students to be stewards and leaders of a better world.

Herrin honored with environmental award. As the chair of the BLUER (West Chester Borough Leaders United for Emissions Reduction) committee, Herrin has had a hand in some important legislation, created West Chester's Energy Star ordinance, the first in the country to mandate Energy Star labeling for new commercial constructions.

Backyard Habitat - Ten Birds That Help Control Garden Pests. Which bug-eating birds are the best ones to attract to your yard?  Bluebirds in your backyard.

All about Sustainability. Kendal at Longwood is dipping another toe into the expanding pool of sustainably built homes.

Cities Use Brownfields to Go Solar. New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia increasingly view their contaminated inner-city brownfield sites as natural locations for large-scale solar installations.

Don't Waste Garden Grown Food. The Chester County Food Bank, Inc. is the hub of a network of over 65 food cupboards and feeding sites.


Definitions and Terms

CSA

Sustainability

Earth Day Resources and Activities

The Academy of Natural Sciences Earth Day Festival. The Academy is a pioneer in environmental science and important research into the environmental health of streams, lakes, and estuaries. Their work is showcased during Earth Day Festival.

Picnic for the Planet. Join the celebration! This Earth Day, April 22nd, celebrate the planet we live on with good food and great people. Choose a favorite outdoor location, round up some friends and take the planet out to lunch. Picnic for the Planet Video.

Earth Day Celebrations

Kids' Corner

 

Planning related references

Walter Moore of Walmoore Holsteins, Inc., honored as Master Farmers in Harrisburg. The Moore family has farmed that particular land on Howell Moore Road for more than 100 years. Walter Moore was 1 of 7 farmers Honored as Mid Atlantic Master Farmers.

Let's talk trash – 10 things that reduce your garbage. Americans generated 243 million tons of trash in 2009. That's more than 4 pounds per person per day! If you are looking for ways to save the environment and reduce your ecological footprint, here are ten easy steps to lessen your daily contribution to the landfill.

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week 2011 from May 16-20 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 20. Join Chester County for Bike to Work Day. Share your pictures and stories.


Links