Lexington Green Network May 2018 Newsletter
Lexington League of Women Voters First Friday
Compost: The Miracle Cure for Trash.
Friday May 4th at 9:15, Cary Memorial Library, Community Meeting Room, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA
It’s so easy to put the trash out on collection day and forget about it, right? Have you ever wondered what happens to the trash? Typically, it ends up at an incinerator, which is costly and problematic for the environment and human health. Now a large portion of our trash can be converted to compost. Where is this happening locally and how is it accomplished?
Please join us to hear our panelists, Lin Jensen and Cindy Arens of the Lexington Public Schools Green Teams, Jim Bauer form Black Earth Composting, a private compost pick-up service, and Robert Beaudoin, Director of Environmental Services for Lexington will present information about diverting food and other waste materials to compost, avoiding incineration fees, and saving valuable tax dollars. Learn about what’s already happening in our schools, learn about Lexington’s new trash and recycling vendor and get more information on what you can do to help at this informative and interactive discussion. Coffee will be available at 9:15AM, and the presentation will begin at 9:30AM.
This is the seventh in the series of 2017-2018 First Friday Forums to promote awareness and understanding of public policy issues. All League forums are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the League at [email protected].
Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition (GWAC) presents the film:
Happening – The Clean Energy Revolution
Tuesday May 8th at 7:00 pm,
Cary Memorial Library, Community Meeting Room, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA
Happening follows James Redford – Robert’s son – as he traverses the country from Buffalo, New York to Georgetown, Texas chronicling America’s great clean energy success story. You’ll hear personal stories of business innovation, energy justice and community revitalization. The film also features Vote Solar’s Jessica Scott and the other advocates who poured their hearts and souls into bringing solar back to Nevada.
Join us as we watch the movie and talk about how Lexington and other communities around us are getting on a fast path to clean energy.
“Word to the wise: I’ve had the pleasure of talking with audiences at numerous film festivals and community screenings — and I have yet to make it through the film without tearing up. Huge thanks to the Redford Center for capturing the power of civic engagement and hope against the odds so beautifully.”
Rosalind Jackson, Vote Solar
Get ready to be inspired! For more information about GWAC and this movie go to www.lexgwac.org
Lexington Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week: May 12th-20, 2018
For full Schedule go to: www.lexbikewalkbusweek.org/
Promoting healthy, sustainable, and safe transportation options. Every year in May, the Town schedules a week of free events including historic walks, guided bike rides, free Lexpress rides, and more! This event is organized by the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Greenways Corridor Committee, and Safe Routes to School Committee, in conjunction with Town staff to celebrate the many alternative transportation resources available in town.
Annual Commuter Breakfast on the Bikeway
6:30AM – 9:30AM
Walking, biking, or taking transit to work? Stop by for a free breakfast, coffee and giveaways at the Depot building in Town Center. It doesn’t matter how short or far your commute is – come by foot, bike, or bus and enjoy some tasty fare before you head off to work or school. Representatives from some healthy and sustainable organizations in Lexington will be on hand to greet you and hand out freebies. A bike maintenance technician will also be present to perform quick safety checks and answer questions.
Location: Historic Lexington Depot on the Minuteman Bikeway
Information: (781) 861-1210
LexFarm LexFarm.org
May Educational and Plant Sale Offerings. Go to website for pricing and details. lexfarm.org/education/
Garden Planning Workshop for Adults
April 29 (Sunday), 10am–12pm
May 3 (Thursday), 10am–12pm
Spring Dirt Play
May 4–June 29, Fridays 10am–11am
Free play for ages 3–7. Children must be accompanied by an adult. End each session with a visit to the Silk Fields goat yard!
Indoor Greens Production: Microgreens and Salad Mix for Adults
April 29 (Sunday), 12:30pm–2:30pm
May 20 (Sunday), 10:30am–12:30pm
Seedling Sale Grand Opening
May 5 (Saturday), 9:00am–4:00pm
May 6 (Sunday), 10:00am–4:00pm
Continues weekends in May
Edible Weed Walk
May 27 (Sunday) 10am–12pm
Birding on the Farm for Families
April 30, May 28 for adults, July 23 4:30–6:00pm
And More!
Lexington Field and Garden Club
lexgardenclub.org
Plant Sale May 19, 2018!
Lexington Field and Garden Club, the oldest garden club in the nation, will hold its 86th annual Plant Sale from 7 AM to Noon, May 19 at Samuel Hadley Building/DPW 201 Bedford St., Lexington.
The sale will feature choice carefully potted perennials from members’ gardens, dahlias and cannas, garden tools and ornaments, and herbs and vegetable flats from Lexington Community Farm.
Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC) https://www.clclex.org
There is a wide array of walks this spring! To experience nature is to care for it. Here are May’s walks and dates, more detail on the CLC web site. https://www.clclex.org
Wednesday May 9, 6:30-9 am – Birding the Western Greenway
Sunday May 13, 8-10 am, Warbler Walk in Lower Vine Brook
May 6, 2-4 pm – Willards Woods/Chiesa Farm Walk
Sunday May 13, 2-4 pm, Mother’s Day Family-Friendly Community Walk
Tuesday May 15, 10-12 am – Senior Sneaker Walk, Arlington’s Great Meadows
Saturday May 19, 9-11 am – Whipple Hill Photography Walk
Sunday May 20, 2-5 pm – Extended ACROSS Lexington Walk
Wednesday, May 23, 6-8 PM – Wild Edibles Of Lexington’s Waysides
May 26th, Discovery Day goes Green! Lexington Public School Green Teams “Zero Waste” effort:
The LPS Green Teams are partnering with Robert Beaudoin, the Superintendent of Environmental Services, Black Earth, the company currently picking up compostables from our schools, the Sustainable Lexington Committee and the Lexington Retailers Association to make Discovery day a “Zero Waste Event” !
Discovery Day is a time for People to “Discover” the great things that Lexington has to offer. This Lexington tradition celebrates the beginning of summer by offering a huge sidewalk sale complete with food, entertainment, shopping, free prizes, special displays by Town Departments and information booths by civic groups.
This year there will be “Zero Waste Stations” that will separate out the “trash” into recycling, composting and, if necessary, “true trash”.
Sustainable Lexington and the LPS Green Teams are reaching out to food vendors for the event asking them to use compostable serving wear when possible. Then those items can be composted back into a soil product rather than sent to be incinerated.
Volunteers from the LPS Green Teams, Students, Mothers Out Front, LexGWAC and more will stand by to educate attendees on how to “Slash the Trash “at the “Zero Waste” Stations. We look forward to seeing you downtown on May 26th.
Lexington Farmers Market http://www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org
2018 Summer Market Opening Day, May 29th!
The Market will be open:
Every Tuesday
May 29th – October 30th
2:00 – 6:30 pm
Corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Fletcher Avenue, Lexington
Residential Curbside Compost Pick-Up.
Black Earth Compost http://blackearthcompost.com
You may know that Black Earth Compost is picking up food waste in most of Lexington’s schools; leftovers from kitchen food prep, the cafeteria, or both. Arlington’s schools have followed suit and now both towns are eligible for Black Earth’s residential curbside pick up.
With little effort households can collect all food waste, including bones, meat, soiled napkins paper towels and oil, to be collected once a week and composted by Black Earth. This keeps food waste out of the trash and creates rich soil that can then be used by farmers, a “win-win” in every sense. Fields enriched by compost retain more water in dry times and resist erosion during storms. The microbial activity in the soil helps feed plants and sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) in the soil.
Want to learn more? Go to http://blackearthcompost.com/lexington/
LexDrives Electric!
The Sustainable Lexington Committee has teamed up with the Local Nonprofit, MassEnergy, to promote an electric car buying pool for Lexington Drivers. What does that mean for you?
First you should know that plug-in electric vehicles are currently eligible for both a State rebate of up to $2,500 and a Federal tax credit of up to $7,500. This can take up to $10,000 or the sticker price of an EV!
The Mass Energy Drive Green program goes beyond these discounts to negotiate with local dealerships for monthly deals off of the sticker price of their electric vehicles. These deals can be found on the Mass Energy website. Right now you can get an additional $7,500 off of the price of a Chevy Bolt! http://massenergywebservices.com/drivegreen/table-all.php#bolt
**Note, you must go through the MassEnergy Web site in order to secure the “drive green” discount. **
Get a no-cost MassSave Home Energy Audit
Massachusetts residents all pay for the MassSave program in our energy bill. That entitles us to a no-cost energy audit and the following benefits:
- Instant savings measures that can include energy-efficient (LED) light bulbs, water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators, smart power strips;
- An assessment of opportunities for free air sealing and discounts on the installation of insulation
- A health and safety check for carbon monoxide, identification of knob and tube wiring, and a visual assessment of risks related to mold, mildew and asbestos
By completing a Home Energy Assessment, you will also gain access to:
- 75% off the installation of approved insulation improvements
- No-cost, targeted air sealing
- Rebates on qualifying energy-efficient heating and water heating equipment (e.g., 30+ year old boiler = up to $3,500 rebate)
- The opportunity to apply for 0% financing for eligible measures through the HEAT loan program (of up to $25,000 for up to 7 years)
Sign up on the Town Website: https://www.lexingtonma.gov/home/news/lexington-energy-challenge-incentives-rebates-and-zero-loans
- Or call our partner, HomeWorks, at (781) 305-3319
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