Energy fair, october 5, 2024, 10AM-2PM
The Alternative Energy Committee and Sustainable Duxbury are holding a free Fall Energy Fair, featuring alternative energy sources and sustainable practices, Saturday, October 5 from 10 AM to 2 PM in the Duxbury High School cafeteria.
Compost your Food Scraps
Black Earth Compost home delivery is available in Duxbury.
Go to their website and put in your zip code. Sign up and have your food wast picked up and made into compost.
Black Earth Compost Sign up.
WHAT IS COMPOSTING AND WHY WE SHOULD DO IT?
Go to their website and put in your zip code. Sign up and have your food wast picked up and made into compost.
Black Earth Compost Sign up.
WHAT IS COMPOSTING AND WHY WE SHOULD DO IT?
- Have you contemplated composting but did not know what it meant or how to do it?
Composting is the biological degradation of organic materials (anything that was alive) into a nutrient rich substrate in which more life can grow. In laymen’s terms, it means collecting and recycling food waste, breaking it down and turning it into nutrient rich soil. - Did you know that 33% of the waste stream is food waste?
Which means we are paying to have our food waste hauled away and burned. We can save that money and capture our food waste, turning it into healthy soil. For less than 60 cents a day, in collaboration with Sustainable Duxbury and Black Earth Compost, you can do your part to eliminate food waste. - If you have any other questions, email [email protected]
What to Recycle and What Not to Recycle
Sustainable Duxbury's anti-idling campaign
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Idling is against the law in Massachusetts. It is also harmful to human health, contributes to global warming, wastes fuel, and is bad for your vehicle’s engine. Click here to learn more.
We are working with the town to increase signage around town to help people be more aware about idling their cars. We have met with the Selectmen and the School Board to discuss this issue and work with them on a plan to help enforce a long standing law against more then 5 minutes of idling time.
We are working with the town to increase signage around town to help people be more aware about idling their cars. We have met with the Selectmen and the School Board to discuss this issue and work with them on a plan to help enforce a long standing law against more then 5 minutes of idling time.
Straws, the Movie, was shown Thursday, January 17. Thanks to all for coming and get out there and refuse straws!
An Agenda for 2018-2019
Environmental Leadership Award
2019 will be the third year awarding this prize to a young person who demonstrates a passion for the environment. We are planning our next award by reviewing the past, making changes, and setting a schedule.
Local Business Recycling Initiative
We are working with the town on implementing better recycling practices for our local business community
Town-wide Composting
Further discussions will continue how we might be able to have residents recycling their food wasted into a town wide composting area.
Anti-idling Law Enforcement
We have talked to the Selectmen and will continue discussion about how we can better educate everyone about the practice of car idling and the problem with it.
Education/Program Committee
There are several ideas on the table including the endangerment of the Right Whale.
Recycling Bins
How do we get them back around town.
Community Garden
As it closes for the season we will review how it went and how we move forward to next year.
2019 will be the third year awarding this prize to a young person who demonstrates a passion for the environment. We are planning our next award by reviewing the past, making changes, and setting a schedule.
Local Business Recycling Initiative
We are working with the town on implementing better recycling practices for our local business community
Town-wide Composting
Further discussions will continue how we might be able to have residents recycling their food wasted into a town wide composting area.
Anti-idling Law Enforcement
We have talked to the Selectmen and will continue discussion about how we can better educate everyone about the practice of car idling and the problem with it.
Education/Program Committee
There are several ideas on the table including the endangerment of the Right Whale.
Recycling Bins
How do we get them back around town.
Community Garden
As it closes for the season we will review how it went and how we move forward to next year.
Sustainable Duxbury Nominated for The Duxbury Community Volunteer Award
On May 2, 2018, 4 members of Sustainable Duxbury were honored for their volunteering efforts. Paul Mabey (left) nominated Susan Fontaine, Jim Savicki, Janis Owens and Mike Wilson for this award. From recycling to minimizing pollution to education, Janis, Susan, Mike, and Jim have made significant headway in Duxbury's role in going green.
Sustainable Duxbury Announces Recipients of the
2018 Environmental Leadership Award
On Monday evening, April 23, 2018 two Chandler Elementary School students received the 2018 Duxbury Environmental Leadership Award in a ceremony at the Duxbury Free Library. The award was given to Henry Waitkus, age 7, for his commitment to saving the endangered North Atlantic right whale and to Eleanor “Nora” Wien, age 8, for her commitment to improving the local environment with a tree-planting project following the recent devastating storms in Duxbury. A $100 cash prize will be awarded to support their initiatives.
Henry designed and has been selling wristbands to raise money for the protection of right whales. His fundraising efforts to family, friends, and local businesses have raised about $350 to date. He plans to donate the money to the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA. After a meeting with Dr. Charles “Stormy” Mayo, PhD, senior scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA, and director of the Right Whale Ecology Program, Henry set his sights on raising $1,000 to donate to the center’s Right Whale Ecology Wish List to purchase equipment for monitoring and protecting the marine animals. The award has coincided with the arrival of migrating right whales right off our coast.
For her part, Eleanor “Nora” Wien said she decided to help “my town environment,” planting trees lost during the winter storms. She has reached out to the Town’s Tree Warden. She also talked to a Pembroke tree farmer who told her that evergreen saplings would be a good, inexpensive choice. She plans to buy the saplings and resell them in town. Her brother, Henry, a Boy Scout with Troop 62, has volunteered with his troop to help distribute and plant the saplings for Duxbury residents.
The Duxbury Environmental Leadership Award celebrates the ideas and actions of young environmentalists who demonstrate initiative, leadership, and a desire to improve the local and global environment. Possible award categories include recycling and composting; the protection of endangered species; climate change and sea level rise; energy or water conservation; and renewable energy.
Last year’s award recipient, Garnett Seagall, worked with the town to post a turtle crossing sign near Chandler Street after noticing not all of the turtles made it to safety when crossing the road.She is currently working on a project that involves chocolate in the shape of turtles. Sustainable Duxbury’s mission is to encourage people in town and the group’s own membership to become more sustainable by informing the community about ways to recycle, save energy, and improve the local environment.
Henry designed and has been selling wristbands to raise money for the protection of right whales. His fundraising efforts to family, friends, and local businesses have raised about $350 to date. He plans to donate the money to the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA. After a meeting with Dr. Charles “Stormy” Mayo, PhD, senior scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA, and director of the Right Whale Ecology Program, Henry set his sights on raising $1,000 to donate to the center’s Right Whale Ecology Wish List to purchase equipment for monitoring and protecting the marine animals. The award has coincided with the arrival of migrating right whales right off our coast.
For her part, Eleanor “Nora” Wien said she decided to help “my town environment,” planting trees lost during the winter storms. She has reached out to the Town’s Tree Warden. She also talked to a Pembroke tree farmer who told her that evergreen saplings would be a good, inexpensive choice. She plans to buy the saplings and resell them in town. Her brother, Henry, a Boy Scout with Troop 62, has volunteered with his troop to help distribute and plant the saplings for Duxbury residents.
The Duxbury Environmental Leadership Award celebrates the ideas and actions of young environmentalists who demonstrate initiative, leadership, and a desire to improve the local and global environment. Possible award categories include recycling and composting; the protection of endangered species; climate change and sea level rise; energy or water conservation; and renewable energy.
Last year’s award recipient, Garnett Seagall, worked with the town to post a turtle crossing sign near Chandler Street after noticing not all of the turtles made it to safety when crossing the road.She is currently working on a project that involves chocolate in the shape of turtles. Sustainable Duxbury’s mission is to encourage people in town and the group’s own membership to become more sustainable by informing the community about ways to recycle, save energy, and improve the local environment.
A Plastic Ocean
The showing of this documentary at the Duxbury Bay Maritime School was a great success. Several people asked how they can view this film again or share it with others. It is available on Netflix as a DVD. You can also purchase your own DVD. Go to their website, plasticocean.org, where you will find more information. There is also a lot of information about plastic pollution and what we can do.
We are sponsoring a showing of the shorter version of this film to the Duxbury schools.
We are sponsoring a showing of the shorter version of this film to the Duxbury schools.
Talk to your rep!
Laura Burns from 350MA presented at our last meeting information about bills before the state legislature that are in need of our support. Click here for a list of those bills. Of the five listed, three have a good chance of moving forward; therefore, they need the bulk of our support. The three bills are:
1. Increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard (H.2700/S.1876: An Act to increase the RPS and Ensure Compliance with the GWSA)
2. Put a Price on Carbon (S.1821: An Act combating climate change; H.1726: An act to promote green infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs.
3. Protect low-Income/Community Solar and Move Forward (H.3396/S.1831: An Act relative to solar power in environmental justice and urban communities; H.2706/S.1846: An act relative to solar power and the green economy)
Go to 350mass for more information. You can support by emailing your state representative and senator or by meeting them in person at one of their local meet ups.
1. Increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard (H.2700/S.1876: An Act to increase the RPS and Ensure Compliance with the GWSA)
2. Put a Price on Carbon (S.1821: An Act combating climate change; H.1726: An act to promote green infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs.
3. Protect low-Income/Community Solar and Move Forward (H.3396/S.1831: An Act relative to solar power in environmental justice and urban communities; H.2706/S.1846: An act relative to solar power and the green economy)
Go to 350mass for more information. You can support by emailing your state representative and senator or by meeting them in person at one of their local meet ups.
A New Hydration Station in Town
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Sustainable Duxbury and Island Creek Oysters teamed up for the new H2O station at Duxbury Bay Maritime School! DBMS will be a greener campus by helping everyone to bring their own reusable water bottle. DBMS bottles are available for $5.
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Sustainable Duxbury Reusable Bags are being Shared
Sustainable Duxbury is helping out the Duxbury Interfaith Council's TLC program by donating 50 of our Sustainable Duxbury reusable cloth bags. The bags will be used to for packing school supplies that are donated to students who need the help.
"The TLC program - Teach our children, Learn to give, Care about others - started with a seemingly simple, generous act by one boy. To celebrate his 10th birthday, this giving child accepted school supplies in lieu of gifts. All the school supplies were donated to a few families in need through the Duxbury Interfaith Council’s Outreach Services. The success of this heartfelt deed encouraged a group of four children to take it a step further. That’s when they came up with the TLC backpack project."
"The TLC program - Teach our children, Learn to give, Care about others - started with a seemingly simple, generous act by one boy. To celebrate his 10th birthday, this giving child accepted school supplies in lieu of gifts. All the school supplies were donated to a few families in need through the Duxbury Interfaith Council’s Outreach Services. The success of this heartfelt deed encouraged a group of four children to take it a step further. That’s when they came up with the TLC backpack project."
We Let the Sun Shine Again!
Plastic Bag Bylaw
Town Meeting voted to approve Article 15! This is a step to help cut down on plastic in our environment.
Years of Living Dangerously
Watch on Demand on the Nat Geo channel. Check it out here. The show not only presents the problems but also focuses on the solutions.
Presentation by The Goatscaping Company, October 4, 2015
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Elaine Philbrick gave a presentation about her company of 3 years using goats for landscaping purposes. Out west in Washington and California goatscaping has been a big business for many years, employing some 400 goats that live with goat wranglers, cleaning up highways and other large areas. Her company can do very small jobs, as small as 1/8 acre areas. She has 12 herds of 4 goats each. They rent by the week for $750/week. They already have 225 rental weeks with 150 customers over 70 towns. Information can be found on www.gogreengoat.com.
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Community Garden
PAC TV has prepared a wonderful presentation on our beautiful Community Garden. Mike Wilson and Jim Savicki are interviewed and give an overview of how the garden started and what is happening this summer. Take a look and listen by clicking here.
Saturday, April 18, at Hannaford's and Stop & Shop
We parternered with Hannaford's and Stop&Shop in Kingston to help cut down on the use of plastic bags.
We setup at Hannaford's from 10 to 12 and at Stop&Shop from 12 to 2 and gave out several hundred FREE BAGS.
We setup at Hannaford's from 10 to 12 and at Stop&Shop from 12 to 2 and gave out several hundred FREE BAGS.
Brown is the New Green: Changing the Way We Think about Dirt
A film series by Sustainable Duxbury in partnership with the Duxbury Free Library
The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils (IYS). In this spirit we will be presenting 2 films and one panel discussion to discuss the importance and fascination of the soil, the dirt we walk on and eat from.
"There’s a glowing appreciation for the rarity and value of truly fertile soil"
- Film Journal International, Chris Barsanti
"There’s a glowing appreciation for the rarity and value of truly fertile soil"
- Film Journal International, Chris Barsanti
Thursday, March 19, 2015: We showed DIRT! The Movie in the Merry Room of the Duxbury Free Library. This important film is narrated by Jaime Lee Curtis and brings to life the environmental, economic, social and political impact that the soil has. It shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil.
The film shows how dirt has given us food, shelter, fuel, medicine, ceramics, flowers, cosmetics and color--everything needed for our survival. For most of the last ten thousand years we humans understood our intimate bond with dirt and the rest of nature. We took care of the soils that took care of us. But, over time, we lost that connection. We turned dirt into something "dirty." A millennial shift in consciousness about the environment offers a beacon of hope - and practical solutions.
The film shows how dirt has given us food, shelter, fuel, medicine, ceramics, flowers, cosmetics and color--everything needed for our survival. For most of the last ten thousand years we humans understood our intimate bond with dirt and the rest of nature. We took care of the soils that took care of us. But, over time, we lost that connection. We turned dirt into something "dirty." A millennial shift in consciousness about the environment offers a beacon of hope - and practical solutions.
Thursday, February 26, 2015: We presented a panel discussion with experts to talk all things dirt including how to save time, money and the planet through wise lawn care practices. Click here to see an excellent PACTV presentation about the program.
Debbie Cook, Greenscapes Massachusetts
Deb discussed landscaping practices (particularly irrigation and chemical use) that have less impact on the environment and the responsible management of water resources.
Jon Bilber, Holly Hill Farm
Holly Hill Farm is an organic farm located 25 miles southeast of Boston in the beautiful coastal town of Cohasset and consists of 140 acres of land which includes 10 acres of open fields of which 3 acres are growing fields, historic buildings, greenhouses and diversified natural areas for educational purposes. Jon discussed creating organic soil and compost.
Todd Breitenstein, The Grateful Garden (www.thegratefulgarden.biz)
Todd has owned and operated landscaping companies, worked in financial planning, and most recently started a company called The Grateful Garden, a sustainable garden supply and vegetable growers resource center with a focus on education. As Todd say, “I want to grow vegetable gardeners.” He discussed how to make good soil and grow great vegetables.
Mike Donoghue, Summit Landscape
Dave Macdonald founded Summit Landscape in 2004 and soon after became a certified organic land care professional. He is passionate about helping people live smarter, safer, and healthier by not using chemicals or pesticides on their lawns. “In an organic program,” Dave says, “we are trying to restore and rebuild what has been lost in the soil from conventional fertilizers and possibly site construction and runoff.”
Debbie Cook, Greenscapes Massachusetts
Deb discussed landscaping practices (particularly irrigation and chemical use) that have less impact on the environment and the responsible management of water resources.
Jon Bilber, Holly Hill Farm
Holly Hill Farm is an organic farm located 25 miles southeast of Boston in the beautiful coastal town of Cohasset and consists of 140 acres of land which includes 10 acres of open fields of which 3 acres are growing fields, historic buildings, greenhouses and diversified natural areas for educational purposes. Jon discussed creating organic soil and compost.
Todd Breitenstein, The Grateful Garden (www.thegratefulgarden.biz)
Todd has owned and operated landscaping companies, worked in financial planning, and most recently started a company called The Grateful Garden, a sustainable garden supply and vegetable growers resource center with a focus on education. As Todd say, “I want to grow vegetable gardeners.” He discussed how to make good soil and grow great vegetables.
Mike Donoghue, Summit Landscape
Dave Macdonald founded Summit Landscape in 2004 and soon after became a certified organic land care professional. He is passionate about helping people live smarter, safer, and healthier by not using chemicals or pesticides on their lawns. “In an organic program,” Dave says, “we are trying to restore and rebuild what has been lost in the soil from conventional fertilizers and possibly site construction and runoff.”
What Continues to Happen at Chandler
Sustainable Duxbury helped to install a solar array at Chandler School. That system has been quietly cranking away for 5 years. The weather station is online and by visiting the website you can see how much electricity this array is producing. Check it out: http://www.sunviewer.net/portals/Chandler/
Chasing Ice
In the
spring of 2005, National Geographic photographer James Balog headed to the
Arctic on a tricky assignment: to capture images to help tell the story of the
Earth’s changing climate. Even with a
scientific upbringing, Balog had been a skeptic about climate change and a
cynic about the nature of academic research. But that first trip north opened
his eyes to the biggest story in human history and sparked a challenge within
him that would put his career and his very well being at risk. After that first trip to Iceland, the photographer conceived
the boldest expedition of his life: The Extreme Ice Survey (EIS). With a band
of young adventurers in tow, Balog began deploying revolutionary time-lapse
cameras across the brutal Arctic to capture a multi-year record of the world’s
changing glaciers. Wanting to capture a very broad representation of glaciers
all around the world, Balog and his team also shot footage in Greenland,
Iceland, Glacier National Park in Montana, the Alps, Bolivia, Canada and more.
He wanted EIS to show people visual evidence of how glaciers are responding
everywhere—not just in one region.
His hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate. “Chasing Ice,” which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2012, depicts Balog and his team trying to deliver evidence and hope to our carbon-powered planet. In his November 2012 review of the film, Globe Staff Writer Ty Burr states, “As much as one may intellectually believe in climate change, to see it actually happening has the power to stun a viewer into wordlessness, Balog’s work is a flip-book apocalypse and it is undeniable.”
His hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate. “Chasing Ice,” which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2012, depicts Balog and his team trying to deliver evidence and hope to our carbon-powered planet. In his November 2012 review of the film, Globe Staff Writer Ty Burr states, “As much as one may intellectually believe in climate change, to see it actually happening has the power to stun a viewer into wordlessness, Balog’s work is a flip-book apocalypse and it is undeniable.”
The Solheim Glacier in Iceland in April 2006. (Photo by James Balog / Extreme Ice Survey)
The Solheim Glacier in Iceland in February 2009. The line represents how much the glacier changed in nearly three years. (Photo by James Balog / Extreme Ice Survey)
Duxbury Free Library now has this DVD available for distribution, a gift of Sustainable Duxbury. SWITCH: Discover the Future of Energy, a film from Arcos films
The library suggests that anyone interested in watching the movie, use the catalog and place a hold on it. That way you are assured of getting the title. From the catalog, the title search should be the entire title: Switch : discover the future of energy. The call number is 333.79 SWI DVD, and it is currently shelved with the new books.
The library also has 2 Kill-a-Watt kits available now. They are on the main floor of the Library, near the new books, with a big sign that says "Makerspace." They are also in the catalog and holds can be placed on them. To find in the catalog, enter the term: "Makerspace" in the "search for" box and click on the "words or phrase" button. The Kill-A-Watt kit should be the third item in the results list.
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Duxbury Teams Up To Tackle Litter
Duxbury Public Schools and Sustainable Duxbury have joined hands to clean up the schools’ playing fields. How? They are making it easy to recycle discarded cans and bottles. Next to each trash bin is a new recycling container for bottles and cans.
When Sustainable Duxbury’s Sheryl Melanson and Paul Mabey met with the schools, Susan Naumann and Don Burgess, they hatched a plan to place new recycling containers at strategic locations around Train Field and near the High School Track. Burgess obtained four containers from Waste Management, Inc. (which handles collection of school waste and recyclables) and modified them for bottle and can deposit. Melanson got decals produced for the containers with funding from Sustainable Duxbury. Mabey wrote letters to team coaches enlisting their help in encouraging teams and spectators to use the new containers
and Recreation Director, Gordon Cushing distributed the letters to the coaches. Sustainable Duxbury is working with the schools and DPW director, Peter Butkis and his staff on additional recycling containers, as well as educational initiatives to reduce litter, and increase recycling. Steps to a cleaner and more sustainable Duxbury.
Be on the look out for new recycling bins coming to Coppens Field at Chandler School in about 3 or 4 weeks.
With everyone's help we can keep our fields free of trash. Please encourage everyone to pick up bottles and use our new bins!
When Sustainable Duxbury’s Sheryl Melanson and Paul Mabey met with the schools, Susan Naumann and Don Burgess, they hatched a plan to place new recycling containers at strategic locations around Train Field and near the High School Track. Burgess obtained four containers from Waste Management, Inc. (which handles collection of school waste and recyclables) and modified them for bottle and can deposit. Melanson got decals produced for the containers with funding from Sustainable Duxbury. Mabey wrote letters to team coaches enlisting their help in encouraging teams and spectators to use the new containers
and Recreation Director, Gordon Cushing distributed the letters to the coaches. Sustainable Duxbury is working with the schools and DPW director, Peter Butkis and his staff on additional recycling containers, as well as educational initiatives to reduce litter, and increase recycling. Steps to a cleaner and more sustainable Duxbury.
Be on the look out for new recycling bins coming to Coppens Field at Chandler School in about 3 or 4 weeks.
With everyone's help we can keep our fields free of trash. Please encourage everyone to pick up bottles and use our new bins!
Check out our Composting Page
Check out a new information section about composting. Duxbury High School student Patrick Grady developed the site under the supervision of High School and Middle School Science Coordinator Mrs. Cheryl Lewis. http://sustainableduxburycomposting.weebly.com/
Another useful resource for composting is the Guide to Agricultural Composting published by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. You can download this pdf here. For additional information go to: http://www.mass.gov/agr/divisions/ag_technical_assistance.htm.
Another useful resource for composting is the Guide to Agricultural Composting published by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. You can download this pdf here. For additional information go to: http://www.mass.gov/agr/divisions/ag_technical_assistance.htm.
