Program Archives

THE STATE STREET SALE -

Encouraging one another to make changes in our reliance on single use plastics we took to the streets - the "State Street" Sale to be exact! July 2024

We sold reusable shopping bags and demonstrated how to make your own reusable, no-sew, t-shirt bag!  We also offered alternatives to everyday items traditionally packaged in plastic - like toothpaste, laundry detergent, plastic wrap etc... 

COMPOSTING & FOOD WASTE WORKSHOP - An informative look at compost cooperatives and backyard options AND simple rules for minimizing food waste. June 2024

Food waste is the single most common material landfilled and incinerated in the United States, comprising 24 and 22% of landfilled and combusted municipal solid waste.  Earth.Org

Finished compost helps enrich soil by retaining moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests, becomes humus, a rich nutrient-filled material, as well as lowering the demand for chemical fertilizers in the garden.  

LANCASTER VEGFEST - An opportunity to speak to the greater community. June 2024

The 2024 Lancaster VEGFEST gave our Climate Action Neighborhood volunteers a chance to talk to folks from all over about eating plant-based foods that help reduce carbon emissions, and all the other work we're doing - composting and food waste workshop, plastic reduction programs, growing our wildlife habitat presence etc... We encourage you to get involved too - there is power in community action, and fun too!

CULTIVATING A PLANT-BASED LIFESTYLE - A casual dinner conversation about moving to a more plant-based diet. May 2024

A delicious dinner with informative cooking tips and conversation around eating a plant-based diet. From one participant - "The food was wonderful, and it was so much fun to cook and share a meal with folks."  Special thanks to chef Emily Fedor who planned, cooked and hosted this event and might just considering offering another class! Stay tuned. 

CLIMATE SUMMIT 2024 - An opportunity to learn and connect with climate experts 4/27/24

Lots of great information from experts on climate issues, including our session on Neighborhood-level Impact & How to Start a Climate Action Neighborhood, and Global Views and Local Actions: Economic Insights on the Climate Crisis with our own Dr. Kirsten Madden + her MU Student Pattita (Bua) Rojanasoonthon. 

COMMUNITY WILDLIFE HABITAT CLASS - Rewilding our yards to increase biodiversity 4/6/24

Linda Ferich from the Lancaster Conservancy shared information and anecdotes highlighting the importance of encouraging all layers of biodiversity that help us improve air quality, lessen water runoff in large weather events, and pollinate plants and crops. From birds to skunks, butterflies to snakes, we are all interconnected and essential. Linda also provided some native viburnum for those who attended. A special thank you to Rod Henderer and Jill Ferguson for sponsoring the event. 

GARDEN TOUR & SEED SWAP - An Urban Gardening Tour and Conversation 3/24/24

Mother Nature may have made us wait an extra day to tour our neighbors' gardens, but the sunny, warmer weather was much more conducive to learning from one another about raised beds, spring gardening practices, compost and native plants. The tour finsished with a seed swap over drinks and snacks and a warm fire. We'll be planning a second Urban Gardening session in the near future. 

HABITAT SERIES - Winter Tree ID & the Importance of Habitat 2/10/24

With above average temperatures on 2/10, our Winter Tree ID crowd including F&M students, put their new skills to work identifying barren trees by their bark and branching. 

The hot chocolate and cookies were still appreciated as attendees warmed up while making peanut butter bird feeders afterwards. 

Thank you to Ryan Davis from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, WestArt and our supportive sponsors for creating and informative and fun experience for all. 

"My daughter and I found the tree walk on Saturday to be very stimulating. We now notice so much more detail in trees. The speaker was extraordinarily informed and his love of nature contagious." JA

CHILI COOKOFF & LAUNCH - The College Park Climate Action Neighborhood is Officially Launched!  1/21/24

Over 75 people attended our Chili Cookoff and Launch Party on Jan. 21st, consuming a lot of delicious vegetarian chilis. The competition was fierce, with some chefs offering multiple chili toppings, while others enticed with weird and wonderful names, like  “Schweet Potato Schili Schurprise,” and “Jack & Jill Went Up Buchanan Hill Chili.”  The final winner was “Chocolate Momma Chili,” from the Fowler-Fife Family (say that three times fast!) but all agreed the chilis were a great warm up to the launch of the College Park Climate Action Neighborhood. 

Conversations were held over bowls of chili and focused on seven climate impact areas; Land & Water, Materials, Food, Transportation, Home Energy, Finance, and Education & Advocacy. Attendees shared their thoughts on what their own contributions were to carbon emissions and brainstormed solutions that our Climate Action Neighborhood could implement. 

After a brief presentation on the who, what, where and next steps of the College Park CAN, those attending shared how they were feeling about working together to tackle climate issues with words like, hopeful, inspired, encouraged, and “well fed!”  Mission accomplished! 

Learn how you can take part too by joining our mailing list, participating in upcoming events, volunteering, sponsoring our programs or joining our planning team. Find links and additional information on our website, CollegeParkCAN.org or by joining our College Park Climate Action Neighborhood Facebook Group.