Thank you to all of our community partners, participants, and organizers of Earth Day Berks Virtual 2021 programs! You can find the majority of the panels and videos below. Let us know if there's something you can't find. We will continue to add them.
Questions? Email us at earthdayberks@gmail.com
Earth Day Berks 2021 Virtual Programs & Videos
Swaminiji teaches that Earth Day can be a reminder to consistently recommit ourselves to deeper more meaningful relationships with each other, with all beings, with the earth, and with Divinity... Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Mission Moment with Juliane Wallace, Dir. of Admin @ Alvernia
Earth Day Message from Barrio Alegria
Barrio Alegria leader Daniel Egusquiza describes how building a community is very much an ecosystem. Barrio Alegria offers and promotes art programs in Reading as a community activity. For more information about Barrio Alegria's programming or to support their efforts, please visit www.barrioalegria.com or email them at info@barrioallegria.org Barrio Alegria YouTube: https://youtu.be/GfZ1qhDLQcw
Tour & Talk at Alvernia's EcoHouse - BOG TURTLE CREEK FARM
We visit BOG Turtle Creek Farm, Alvernia University's student-led, working farm and hear about what they do on the farm to increase sustainability and the importance of thieir connection to the community.
Panel Discussion: Farm to Table – Eating Our Way to a Healthier Planet
Our panel will discusses how what we chose to eat (or not eat) impacts our environment. We will cover multiple perspectives on the topic including Cultural, Historical, Agricultural, Environmental, and Economic. What is our immediate Community doing and what can we as individuals do to make a positive impact?
Panel Discussion: How Recycling Works
Bethany Ayers-Fisher and Matt Cougle explain the process of recycling from collection, sorting to bundling and sales
How BARTA Works, a special Earth Day 2021 Presentation
Jennifer Boley, Marketing Manager of Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) Explains how Public Transportation is an important form of Climate Solution. This presentation includes some really interesting statistics Green facts, a comprehensive overview of what's new at BARTA, Current Fares, BARTA Go Mobile App, BusFinder, Special Services
Visit bartabus.com or email barta@bartabus.com with any questions
Seniors & Sprouts Program
A chat with Corky Sheeler of the non-profit organization Seniors and Sprouts. The mission of the group is to get people excited about gardening. Find out how thats happening and the effect its having on program participants
The Scale of our Fashion Industry and Its Impact on People and the Planet
We excitedly welcome Karen Glass, Meg Valente & Natan Pulido for a chat about how chosing what to wear has the power to change the world! We'll cover some history, surprising statistics, social and environmental effects and even some suggestions on how you can take action and be part of the solution.
A Human Planning Process: Climate Action in Berks
Shana Rose, Stephanie Anderson, and Bethany Ayers Fisher- three women living and working in Berks County discuss their involvement in Climate Action Plans, how they got involved, and invite you to join us to do what you can, where you are, with what you have! Bethany can be reached at bethany.ayersfisher@alvernia.edu Stephanie can be reached at stephaniejoyanderson@gmail.com Shana can be reached at www.sustainingwithshana.com Shana's podcast is Sustaining with Shana, look for season 2 later this spring!
Solar in PA — Glass half-full, half-empty, or cracked?
Join a couple of PA Solar Ambassadors to bone up on some solar basics as well as scratch the surface of the exciting new field (get it?) of agriculture and photovoltaics — agrivoltaics! There will be enough basics for the newbie and hopefully some content to interest the seasoned solar wonk. And, the best part will be hearing questions from attendees to see what’s on folks minds about solar; we’ll even try to answer some of them
What is YOUR Clutter Legacy?
The Pandemic has forced us to remain in our homes and be surrounded by our stuff 24/7. It also forced us to reevaluate what is essential and what isn't. With all the death surrounding the pandemic, many of us have come to the realization that if something happens to us, we can't take it with us! What will our clutter legacy be for those we leave behind? These are big, heavy questions that Vali Heist, Certified Professional Organizer deals with every day with her clients. Join us as Heist explores how we can discern what is essential in our homes and what is just an emotional attachment. She'll also explore how prioritizing the value of our stuff and simplifying our homes could help us live in more peaceful surroundings.
Saving Money While Saving Resources with First Energy
Join Earth Day Berks member Scot Case and Met Ed's Jennifer Rivera as Jen explains Met Ed's energy efficiency commitments and programs to help save us all money while reducing our environmental impacts! For more information please go to www.firstenergycorp.com
Saving Money While Saving Resources with UGI
Join Becky Eshbach from UGI to learn about ways to save on heating costs and the future of gas with host Scot Case.
History of City Park
Join local historian Rick Polityka as he shows us how the only constant in Reading is change! City Park is also known as Penn's Commons and has been a part of creating memories in Reading since Reading was founded in 1748. The land was set aside "in common" for use by the residents of Reading by the William Penn family. In 1800 the land was formally sold to the town of Reading for $440. The use of the area has changed drastically over the years. It has been training grounds for soldiers, the county fairgrounds, was the site of the prison and public hangings, and part of our water supply system. It has been and continues to be a space for public gardens, recreation, and memorials. Did you know that some of the trees in the park are over 100 years old? That there was ice skating on the ponds? Can you find the remnants of the horse racing track? Take some time to appreciate the wonderful gift that is Penn's Commons and City Park!
Questions? email Rich at richardpolityka@gmail.com
For more information about Reading and Berks County history visit the Berks History Center at www.berkshistorycenter.org
To visit in person they are located at 940 Centre Ave. in Reading.
Hemp in Berks County: Growing, Building, and Healing
Drew Oberholtzer of COEXIST & Jeffrey Brooks of Oley Hemp will talk about The versatility and importance of hemp as a crop. The role it plays in restoring the environment, supporting the local economy and supply chains, as a sustainable building material, and as a healing, medicinal plant, among other applications...
Restorative Local Economies are the Future - All Together Now PA Presentation
Tune in for an overview of All Together Now PA. This burgeoning non-profit is Uniting Pennsylvania's Rural & Urban Communities To Build Resilient, Self-Reliant Regional Economies That Work.
Founder and Chair, Judy Wicks, will talk about how this group of passionate leaders is working to build regenerative local economies that produce basic needs locally, justly, and in harmony with natural systems. She will talk about each of their four different coalitions in the areas of Industrial Hemp, Local Grain, Plant Medicine and Clothing & Textiles.
Building a Homestead (Live from the Garden)
We visit the Leesport Homestead of Stacy Keeley, owner of Field and Forest Herbals and learn about eating locally, growing herbs and veggies at home, get some Green DIY ideas including moving towards Zero Waste, plus a tour of the garden!
https://www.instagram.com/fieldandforestherbals/
How Landfills Work
Bryan Cleaver from Republic's Conestoga Landfill in Berks County reviews how modern landfills are constructed and built to protect the environment from contamination from our waste. Bryan is joined by City of Reading Public Works Education Coordinator Bethany Ayers Fisher for this discussion.
Master Watershed stewards
A few of the Berks County Master Watershed Stewards take a break from stream monitoring at Nolde Forest to talk about why they choose to be a part of the Master Watershed Stewards Program. For more information about Master Watershed Stewards and to support the program please visit: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards
Linda Ulrich, Crazy Butterfly Lady
Join our neighbor Linda Ulrich as she shares her beautiful garden that is built to be butterfly habitat. Linda's passion for butterflies and her plants is inspiring! She has been raising butterflies since 2006 and has raised and released over 1000 butterflies! For more information on how to start your own butterfly garden please visit https://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/
Nature Hour - They're Baaaack: The Return of the 17 Year Cicada
Our friends at Lancaster Conservancy shared this really cool video lecture about Brood X Cicadas that should emerge in our area in May 2021. Naturalist Keith Williams teaches us the difference between Cicadas and Locusts, what the Cicadas do for the seventeen years between emergences, and how Cicadas benefit the ecological systems they live in. For more information about Lancaster Conservancy please visit: www.lancasterconservancy.org
Lunch & Learn: Businesses Go Green
Sustainability has gone corporate. Investors seeking higher profits, insurers seeking lower risk, and bankers seeking safer loans are all pushing businesses to find ways to reduce their environmental footprints.
During this lunch and learn, we’ll hear from two local Berks County companies that are making money going green – Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, a local manufacturer of advanced plastics that are used in the aerospace and medical industries, and DS Smith, a local manufacturer that turns the boxes from your recycle bin into new boxes.
Building Green in Berks County
Learn about the Green Building Features at the Berks County Community Foundation at 237 Court Street in downtown Reading. To learn more about the work that Berks Community Foundation does please visit their website at www.bccf.org
Take a tour of the Berks County Community Foundation Building, the first Green Building in Berks!
To learn more about the Berks County Community Foundation and its work in Berks County please visit www.bccf.org.
Get inspired with the creative ways that BCCF found to reduce their environmental impacts, lower their energy bills & manage their stormwater impacts!
Water collection at Berks County Community Foundation's green building
Learn about the creative ways that the Berks County Community Foundation's building on Court Street in Reading
manages its stormwater.
Take a tour of Berks Nature located in Angelica Creek Park with Tami Shimp. Tami highlights the really thoughtful features of the building and the park features helping Angelica Creek's restoration. For more information about Berks Nature and the Angelica Creek please visit www.berksnature.org
Learn how to use the Merlin bird identification app from Cornell University with Sarah Presogna from Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Berks County.
Link to the app: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Link to Nolde Forest: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/NoldeForestEnvironmentalEducationCenter/Pages/default.aspx
Premier de identificacion de aves
Aprenda a usar la aplicación de identificación de aves Merlin de la Universidad de Cornell con Sarah Presogna del Centro de Educación Ambiental de Nolde Forest en el condado de Berks.
Enlace a la aplicación: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Enlace a Nolde Forest: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/NoldeForestEnvironmentalEducationCenter/Pages/default.aspx
Birdwalk with Berks Nature at Angelica Creek Park
Join Nelson Webber, a Berks Nature volunteer, and birdwatcher as he travels through Angelica Creek Park. Mr. Nelson helps us to identify the different birds that live in the varied habitats in the park. For more information about the park and Berks Nature go to www.BerksNature.org
TO BE POSTED SOON:
Earth Day Poems & Prayers with Swamini Shraddhananda Saraswati of Kula Kamala Foundation & Yoga Ashram
Mission Moment
Welcome/Kick OFF
Earth Day Berks was founded in 1989! Join Bill Litvin and Risa Marmontello as they recount their experiences in planning and executing a Berks tradition. They are joined in the conversation with the facilitator and local musician Dave Kline.
Questions? Want to join Earth Day Berks? Want to help sponsor events? Email us at earthdayberks@gmail.com!
Single Stream Recycling – Tour a Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
Ever wonder what happens to your recyclables? How does recycling work? Take 5 minutes to learn about what effort is put in to recover material before it hits the landfill.
Van Dyk Recycling Solutions designed and provided recycling equipment to J.P. Mascaro & Sons for its first single-stream recycling facility: TotalRecycle, Inc. Tour its 75,000 square feet of cutting-edge technology. Featuring Bollegraaf, Lubo, TOMRA and Walair machines.
Visit us at https://vdrs.com
Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan
Join the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in a bilingual presentation on Pennsylvania's Climate Action Plan.
For more information please visit:https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/climate/Pages/PA-Climate-Action-Plan.aspx
BEDTIME STORIES for KIDS
Hawk Mountain Story Time
Over, Under
Barrio Alegria Presents Fairy tales at Nolde Forest: Little Red Riding Hood
Barrio Alegria Presents Fairy tales at Nolde Forest: 3 Little Pigs
Introduction to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Hawk Mountain is a Berks County treasure! Learn about what they do, how to join and how to visit!
www.hawkmountain.org
Bloom Times, Budburst, Bird Migration, and Bugs What are These Events Telling Us
This virtual program, presented by HMS Board Member and Moravian College professor Dr. Diane Husic, was part of our Stay at Home Speaker Series, targeted towards adults and interested learners
Sustainable Business Practices: Time Banking
Timebanking is a new system we have in place that rewards and recognizes volunteerism in the community. For every one hour spent helping someone out, you earn one 'time buck' with your 'time buck' you can exchange it for one hour of help from another timebank member! People are offering things like French lessons, violin lessons, sewing repairs and much more! Timebanking is a vital tool for bringing community activists together in our collective efforts to improve the quality of life for everyone. Increased engagement equals more equitable sustainability, the Timebank is a hub for people who care and want to rebuild our community starting from the grass roots!
Turtle Talk
Join Master Watershed Steward and Earth Day Berks member Scot Case and Master Watershed Coordinator and certified Turtle Geek Natalie Marioni as they talk turtles! Baby turtles, tracking turtles, how to help a turtle cross the road, turtle research hazards- Natalie shares it all & her love for these interesting reptile neighbors in this video! For more information on Master Watershed Stewards please go to https://extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards
How Do Streetsweepers Work: Reading Public Works
Join Bethany and Karen from Reading Public Works in an exploration of how a streetsweeper works! Did you know that the brooms are made of steel? Did you know that they help keep our stormdrains free of dirt and small debris to help prevent flooding? Did you know that they are *NOT* litter vaccuums, and plastic bottles and cans will damage them? Did you know that you need a special license to drive them? Follow Karen as she takes care of our streets!
Book discussion: The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers
Hosted by the Reading Public Library
REGISRATION Required - Send an email to rplse@reading.lib.pa.us to receive a link to the Zoom meeting.
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
Shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize
New York Times Bestseller
A New York Times Notable Book and a Washington Post, Time, Oprah Magazine, Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, and Amazon Best Book of the Year
Tune in to the Earth Day Berks 2021 FB Page for Local Music
FB Live from Great American Clean Up Sites
Cafe Esperanza:Feeding the Neighborhood
We talk to Emily Wolfe about the cafe, their model, their mission, and how they are serving the community.
Berks Bards' Second Annual Earth Poems Reading
When: Saturday, April 24th, 2021, at 2 pm EST
Where: Join via Zoom at TinyURL.com/VirtualBard with no registration required
Kathleen Casner for the Berks County Bike Club:
Reading Symphony Orchestra Concert
