 A good first step when considering how to make changes that are good for you and good for the planet is to get to know the plants, insects and wildlife in outdoor areas around you. Take a break during work hours at home to walk around. Look and listen. As you add native plants and move away from chemical fertilizers and use of gas-powered equipment, there will be more to look at.
A good rule of thumb – "let it be":
 Wellesley residents we have a few spots left!
Join Sustainable Wellesley on Sunday, November 13, from 4-5:30 p.m. at Jarvis Appliance, 985 Worcester Street in Wellesley, for a cooking demonstration on the latest induction range models. Plus, learn how you can qualify for up to $1,340 in rebates beginning January 1. Space is Limited Register Here Today Andee Kasner, MPH, manager of the Climate and Health program at the Greater Boston chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, will speak briefly about health impacts of pollution from gas-powered ranges and more general actions local and state groups are taking to encourage change and mitigate pollution. Bring your questions! Come enjoy delicious snacks served hot-off the range top by a professional chef, and learn why they find induction cooking more efficient, more precise, safer and easy to clean. Enjoy and an array of wines crafted from hand-picked grapes with no added sugars, additives, or chemicals. Can’t make it? Email info@SustainableWellesley.com for more information and/or test drive an induction cooktop by borrowing one from the Wellesley Free Library’s Library of Things.  Tomorrow from 7-8pm you are invited to be part of a six-part series on Home Electrification where homeowners can take steps to get their homes off of fossil fuels through electrification.
This is important as 56% of Wellesley's greenhouse gas comes from buildings and of that 58% of that is residential. Kate Stephenson, HELM Construction Solutions and Aaron Gunderson, Passive House Massachusetts will lead us through how to assess opportunities for electrification, and calculate your home’s annual energy use. This event is free and open to the public via Zoom. Register here.  Bring your family, neighbors and friends to march with us in the Wellesley Parade tomorrow from 1-3pm.
Enjoy the shout outs and cheers from friendly spectators along the route. You can feel the environmental enthusiasm in town. We will be encouraging actions that will help us meet the Town wide goal of being Net Zero by 2050. Help us get the word out on Sunday Oct. 3rd. We will be lining up at 12.45pm on the corner of Elm and Washington Streets (Pole #5). Should be fun. Strollers welcome. RSVP here https://forms.gle/EKPG1v9HqEAqcbQN6  Looking for a fun and family-friendly outdoor activity? Take a leisurely bike ride or walk along a 2.8-mile garden tour around Wellesley that highlights pollinator gardens in Town. The self-guided tour will take you past gardens at the Wellesley Post Office, Town Hall, the Police Station, the WHS garden and some private gardens, as well - all of which are pesticide free. Click here to learn more.
Pollinate Wellesley is a joint initiative of Sustainable Wellesley, Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, and the NRC. When we protect our pollinators we protect ourselves!  Create Healthy Habits While Helping Wellesley Reduce Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The new school year is a chance to begin new routines. Recent climate studies show that 30% of Wellesley's traffic is school-related transportation. Instead of driving, start some new school traditions this fall. - Get together with friends and walk to school - Form neighborhood walking groups with other parents, caretakers, families – take turns leading the group. - Ride bikes or scooters with neighbors. -Check in with the Wellesley Public Schools to see if there is space on the bus: it is free if you live more than 2 miles from school. More information on Wellesley's upcoming “Safe Routes to School” walking and biking initiative is coming out soon. Learn more about it from the Town's Mobility Committee members (see below). Better yet, consider participating in it by serving as a parent representative for your school. Wellesley Select Board member Colette Aufranc at caufranc@wellesleyma.gov Wellesley School Committee Chair Catherine Mirick at mirickc@wellesleyps.org  Small gas engines are a leading source of air pollution. Find out why battery powered maintenance equipment is the superior solution.
Join the Electrify Coalition for an important webinar on electric outdoor power tools. We'll be talking with some of the leading experts and advocates for the electrification of the landscape maintenance industry about why this is important, the state of the transition away from gas powered tools, and provide tips on how you can make this transition in your home or community. We will cover:
The Electrify Coalition: Our coalition of non-profits, faith based groups, HVAC contractors, youth groups, builders and energy providers is dedicated to accelerate electrification through education and policy.  For those doing something different next week for the school April break, take a minute this week to:
1) Write/call your Town Meeting Member letting them know that you support the Town's updated greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals. These goals appear in Article 24, Motion 1 and call for reductions in town-wide GHG emissions of 50% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2030, 75% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2040, and net zero town-wide GHG emissions by 2050. These science-based goals follow State policy, are in line with The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, support Wellesley’s Unified Plan, and echo similar climate actions taken by an increasing number of Wellesley’s peer communities across the Commonwealth. 2) Enjoy Sierra Club's free plant-based cooking classes! You know that going meatless is good for the environment and for your health. The production of meat and dairy generates a lot more greenhouse gases than the production of comparable amounts of plant-based proteins. Check out two upcoming online cooking classes from the Sierra Club for inspiration and helpful tips. Sunday, April 18, 6-7pm Plant-based Cooking Demonstration: Learn how to make healthy plant-based food with the Plant-based Planet Team! We’ll demonstrate how to make various plant-based dishes at home. Feel free to ask us questions! Register in advance here. Tuesday, April 20, 6:30-7:30pm Our Sustainable Kitchen Cooking Class, Second Episode: Professional vegan chef Diana Goldman will teach you virtually how to prepare delicious plant-based food. Register in advance here. 3) Enjoy the week!  In the spring vernal pool animals are often in a race against time for survival before the pool dries up during the summer. Come see what you can find in one of Wellesley’s 18 vernal pools. From fairy shrimp to damselflies, green frogs and painted turtles, learn about these seasonal pools and the many creatures that might inhabit them on Wednesday, April 14 at 4:00PM. The "Fairies, Frogs, and Damsels!" Spring and Summer Wildlife of Vernal Pools: Part 2 event is brought to us by the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust Educational Series and co-sponsored by the Wellesley Free Library, Natural Resources Commission, and Sustainable Wellesley.
Register in advance for this half-hour virtual educational Zoom event here. What is a vernal pool? How does the vernal pool change from early spring to late spring/summer? Why and how does that affect what creatures are in the pool? How does that affect what critters are drawn to the pool? Who are the predators and who are the prey? Joy Marzolf, former naturalist and educator for over 13 years at Mass Audubon's Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary and now with her own company The Joys of Nature, will provide the answers to your questions and provide tips for exploring Wellesley’s vernal pools. This event is designed for families and curious children of all ages. Pre-registration is required here. More info: Facebook. Website. According to the Wellesley Geographic Information System (GIS), Wellesley has 18 vernal pools and 15 of them are certified! You can explore the location of these by using the Wellesley GIS Property Viewer and turning on the Vernal Pool layer. A map to the Guernsey Sanctuary vernal pool is here. An aerial view of the North 40 vernal pool is here. Additional resources: Massachusetts GIS of Certified Vernal Pools Massachusetts Vernal Pool Certification Process  Learn all about the weird and wonderful skunk cabbage, Spring’s first wildflower at an event co-sponsored by the Wellesley Free Library, Natural Resources Commission, and Sustainable Wellesley on Wednesday, March 24 at 4:00PM via Zoom.
Register in advance for this half-hour virtual educational event: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkfumrrjspHdViHn5Wx5n00yTISrPKffMb Wonder how to spot them? Wellesley's Judy Barr will let you know. HINT: the flowers don’t look like flowers, and the leaves don’t look like leave.
Designed for families and children of all ages. Pre-registration is required here. Stay tuned for more in the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust Educational Series: Wednesday, April 14, 4PM - Pre-register here Spring & Summer Wildlife of Vernal Pools: Fairies, Frogs, and Damsels The Wellesley Conservation Land Trust is our local 501(c)(3) non-profit land trust that protects 14 sanctuaries across more than 45 acres of natural land in Wellesley and bordering lands in Needham and Weston. More information about our mission, the sanctuaries and membership can be found at WellesleyConservationLandTrust.org. |
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