If you missed the Sustainable Wellesley/Wellesley Books discussion with author Paul Greenberg about his inspiring, accessible book, the Climate Diet last week, you can watch it here.

What a treat for our group to hear directly from the author! "Naked food" and "shipped vs. flown" were just a few of the inspirational stories he shared on ways we can address our own household carbon footprints. As Paul says, "everyone can and should do something," and this book offers a wide array of things you can do.

He calls this book a "peace offering," for adults and teens/millennials that shares ideas that are not only good for the planet, but good for your health and wallet too.

Take some time to read The Climate Diet this summer. Its short, informative and available at the library and the local book store! Then share the book; we all have something to learn.

New,  Updated Gas Leaks Map shows Wellesley still has 250 unrepaired pipeline leaks, emitting a whooping 91 MT of methane (natural gas).  

This puts Wellesley in the state’s top 11 emitters of methane, with the other 10 being much larger cities & towns:  Worcester, Weymouth, Quincy, Newton, Medford, Lynn, Dorchester, Brookline, Arlington and Boston.

Methane has more than 80 times the climate warming power of carbon dioxide during the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere.

Leaky, corroded pipes run all over under our town and the entire state.  The estimated cost to repair all if these pipes is enormous, at the ratepayers’ expense.   Despite the fact that 70 pipe lines have been repaired in Wellesley so far, it seems even more leaks have sprung anew.

It’s time to stop using “natural “ gas for our heating and cooking. 
Gas is unhealthy, dangerous, costly (we are paying for all those leaks!), and bad for the environment.

Consider going electric! Email us to learn more!

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!  

The Town of Wellesley is looking to understand the specific retail, restaurant and business wants, needs and patterns in Wellesley Square in an effort to bring vitality and new businesses to our community.

Imagine, a pedestrian weekend main street, re-use and plastic free stores, no styrofoam, EV charging stations, community refrigerator, a fix it shop, in town composting and recycling, etc. Let them know what YOU want by filling out this survey.

It takes less than a minute to fill out the survey.

​Wellesley residents are invited to share a delicious vegetarian dinner prepared by local chef Dave Becker of Juniper on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. Take a night off from cooking and learn the benefits to your health and the well-being of our planet when you make Mondays meat-free, all while you support the efforts of the Wellesley Food Pantry to help those in our community who need it most.  This event is sponsored through a partnership by LWV Wellesley and Sustainable Wellesley.

Participants will pick up a dinner at Juniper and then return home to watch a live, fun cooking demonstration as they dine. The cost to join this exciting community event is $75, which will include a three-course meal, the chef’s own cookbook and a generous donation to the Wellesley Food Pantry. A red or white wine pairing can be included with dinner for an additional $20 per bottle.  
"Meatless Monday" Menu:

• Muhammara Spread (Roasted red pepper and walnuts) with fresh baked pita 
• Miso-Lentil Soup
• Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Curry Vinaigrette Dressing
• Butternut Squash Farro Risotto

Here’s how it works:

• Register before March 22 and pay $75.
• Prior to the event, you will receive an email with final details about pickup, plus a link to join the cooking class.
• Dave’s team will prepare a 3-course, meatless, fully cooked, takeout meal for two.
• You pick up dinner at Juniper in Wellesley between 5:00 and 6:15 p.m. on Monday, March 29; a specific time for your pick up will be sent in an email the day before the event.  Optional bottle(s) of wine, selected for the meal, may be purchased for $20 cash at pick-up.
• At 6:30, join other diners and watch Dave live on Zoom preparing the meal in his home kitchen.
• Feast while you watch!
• Ask Dave questions in the Zoom chat area and hear his responses live.

What’s Included:   The $75 fee includes: a 3-course takeout meal for two, a cooking class with Dave on Zoom, a Dave Becker cookbook, and a donation to the Wellesley Food Pantry.  Additional donations for the Wellesley Food Pantry are welcome.  A small fee for ticketing and use of PayPal will be added to your final cost; if you have questions, please email LWVWellesleyEvents@gmail.com 

Register before March 22 –Space is limited!  Each meal serves two but you may purchase more than one meal.  

The  Wellesley Food Pantry  currently serves approximately 200 Wellesley households and more than 420 individuals; about one-third are children and another third are seniors.  The Food Pantry has provided supplemental and emergency food to Wellesley residents in need since 1989.  

“Meatless Monday” is a global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet.  Since it began in 2003, the movement has taken root in over 40 countries and been adapted to 22 different languages.   Eating less meat and more healthy plant-based foods can help reduce the incidence of chronic preventable diseases, preserve precious land and water resources, and combat climate change.  More information is available at the “Meatless Monday” website.

This event was created by the League of Women Voters of Wellesley and Sustainable Wellesley in the interest of fostering both community support for those who need it, as well as an awareness of the many ways individuals can act to promote a more sustainable lifestyle.  LWV Wellesley is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It works to influence public policy through education and advocacy.  Sustainable Wellesley strives to engage residents, businesses and the Town of Wellesley to take sustainable actions to protect biodiversity; minimize waste; and ensure environmental justice.

Swing by Roche Brothers in Wellesley on Saturday, November 23rd from 10am-2pm to learn about kitchen composting and the Wellesley RDF's Food Waste Program. Volunteers from Sustainable Wellesley will be on hand to demo the process and answer all of your questions. In addition, from 1pm on Leslie Richman zero-waste lifestyle coach will also be there to answer additional questions you might have about plastic-reduced and plastic-free grocery shopping and more!