Staunton Green 2020

For your enjoyment, we’re doing a brief re-cap on this week’s switchgrass event. Our guests were kind enough to share their presentation slides.

Bobby Whitescarver, District Conservationist from Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation kicked things off with this presentation. In it,

Slides 4-7 – you’ll see photos of switchgrass, a warm season grass (wsg), grown on local farms.

Slide 8 – switchgrass being burned and used as a heat source

Slide 9 – here, heating a chicken coop

Slide 10 – This 60-foot border will be planted with switchgrass for wildlife benefits. (For quail and other endangered Virginia birds.)

Slide 11 – Indian grass (native and beautiful)

Slide 12 – A controlled burn – used every few years to reinvigorate switchgrass production.

What stands out for you from his presentation?

Mark your calendars, we’ve set a date for the first biomass energy presentation. We’ve asked people to come and speak on the topic of growing switchgrass as a fuel alternative here in Staunton.

Where: Mary Baldwin College’s Francis Auditorium
When: Thursday, January 21 — 7-8:30 p.m.

There is no cost to attend but we will request an RSVP closer to the date.

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Here’s a little-known Staunton, Virginia fact: there is a small but growing tribe of telecommuters living here. I know first hand about this growing trend. Technology allowed me to move back because I could retain my job in Boston; now I telecommute to Washington, D.C. This scenerio sounds pretty good for the local economy…after all, my city wages are spent locally!

Yesterday was a surprise: I met my first-ever telecommuter who works in Staunton… but lives in Georgia! This individual works for a local real estate agency. Yes, that means that although this person is spending “Staunton money” in Georgia, she is actually increasing the number and value of single-occupancy homes here in Staunton. So yes, telecommuting works and benefits both ways. It stimulates the economy in two places and broadens work opportunities for all.

Don’t even get me started on the environmental benefits, too! You know telecommuting contributes to reduce evils like traffic, air pollution, and reliance on foreign oil. But first:

How do you kick your commute and start telecommuting?

Glad you asked; Virginia is one of just a handful of states offering incentives for employers to encourage telecommuting. Yes, your boss can qualify for up to $35,000 dollars worth of incentives so you can work in your pajamas, or from the local coffee shop! There is a whole website, Telework!VA dedicated to explaining the work benefits of telecommuting.

Preference is given to companies in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach areas. However, since vehicle congestion is a state-wide problem, and many Staunton residents commute to nearby Harrisonburg or Charlottesville… there’s no harm in seeing if Virginia’s incentives would benefit you. Here are some common myths about telecommuting.

The bottom line is that telecommuting allows for more work opportunities in more places… and, one great side benefit is the environmental impact. Here are some Virginia case studies. For example, in the first year alone Virginia-based National Wildlife Foundation saved nearly 3,000 travel miles on the road!

Want to telecommute? Sweeten the deal when you talk with your boss by mentioning Virginia’s unique program.