Staunton Green 2020

Staunton Green 2020 logo

Oil spill in the gulf got you down? We’re frustrated and bummed out too. We can sit on our hands or we can take some action and come together. Here are some ways to help to get things going locally:

Next Thursday, June 10 at 5pm head over to Zynodoa (115 E. Beverley) in downtown Staunton for Green Drinks. No, not  shots of algae biofuel, but getting together in a fun and hip spot with some of the best local food and drinks, while meeting others interested in greening our environment, energy and economy.  We hope you’ll come. Let us know if you plan to swing by: RSVP to stauntongreen<at>gmail.com (replace the <at> with an @)

I’ll be wearing my recycled 1974 green blazer from Stuyvesant Thrift Store (you don’t have to wear green, but let’s make Staunton Green).

On the following Thursday, June 17 at 7pm it’s King Corn, the first installment of the local motion summer film series sponsored by Transition Staunton Augusta, in partnership with Staunton Green 2020 at the Mockingbird Restaurant at 123 W. Beverley. Free admission.

Come early to enjoy a special dinner in the Music Hall featuring food from local farmers (call 540.213.8777 for reservations). King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation.

On July 3 Staunton Green 2020 will again be driving a hybrid vehicle in the Staunton July 4th parade. We hope to see you at Gypsy Hill Park.

local motion summer film series

June 17 King Corn

July 15: Save Our Land, Save Our Towns

Aug. 19: A Crude Awakening

Sept. 16: The Green House

Soon will be sharing more information about our fall “re-skilling” workshops and additional efforts to reduce our carbon footprint here in Staunton.

Join Staunton Green 2020, Transition Augusta, and Mary Baldwin’s Center for Global and Civic Engagement tonight for a free screening of the film “Fresh”. Special guests, farmers Daniel Salatin and Jenny Driver, will be on hand to discuss afterwords.

The film will be screened in Mockingbird Restaurant’s music room. Doors open at 5:30 for a special meal featuring locally-raised food.  Come support the local farm producers participating. Film starts at 7pm.

Come early for best seats. Trailer below.

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• Hurry – Limited CSA Farm Shares Available (georgebowersgrocery.com)

BEVERLEY STREET STUDIO SCHOOL PRESENTS
“EARTH IN THE BALANCE (AN ANAMORPHIC ILLUSION)”

"Earth in the Balance (an anamorphic illusion)"

“It’s a small world after all…” Or maybe not!  The Beverley Street Studio School will unveil “Earth in the Balance (an anamorphic illusion)” on Earth Day, Saturday April 17 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Wharf Parking Lot, beside the Farmers’ Market in Staunton.  At 12′ x 45′, this work is believed to be the largest painting on canvas ever created in the city of Staunton.

“Earth in the Balance” is a giant image of Planet Earth as seen from Outer Space.  But instead of painting the usual spherical planet, the BSSS artists have created a strangely distorted elliptical blob.  Or so it will seem to viewers until they readjust their way of looking at our much-loved and much-abused planet.  From the right viewpoint, Earth will regain its graceful, familiar proportions.  Then if a spectator poses for a photo op in just the right way,  Earth will appear to spin serenely like a beach ball atop that person’s fingertip!

If a spectator poses just the right way, Earth will appear to spin serenely on its axis atop that person’s fingertip!

It’s optical magic that you won’t believe until you see it for yourself.  The project is free, open to the public, and designed to be kid-friendly and interactive.  Children, pets, and whole families are invited to pose with the picture. Bring your camera, wear a costume if you like, and be prepared to see what it’s like to personally hold the Earth in balance.

Contact: Cleveland Morris (540) 332-6111 or cmmmmix@gmail.com

Mark your calendar…
Dawn of a New Urban Landscape — The Natives Return
7 p.m, April 21, City Hall, Council Chambers

A big thanks to our panel – and all the attendees – for coming out to the SG2020 event, “Switching to Grass in Staunton and Augusta County” last night.

Please comment here if you have questions you’d like to pass along to our panel of experts, and, what you thought.

We’re planning more events that capture the Staunton Green 2020 mission to build community partnerships that through education, research and collaboration:

~ Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions

~ Increase renewable energy

~ Generate Green jobs

~ Preserve green space

~ Facilitate sustainable community development

Also, thanks to Mary Baldwin College for hosting. See you at our next event:

Dirt, The Movie
Thur. Mar. 18 @ 7pm

• Mockingbird Restaurant – Downtown Staunton (doors open at 5:30pm for delicious dinner)
• A free, fast-paced film about the threatened life sustaining soil on which we depend
• Co-sponsored by Transition Staunton Augusta & Valley Conservation Council

Hi there Staunton Green 2020 friend,

This snowy and cold winter has us thinking spring and we have some great upcoming events up to welcome some less frosty weather:

~ Switching to Grass and Fueling Staunton: Tue. Mar. 9 @ 7pm in Francis Auditorium on the Mary Baldwin College campus (corner of Coalter and Frederick Streets)

Get inspired by a panel of experts on growing switchgrass and burning it as a local, clean and green fuel source.

~ Dirt, the Movie: Thur. Mar. 18 @ 7pm (doors open at 5:30pm for yummy dinner) at the Mockingbird Restaurant (co-sponsored with Transition Staunton Augusta)

Dinner and a free, fast-paced movie about something we entirely take for granted. Check out the trailer.

Wild Virginia Film Festival: Thur. Mar. 25 @ 7pm at the Visulite. More info.

April still comes on the heels of March and there’s much more…

~ Apr. 15 Fresh, the movie at the Mockingbird
~ Apr. 17 Earth Day in the Sunspots parking lot, downtown Staunton
~ Apr. 21 Converting your Front Lawn to Native Grass at City Hall

Looking forward to seeing you at these events,

steve grande and the Staunton Green 2020 Steering Committee

Here’s another opportunity for Staunton residents!

September 11 and 12 the Virginia Conservation Network will be meeting at the Frontier Culture Musuem and doing a tour of our city. It’s a great opportunity to meet other like-minded people from around the state.

Highlights include:

• VCC and VCN annual membership meetings
• Local foods dinner Friday night
• Green tours of historic Stanton
• Hikes
• Farm visits
• A fun day at the museum for your family !

Click here for more information.

Are you seeking to enhance your leadership skills and discuss complex environmental and social issues? Apply for a short course at the Virginia National Resources Leadership Institute (University of Virginia). There are six three-day leadership sessions, and one in our area. You can earn 12 continuing education credits.

Good news: the deadline to apply is extended to June 15th and scholarships are available.

Further details at the VNRLI website. I hope one or more people from Staunton will attend!

What Is It: A petition to create a Green Task Force for the city of Staunton, Virginia. Sign the petition online by clicking here or sign on paper at locations around the city. (Do you have a petition people can sign? Are you willing to distribute the petition? Contact us and/or add your location in the comments.)

Why It’s Vital: All cities have limited budgets and personnel. We must show Staunton city officials that we’re serious about setting and reaching specific environmental and economic goals. We need the city’s assistance to collect information necessary to determine our starting point.

Staunton VA, City Hall

How It Helps You: Our non-partisan Green Task Force will volunteer time on the Staunton City Council. We’ll research our baseline and make recommendations for specific actions that will reduce Staunton’s carbon emissions, save the city money, and bring more green jobs and federal/state money to Staunton.

How It Helps Staunton: Staunton will benefit from a dedicated team of unpaid, non-partisan volunteers that comprise the Green Task Force. These individuals will work to improve the economic development and environmental sustainability of Staunton to ensure our city becomes an even better place to live and work.

This is a simple action step, and it depends on you! Please sign our petition right now.

Confused? Overwhelmed? Then start here, the first of SG2020 “Action Steps”. This is the first in an ongoing series. These action steps will give you ideas for ways you can make your life here in Staunton, Virginia greener and more sustainable. Implement the steps that make sense for you.

Already crossed this “Action Step” off your to-do list? Please share your knowledge and tips in the comments section.

~ RAINWATER COLLECTION ~

What Is It: A simple system to capture and conserve water.

Why It’s Vital: Worldwide, demand for clean water far outreaches supply. Nationally water prices have raised double-digit percent and will continue to rise thanks to drought and over-development in water-scarce areas. We’re lucky, but we’re not immune to changes in national supply. Virginia is still fighting to keep her water sources clean!

How It Helps You: Collecting rainwater saves money.

How It Helps Staunton: Rainwater run-off runs down the streets and mixes with nasty pollutants and trash (eg. cigarette butts) in the process. If you collect water and use it to water your plants during dry spells, the water will avoid this pollution and be filtered naturally by the earth.

We use captured rain water to feed our flowers.

How To:

You can buy pre-made rain water barrels locally at Young’s Hardware. They range in price, starting at roughly $150+. Here’s how we made our own.

You’ll Need:

• Large container – Barrels work best. You can get a barrel at Staunton Farm & Tractor or second-hand. We found this whiskey barrel last year for $35 at Verona Antiques. Keep your eyes open for good second-hand reuse. A large plastic trash can with lid can also work.
• Drill – (borrow one if you don’t own one)
• Cork – buy a cork that fits the hole you’ll drill in the top. Corking the top when not in use will prevent bug larvae.
• Pipe – We chose a 1/2 inch copper pipe, roughly seven inches long.
• Faucet/Knob - We chose a brass knob at Young’s Hardware.
• Bricks (optional) – Use to place barrel off the ground.

Total Material Cost: ~$50.

Okay, simple stuff folks! Drill a 1/2″ hole in the top of the barrel. Drill a second hole in the bottom-third of the barrel where you’d like a faucet. (Make sure a watering can will comfortably fit underneath, or low enough for a drip line hose, whichever you’ll use more.) The second hole will be the same width as the pipe you’ve selected. Insert the pipe and connect the knob. Position under your gutter and wait for the first rain to fill it up!

Note:

• Do not use rainwater collected from a roof for human or animal consumption. However, your plants and lawn will love it!
• If you use a wooden barrel you may need to wait for the barrel to fill and swell shut before it holds water.
• You’ll need to drain your barrel in the fall before it freezes. Otherwise, it may freeze and burst.

Enjoy!