Staunton Green 2020

Did you know much of Virginia’s fresh water originates right here?

A new group, Friends of the Middle River has formed to “promote clean water and improve the health of the aquatic ecosystem in the Middle River Watershed of the Shenandoah – Potomac River System.” Find the Friends of the Middle River website here, or join their Facebook page.

Staunton and area residents are lucky to have neighbors who are committed to improving our waterways. Here’s a listing of projects completed in recent years.

Are you aware that improperly discarded medication is polluting our environment, locally and nationally? It’s a big issue relating to clean water and healthy soil.

Augusta Health is sponsoring an event this Saturday (November 7) where you can safely discard old prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Interview with Waynesboro City Councilwoman Lorie Smith (courtesy AFP):

Find more details about Operation Medical Cabinet in an article at Augusta Free Press.

Here in Staunton we’re fortunate to have clean water and regular rainfall. So, it’s easy to take water for granted.  (Check out some of the water improvements locally). However, clean water is rare in many parts of the world (including several areas in the U.S.), and, transportation and storage of water via pumps or water tanks indirectly contribute to climate change thanks to use of fossil fuel.

So, with that in mind here are ways you can reduce water usage in your home or apartment. Your goal is to have your home sip water, not chug it.

Showers, Not Baths
A quick shower will save water compared to a bath.

Aerate
You can inexpensively add an aerator to shower heads and faucets. They are easy to install and you won’t suffer from lost pressure. You’ll simply use less water.

Run Full
If you have a dishwasher, don’t run it unless it is totally full. If you wash by hand, do not let water run freely unless into a stopped sink.

Continue reading at AOL’s Rented Spaces.

More great tips from SG2020 member Gena Adams:

I’ll add a few more:

• Plant a bee and/or butterfly garden to assist natural pollinators
• Add wildflowers to your yard to retain native species
• Plant native plants since they use less water
• Reduce the overall size of your lawn
• Get your yard Wildlife Habitat Certified

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• Reap the tomato you sow, even in a condo (nationalpost.com)

More practical tips for the home from SG2020 member Gena Adams:

Bedrooms

• Consider purchasing a wool mattress.  New mattresses often have high levels of VOC’s. Do you want to breathe that in every night?
• Install ceiling fans to help keep you cool at night.
• Use soy candles over traditional petroleum based candles.

Laundry Room

• Wash clothes in cold water (this will cut down your electric bill).
• Purchase laundry detergents that are plant based, biodegradable and concentrated.
• Line dry your clothes.

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• 4 Easy Steps for DIY Laundry Detergent (suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com)

What are your favorite environmental tips for the home? Please share in the comments section. Here are ore earth-friendly home tips for your living room and bathroom from SG2020 member Gena Adams:

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• Taking a More Sustainable Shower (takepart.com) -> check out the video!
• The H2Orb Flushes Your Leaky Toilet Troubles Away (treehugger.com)

Kudos to the Stonewall Jackson Hotel! The hotel recently debuted its rooftop garden in our historic downtown. The hotel minimizes stormwater runoff while also saving nearly 20 gallons of water a day from this project. Added bonus? The garden provides locally-grown food for guests! Click here to download a pdf providing more information.

Says an article from NBC Channel 29:

“The initiative is designed to be a low-cost, high quality alternative to trucking in produce from out of town.

Hamilton says he plans to have much of what he’s growing go from the garden to the dinner table quickly, “Super fresh, it won’t get any fresher–as a matter of fact in some instances it will be just minutes before, between the time the product is picked and actually served.”

The rooftop garden uses water from the hotel’s air conditioning unit to care for the vegetables.”

Show your appreciation for Stonewall Jackson Hotel’s green roof efforts by recommending the hotel to visiting friends and family.

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!