Nut Foraging Tutorial: Acornucopia Project

Brainstorming workshops on the next steps we can take to develop a new culture of small regional nut processing facilities together. The concluding workshop of the conference is free and open to the public. Bill Whipple and friends will help foragers develop a hands-on understanding of how to identify trees; select, sort and store nuts; and exchange them at their local depot. Please dress appropriately for the outdoors. This event is brought to you by the Blacksburg Tree Co-op, the Catawba Sustainability Center, and the Acornucopia project. Sign up for the full weekend of additional events here.

Time: 1-2:30 p.m.

Location/Directions: VT Campus (TBD) As we get closer to the date check here for an exact location of the foray

Additional Information: www.acornucopiaproject.com/quaker-oaks

Community Garden Tour and Food Tasting - rescheduled for Oct. 7

Visit the Hale YMCA Community Garden for an opportunity to learn about gardening, visit the Roper Solar Greenhouse, and see a solar array in action. Taste some of the bounty from the garden and visit with gardeners from all over the world.  See individual garden plots, hear from Master Gardeners and the Beekeeping Association and a learn about the community food forest garden. Help us celebrate 10 years of success in the Roper Solar Greenhouse.  After the scheduled event, join the gardeners for a potluck dinner – bring a dish to share along with your own plate and fork. Contact Jenny Schwanke at jenny@vtymca.org for more information.

Time: 4-6 p.m. (potluck from 6-8 p.m.)

Location/Directions: Hale-YMCA Community Garden (end of Maywood Street, off North Main Street)

Additional Information: vtymca.org

Kids’ Activities Passport

We believe that children are our future! This year for Sustainability Week we are offering a passport to all the activities that are kid/family friendly. Kids who participate in at least four Sustainability Week activities (initialed by parent/teacher) will receive a special prize! Download and print the passport

Times: At least one kid/family friendly event is being offered each day of Sustainability Week – see event descriptions below and look for *kid/family friendly to find all the fantastic events you and your kiddos could attend!

Location: Multiple locations – download and print the passport

Additional Information: Passports can be picked up at the SEEDS Office/Price House Nature Center at 107 Wharton Street SE, the YMCA Thrift Store at 1000 N. Main St., or Imaginations Toy and Furniture at 1531 S. Main St, Blacksburg, VA 24060 or the Blacksburg Library at 200 Miller St. If you would like the passport emailed to you, please contact sustainability@blacksburg.gov. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent at all Sustainability Week events. Prizes for completed passports can be collected at any of the places where passports were distributed, or at the Town of Blacksburg Sustainability Office at 141 Jackson St.

Caught Green Handed

Do you see people on campus or around town using reusable bags, biking to work, or filling a reusable water bottle, or doing something else green? Help us catch these people “green handed.” This campaign looks to spread awareness and give a tangible “attagirl” or “attaboy” to folks who take that extra step to make green choices in their everyday lives. CGH Ambassadors will be given a set of Caught Green Handed stickers and over the course of the week, they will keep their eyes peeled so they can “catch” people doing something green. We also ask our CGH Ambassadors to help spread the message by posting pics of themselves with their “catchee” to our social media campaign #CaughtGreenHanded. (with permission of course). *kid/family friendly (kids can be CGH Ambassadors as long as they are working with a parent/adult)

Time: All week

Location: Anywhere someone can be caught!

Additional Information: We need 20 volunteers to be Caught Green Handed Ambassadors – if you are interested, please visit our Volunteer SignUp Page, or contact skarlee3@vt.edu (if you are a VT student) or sustainability@blacksburg.gov (if you are a community member).

Wands for Wildlife

Recycle a save wild lives! Old mascara wands are perfect for removing parasites and debris from the fur and feathers of sick and injured animals brought to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge Center. We’ll be putting out collection boxes in key places on campus and around the community during Sustainability Week (September) and will collect them during Earth Week (April). Please wash off residual mascara in warm soapy water before placing them in the collection boxes.

Time:  All week

Additional Information: Appalachian Wildlife Refuge Wands for Wildlife Program

The Last Plastic Straw Campaign

Did you know 500 million straws are used and discarded every day in the United States alone? Single-use plastics like straws are used for an average of 12 minutes, yet last for hundreds (if not thousands) of years! During Sustainability Week, we are looking for community volunteers to encourage local restaurants to provide a straw only when a customer requests one. Volunteers will be given an outreach packet complete with promotional materials that restaurants can use to highlight their new earth- and wildlife-friendly practice. This is a great project for families and students alike – if you would like help, please email Jennifer Jen: jenniferhjen@gmail.com

Time: All week

Additional Information: The Last Plastic Straw