Indigenous Garden Tour

Eons before Europeans set foot in the Blue Ridge, Monacan people planted corn under a waxing moon when the dogwood blooms appeared. They added beans and squash, and the three sister plants grew strong together. Come tour the Indigenous Garden at Virginia Tech, where Native@VT people grow Indigenous organic and sustainable foods and medicines for us and for future generations. Come hear the story of how the Tutelo Strawberry Corn came to be grown here, and why traditional farming still works.

Time: Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Location/Directions: 615 Southgate Dr., VT Turf Grass Research Center (just east of Huckleberry Trail)

Additional Information: Native at VT

The Future of Campus Energy

Join Virginia Tech’s Office of Sustainability and Office of Energy Management for a discussion on VT’s current energy demands, management, and systems. Main topics include how we can look to the future to learn more about expansion, alternative energy, increasing demand, and using campus as a living laboratory.

Time: 3-4:30 p.m.

Location/Directions: Newman Library, Room 207, 560 Drillfield Dr

Additional Information: Office of Energy Management

Sustainability Skills Workshop: Practical Tips for Everyday Living

Learn real-world skills at this workshop toward living a more sustainable life. Learn about zero-waste living and the tools to get you there. Learn the new recycling rules and how to comply with them. DIY with some weatherizing tips and tricks for your home.  And of course a fun, sustainable food skills topic will be included.

Time: 5-7 p.m.

Location/Directions: 200 Miller St. SW, Blacksburg Library

Yoga at Hahn Horticulture Garden Pavilion 

Join the Blacksburg Yoga Collective at Hahn Horticulture for all-levels yoga flow. Practice is held outdoors on the large lawn near Washington Street. Bring your own mat; a limited supply is available for you to borrow. Parking is free after 5 p.m. Suggested donation $5-$10 a student to benefit Sustainable Blacksburg. Class will move inside the pavilion if it rains. Contact bburgyoga@gmail.com with any questions.

Time: 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Location/Directions: 200 Garden Ln., Hahn Horticulture Garden Pavilion

Additional Information: Blacksburg Yoga Collective. Donations benefit Sustainable Blacksburg

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