Sustainable Resistance: Pipelines and Beyond

Join us for three short presentations and a conversation on civil resistance with a focus on its effectiveness in opposing the construction of the Mountain Valley fracked gas pipeline. Dr. Marian Mollin, Associate Professor of History at Virginia Tech, will provide lessons learned from U.S. social movements. Russell Chisolm, co-chair of Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights, will share the role of citizen monitors in holding corporations and government agencies accountable.  Appalachian studies scholar Emily Satterwhite will highlight the role of nonviolent noncooperation and cross-regional solidarity. What successful resistance efforts are you involved in? How might they be even more effective? 

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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

Additional Information: Preserve Montgomery County, POWHR, Appalachians Against Pipelines

Urban Forestry & Invasive Species: Sawmill Demonstration & Film “Felled”

Learn about the valuable potential of products made from trees harvested in towns and cities. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that is killing ash trees in Blacksburg. Ash and other dead and dying trees that must be removed for safety reasons often contain unique characteristics that can make highly valuable and artistic products.  Come out and learn about the threat of EAB, tree species and characteristics, markets for urban wood products, watch an ash tree killed by EAB be sawn in lumber, and see the movie “Felled!”

This event is kid friendly and educational for all ages. Bring safety glasses and hearing protection if possible. Safety glasses and ear plugs will be available if you do not have any.

Time: 3-5:30 p.m.

Location/Directions: 725 Patrick Henry Dr., Blacksburg Community Center

Additional Information: Trees VA , Emerald Ash Borer, Managing Urban Forests

Homefield Farm Tour at Kentland Farm

The six-acre farm grows vegetables, fruits and herbs for Virginia Tech Dining Services, and serves as a site of experiential student learning, interdisciplinary research, and community outreach for the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. This event will include a tour of the production fields, mobile high tunnel, and packing shed, as well as a discussion around crop production, organic certification (which the farm is currently undergoing), student involvement, and the logistics of a sustainable small-scale university farm.

*kid/family friendly, but tour content will be geared towards adults.

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Location/Directions: 5250 Whitethorne Rd., Kentland Farm

Additional Information: dining.vt.edu/homefieldfarm

Blacksburg Bike Party 

Come join us for an evening social ride!  The Bike Party will get rolling from the Perry St. Garage lot, 1330 Perry St. on the ground level. Come hang, and bring a friend; pace will be easy and fun and we’ll provide the tunes! Bike Party Guidelines:

1. Stay to the right 

2. Stop at lights 

3. Ride straight 

4. Don’t hate 

5. Pack your trash 

6. Don’t get smashed (Respect yourself, respect Bike Party!). 

This is an evening ride, so a helmet and  lights are a must – the more lights the better.  Middle-school age and up (with parent along for the ride). Contact Jenn Million with any questions – jennmillion@gmail.com.

Time: 8 p.m.  

Location/Directions: VT Campus at Perry Street Parking Garage, ground level. Directions

Additional Information: Blacksburg Bike Party, Hokie Bike Hub

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