green news NEWSLETTER OF GREEN DECADE / NEWTON

VOL.24 - NO. 5 SEPT/OCT 2014

Over 24 Years of Environmental Leadership 1990 - 2014

Soil health and climate change workshopSept. 1 Labor Day – 10:00am-4:00pm at Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton St, Newton Centre The Northeast Organic Farming Association/Mass welcomes Dr. Christine Jones, an Australian soil biologist, researcher and international educator about carbon sequestration in the soil. Dr. Jones has this to say in her essay “Farming for the Future”: “There is much that can be done ‘on the farm’ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and nitrogen, increase soil water-holding capacity and change the climate--rather than being changed by it.” Come to this day-long workshop to learn with us and ask Dr. Jones your questions about soil carbon sequestration and how the soils we depend on can be a climate change solution. More articles and resources from Dr. Jones can be found at www.amazingcarbon.com. More info and required registration: www.nofamass.org/events/type/farming

Join our Food Day celebrationon October 24 ! This is is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies. This year Massachusetts is focusing on nutritional education, food justice, and highlighting partnerships with local farmers. In 2013 Massachusetts was #2 in the country with 640 Food Day activities! This year’s themes are focused on nutritional education, food justice, and highlighting partnerships with a local farmer. Register to attend a pot luck vegan dinner celebration with Green Decade Board members at info@greendecade.orgCheck for details on our web site in mid-September.

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Graphic Designer needed Green Decade is looking for graphic design assistance for our bi-monthly newsletter. If you or someone you know is proficient at using the InDesign software program and would like to volunteer to assist Green Decade in this way, every other month for approximately 12 hours, please contact info@greendecade.org

Tuesday, October 21 at 7pm“Wild Plants I Have Known and Eaten” with Russ Cohen

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The area in and around Newton is home to over 70 species of edible wild plants, some of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts, and at least a dozen species of edible mushrooms. Join expert forager Russ Cohen for an illustrated talk that will cover over 40 of the tastiest species the region has to offer—from

At the Newton Free Library 330 Homer St, Newton

Thursday, Sept 18 at 7pm

plants everyone knows like daisies and dandelions, to plants many have never have even heard of like calamus and carrion flower. Learn about local mushroom species including morels in the spring, black chanterelles in the summer and hen of the woods mushrooms in the fall. Russ, author of “Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten,” will present information on identification tips, edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, along with general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging. Russ will also bring foraged goodies for people to taste. Cosponsored by Green Decade/Newton and the Newton Conservators.

Over the past six years ecologist, photographer, and natural history educator, Brooks Mathewson, has been working on three photographic projects:

studying the neotropical migratory songbirds that pass through eastern Massachusetts during the spring and fall, the shorebirds and wading birds of a salt pond and barrier beach in southern Rhode Island, and the flora and fauna of the woodlands and freshwater wetlands of Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts. Brooks will present his photography, share the stories behind how he produced some of his favorite images and also relate the fascinating natural history of his subjects.

“Warblers, Waders, and Woodlands” Photo Presentation by Brooks Mathewson

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For the next newsletter, please send submissions by e-mail to Ira Krepchin, irapk@alum.mit.edu, by Mon, Sept 29, 2014. Thanks for making this newsletter possible to Managing Editor Ira Krepchin, Editor Peter Smith and article authors. Many thanks to our mailing volunteers.

Thanks ! and next newsletter deadlinePlease visit and “Like” Green Decade/Newton’s Facebook page at :https://www.facebook.com/greendecadenewton . . . .and then pass it on to your friends.

Helen Caldicott: Facing our nuclear responsibilitiesSept. 20-Saturday, 2-4pm at Newton City Hall War Memorial Auditorium. Newton Dialogues on Peace and War invites you to this important event in honor of the International Day of Peace. Dr. Helen Caldicott, the featured speaker, is a renowned activist and author of “The New Nuclear Danger” and “Nuclear Power is Not the Answer” – as well as a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of the Nobel Peace prize-winning organization Physicians for Social Responsibility. As a former Newton resident, she founded WAND (Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament). Dr. Caldicott will be speaking about: the imminent threat of nuclear war, particularly with the current state of events in Ukraine; the impact that artificial intelligence contributes to the risk of nuclear war; the past near misses of nuclear war; and Fukushima and how nuclear power plants like Pilgrim pose a grave health threat.Distinguished panelists will discuss the status of international treaties, our nuclear arsenal and its costs, nuclear power and our environment. Panelist: Guntram Mueller, Board Chairman, Mass. Peace Action: Nuclear arsenals, their costs; status of Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Panelist: Diane Turco, co-founder of Cape Downwinders: Nuclear power: waste fuel issue, the environment, status of Pilgrim Plant Moderator: Beverly Droz, Past National President, WAND. Newton is a Mayors for Peace City. Co-Sponsors: (to date) 20/20 Action, Arlington United for Peace & Justice, Cape Codders for Peace & Justice, Cape Downwinders, Coalition for a Strong United Nations, Green Decade/Newton, Mass Peace Action, Newton Dialogues for Peace and War, On Behalf of Planet Earth, Veterans for Peace/ Smedley D. Butler Brigade, Women’s Action for New Directions, Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom

Ask Green News: meat trays? Did you know . . . that you can recycle your foam meat trays (if they have the recycle triangle on the bottom with a number 6 inside)? You have to rinse, take off the wrapper and take them to the styrofoam bin at the Recycling Depot at 115 Rumford Ave. So save them up for a while and when you are at Rumford to pick up your free compost drop them off and reduce the amount you throw in the blue trash bin!

Walk the recycle walk…or bike Green Decade and Newton’s Dept. of Public Works continue to seek volunteers to place “recycling education stickers” onto residential green bins. The “Recycle Sticker Project” reminds everyone of what may or may not be placed in our green bins. Funding for printing the stickers was provided by Green Decade, Whole Foods Markets Newton and Waste Management with a goal to raise awareness about recycling…not only to benefit our environment, but to also reap substantial financial savings on the cost of disposing the City’s trash. So far, more than 15,000 bins have been labeled by our wonderful team of volunteers. If you want to help increase participation in Newton’s recycling program and enjoy taking early morning walks or riding your bike, please contact Green Decade’s recycling committee at info@greendecade.org.

Vote YES on Question 2 We need to prevent litter and keep our state clean. This November, a YES vote on Question 2 will help to do just that by finally updating a 30-year-old (1982 “Bottle Bill”) law to include five cent deposits on water bottles and sports drinks. Please vote YES on 2 to update the law and reduce the water bottle and sports drinks litter that turn our streets, waterways and parks into an eyesore. There is strong support for YES on 2 from the public, from Governor Deval Patrick and former Governor Mitt Romney, from over 200 cities and towns and 400 businesses who have endorsed a YES on 2. Currently, 80% of bottles with a deposit on them are recycled, while less than 23% of containers without a deposit are recycled. The updated Bottle Bill will save our cities and towns about $6.7 million a year—or an average of $1 per person living in our state-- in litter pick up and trash disposal costs. It also will mean less waste will go into landfills and incinerators. Saving money for our communities is a common sense action that helps everyone. Please remember to Vote YES on Question 2 on November 4th. by Clare Kelly

Supporting the Bottle Bill Green Decade has exceeded our pledge to collect more than 200 bottle bill signatures! Over 300 from Newton and 42 from surrounding communities. Many thanks to everyone who collected signatures. Now we all have to tell our neighbors and friends to vote “YES!” in November for the binding law ! See next article below.

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T-Shirts (youth sizes only) with the Energy Smart Newton logo imprinted on the front are available for sale from Green Decade at $20 per organic cotton shirt. To place your order: info@greendecade.org

A Community Partnership

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Dirty Boys Composting Newton South High Students Grant Berman and Max MacKenzie recently started an eco-business, Dirty Boys Composting, to help increase the composting rate in Newton. Friends for many years, they came up with the idea after brainstorming what business they could start that would not only pay them to work outdoors over the summer, but enable them to give back and have an impact on where they’ve been. Their business model includes the delivery of the composting bin, installation, education, their own red wiggle worms, and follow-up with customers until the customers graduate. Things are going well so far in this initial “concept year” with plans to gear up over the winter for expansion next summer. Through trial and error the team has learned what works and what doesn’t in a compost pile. This knowledge allows them to make it as easy as possible for people to compost. If done properly, a compost pile does not smell, nor does it attract animals. Customers have been happy with results. It generally takes 8-10 weeks for usable compost to form. The benefits to composting are two-fold. First, the customer enjoys compost as a soil enhancer around gardens and lawns. Second, there is an environmental benefit in that food scraps no longer take up land-fill space or clog our drain pipes and use electricity for disposals. For more information on their services, contact Grant or Max at: http://www.dirtyboyscomposting.com/#home

Composting Tip from Dirty Boys: It is important not to place any dairy or meat products in a compost pile.

Tuesdays with Green Decade This past summer, we had the opportunity to spend five Tuesdays at Green Decade’s booth at the Newton Farmers Market to help out as student interns. The booth has some popular attractions, especially for children. For example there are two types of funky looking caterpillars. The Cecropia Moth caterpillar has been compared to the bristles of a colorful brush. The Tomato Hornworm resembles a green leaf and is very well camouflaged. These two little creatures brought a steady stream of visitors to our booth. We were interested to learn about the life cycle of the caterpillars and it was fun to educate kids about the changes caterpillars undergo in their life. We also shared information about how to improve the environment by offering printed articles on a range of topics, such as organic lawn care and composting at home. We talked about the “Recycle Your Corks” project, which allows us to collect the corks from wine bottles and eventually give them to Whole Foods Market. In addition, we had ideas that led to new activities that drew more attention to the booth. A game, which we named “Cork-Toss Challenge,” and some fun magic tricks, encouraged kids to stop and take a look, allowing time for their parents to browse through the available information on our table. On occasion, other animals such as pet rabbits and dogs would come to visit. The Farmers Market is a vivacious place to be on Tuesday afternoons, and we will continue to visit even after our internship ends! by Marisa Ng and Zhe Wu

Removing invasive weeds from the Charles

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) now has $350,000 in its FY2015 budget for removal and continuing control of invasive aquatic species in the Charles. Green Decade Newton is most appreciative of the outstanding efforts made by Massachusetts State Representative Kay Khan to secure this funding. The money will help the City of Newton to fight this expansive infestation in the Charles River Lakes District. It will help to pay for large-scale mechanical “harvesting” to remove water chestnuts and other invasive weeds that have long plagued the District, a section of river bordered by Waltham, Weston and Newton. These invasive plants can alter water chemistry and make it uninhabitable for fish and other aquatic life.

Left to right: Melissa Sullivan, Roz Aronow, Marisa Ng, and Zhe Wu at Green Decade/Newton’s tent at Farmers Market with visiting rabbit.

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Join Students for A Greener World

Students for A Greener World (SGW) is Green Decade/Newton’s (GDN) student committee, with volunteers from middle schools and high schools. We help GDN reach out to kids of all ages to help them learn and practice environmentally-friendly actions at home, school, wherever -- and have fun doing it. We are kids teaching kids about the environment! Our projects and activities to make Newton greener go all over town—to schools, special events, workshops, the library, NewtonSERVES, the Farmers Market and more! SGW meets once a month during the school year and presents an annual spring program for the Greening Our Community series at the Newton Free Library. Check out some of our events and photos at greendecade.org/sgw—you may even see someone you know! Our next meeting will be Monday, September 8 at 5:30pm. Visit us at the Farmers Market on Tuesdays at Cold Spring Park or Saturdays on Elm Street in West Newton. You can also contact us at sgw@greendecade.org or 617-965-1995 to find out more! by Margaret Ford

Newton’s recycling rate: room for growth Newton’s curbside recycling rate currently sits at 50.4 percent. The rate is defined as: (total weight of recyclables collected in the green carts + yard waste)/(total weight of blue carts + green carts + yard waste). The citywide overall recycling rate is a bit higher, 54%, because it also includes recyclables not picked up curbside, such as scrap metal, rigid plastics, appliances and electronics, and yard waste dropped off at the Rumford Avenue recycling center.. We can do better. There are still recyclables being thrown in the trash – both at home and in City squares and parks. We could very dramatically increase the rate of curbside recycling rate if everyone pitches in! At the curb, we can also strive to increase our recycling rate by wasting less, reusing more, and recycling all you can! Compost food scraps, donate/recycle ALL textiles, reduce packaging (buy in bulk – don’t use single serve or disposable products), recycle all plastic bottles (don’t forget the ones from your bathroom), junk mail, cereal boxes and cardboard. Here’s a summary of what can be placed loosely in the green cart (remember, no plastic bags!): • cardboard and paperboard (cereal, shoe boxes, etc.) • newspapers, magazines, phone books, junk mail (envelopes OK) • all office paper (staples, paper clips OK) • all plastic bottles, leave caps on, “check for the neck” • plastic food tubs (yogurt, cottage cheese) • glass containers (all colors) • aluminum pie plates, trays, and foil • metal cans (steel, tin, aluminum)• beverage containers, drink boxes, milk/juice cartons• empty aerosol cans by Marcia Cooper

(L-R) Kneeling: Isabel Snyder and Niki Yeracaris Standing: Caleb Abercrombie, Alison Costello, Taylor Yeracaris, Dani Davidoff, Michael Costello, Roz Aronow, Audrey Kissin (on Eeyore)

Volunteer at Farmers Market Green Decade welcomes volunteers of all ages at our Newton Farmers Market booth, for even just an hour or two on an occasional basis. In addition to providing information on environmental topics, we’ve got the best live entertainment, a colorful group of live caterpillars… and the ever popular Magic Energy Bike. Until the last week in October, Farmers Markets are Tuesdays, 1:30-6pm in Cold Spring Park on Beacon Street, and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm on Elm Street in West Newton. To volunteer, contact info@greendecade.org or call 617-965-1995. BikeNewton will again offer FREE VALET BICYCLE PARKING at the Tuesday Farmers Market at Cold Spring Park on Beacon Street. Anyone who bikes to the market can leave their bike with us at the park entrance. If you can spare an hour (or more!) to help host our tent, please email: bikenewton@gmail.com. Pick your time to help us out.

Thank you to our over 400 members!Please RENEW your Green Decade membership! www.greendecade.org/join

September 23 – Green DecadeSchool Outreach meeting Did you know that Green Decade’s School Outreach Committee works to share project ideas about energy, conservation and environmental concerns with each school community in the City? Meetings are scheduled during the school year in members’ homes to share successful green projects and best practice ideas. If you are interested in learning more about how to participate or to RSVP to attend the next School Outreach Committee meeting on September 23, please contact Eric Bobby at ericbobby@hotmail.com

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Eco-friendly goodsSave 5% when you purchase well-designed, eco-friendly clothing, self-care products, jewelry and gifts at UplandRoad.com, and Upland Road will donate 10% of your purchase value to Green Decade/Newton! Use code GDN510 when you check out. Upland Road was started by Green Decade board member Mindy Sieber, with the goal of helping the environment by making it easier to buy quality, eco-friendly goods. This discount/donation is valid through February 14, 2014.

Two programs promoting and installing solar panels on Newton homes have been completed and a third is set to start this fall. Although the latest program fell short of its goals, the lessons learned should help the new program. And, we have already installed close to 400 kW of solar energy on homes in the city. As of July 1, the city’s residential solar program, Solar Smart Newton came to an end. This program was a partnership among the Newton Eco-project, the city’s Energy Smart initiative and Solarflair, the vendor. It offered discounts to Newton homeowners who installed solar panels through the program. The five month initiative was modeled after Solarize Mass, sponsored by the Clean Energy Center, part of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. Newton participated in the Solarize program in 2013 and installed over 300 kW of electrical power on 64 homes. The Solar Smart program installed 80 kW on 13 homes. The program is currently working with Lasell College and Lasell Village to bring the program total over 100 kW. While contributing to the continuing effort to reduce our city’s carbon emissions and making Newton a more sustainable community, the results of the Solar Smart program were disappointing. We attribute the lower than expected participation in the program to a number of factors. The most important of these was the inability to distinguish the city’s program from all the rest of the solar panel company offerings out there. Currently there is so much ‘noise’ around residential solar that it is very

Amazon dams: clean power or environmental destruction? There is a growing concern among environmentalists about the construction of the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil’s Amazon. This dam has been the subject of much debate and controversy both within Brazil and in the environmental community as a whole, with Belo Monte protests occurring from Paris to Australia to Sao Paulo. The mega-dam strikes at the heart of the Amazon, degrades the rainforest, affects the native tribes living in the area, and is the leader for the wave of 100+ dams planned in the Amazon. With such strong opposition, the dam has seen long delays and construction is continuing a year behind schedule. The Amazon Rainforest plays a major role in creating our rainfall and climate, even here in Massachusetts, so there is a movement afoot to mobilize to preserve our water and climate. Buying coffee and other goods outside Brazil is one good way to take action on Belo Monte and the dams. Visit Wildxingu.tumblr.com to read more about the Belo Monte Dam. by Willie O’Laughlin

What’s the Difference: Green News vs. E-Bulletin? Green Decade/Newton volunteers hear this question all the time! So here’s the answer — and you can get both or either one, as you wish. Green News: Our newsletter since 1990, printed bi-monthly, mailed to members only, either by snail-mail or on-line. Articles are in-depth, and photos are included in both versions. GD/N’s Monthly E-Bulletin: A brief summary of upcoming events -- Green Decade’s and other organizations’ -- including some, that may not be in the Green News. E-mailed at the beginning of each month to subscribers who sign up on-line or at our resource table at events. Available to members and non-members, who may unsubscribe at any time. Current and previous issues of the Green News and the Monthly E-Bulletin can be viewed at www.greendecade.org in our Communications & News section. Happy reading! by Margaret Ford

More solar opportunities for Newton homesdifficult for homeowners to make sense of it all. With salesmen at Home Depot, cold calls in the evenings, radio and television spots offering an array of solar panel products and financing options, the public is left a bit overwhelmed. Another issue is Newton’s physical constraints. The fact is that Newton is an older residential community with large trees and older homes that don’t provide the roof exposure conducive to good solar installations. We believe only 10-15% of the homes in Newton are ‘solar-ready’ with the orientation and unobstructed roof area needed. However with a housing stock of over 30,000 single-family homes and only around 250 homes utilizing solar panels, we have abundant opportunity for improvement. We are not done. Green Decade’s Eco-project is working with Rob Garrity, the city’s Director of Sustainability, to continue to promote residential solar panels in our city. At this point the program is envisioned to offer a number of different vetted vendors that install residential solar. We are also looking into a ‘community solar’ component where residents who cannot install panels on their own homes can benefit from electricity produced from a remote solar array from another location in the city. The goal is to provide Newton homeowners unbiased information and an array of options for solar panel installations. We hope to roll out the program by mid-October. Anyone interested in participating in the program development should contact Jay Walter at Entasis@rcn.com by Jay Walter

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DO try this at home! Although Dan Ruben, Green Decade Board Chair, lives in house that looks much like his neighbors, his house is in fact way more energy efficient than most other houses in Newton. During our summer internship with Green Decade, we had the opportunity to visit Dan’s house and listen to his presentation called “How to Cut Your Carbon Footprint by 85% and be Happier than Ever.” Dan has saved energy and money on his bills by transforming his home into an impressively energy-efficient place. Dan showed us how he has saved as much as 80% energy without becoming too uncomfortable. He approaches his mission by cutting his heating, hot water, and electricity usage. To lower the energy use of home heating, he made his house air-tight, insulated, and monitored. He sealed up vents in the fireplace and elsewhere. Drafts from windows and doors are also eliminated by using weather strips. Energy efficient windows recently replaced his old windows, and energy efficient shades cover each one. The house is well insulated and sealed to reduce air flow between the inside and the outside walls. A programmable thermostat controls the temperature within the house. During the winter months, the temperature is set at 60 degrees during the day and around 52 degrees at the night, though there is flexibility on those numbers when guests come to visit. He forgoes air-conditioning during the summer and uses a fan when necessary. “As long as I am comfortable”, he says, “there is no need for me to use unnecessary energy.” Dan uses little hot water and the boiler is mostly turned on when showering and dishwashing. The house uses energy-efficient appliances and electronic equipment, as well as fluorescent and LED light bulbs. Lights and appliances are turned off when not in use, and a power strip cuts down “phantom” energy loss. He also lets his clothes air-dry instead of using a clothes dryer. It will take Dan about four years to pay back his investment. By reducing his energy use, he has significantly reduced his carbon footprint, as well as the cost of his bills. He often asks the question “What is crazy? Wearing many layers in the winter or allowing the world to suffer the consequences of climate change?” by Zhe Wu and Marisa Ng

Dan Ruben (left) stands with Green Decade interns Zhe Wu and Marisa Ng outside his very energy efficient house in Newton. Read below about how he does it.

The People’s Climate March Sept. 21 in New York City This march is shaping up to be the biggest mass mobilization the climate movement has ever seen. Over 600 organizations are pitching in to organize it, from local labor unions to environmental justice groups to international NGOs. Round trip charter buses are going from Boston (one day or two day round trips -wwwbetterfutureproject.org/buses-to-nyc/ World leaders are coming to New York City for a UN summit on the climate crisis. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global warming pollution. Organizers plan to take a stand for a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities. For more information visit: http://peoplesclimate.org/march/

Join Green Decade’s new Water Resources Committee Green Decade’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the formation of a new Program Committee for Water Resources that will focus on Newton’s storm-water issues. Myron Rosenberg, a member of Green Decade’s Board, and an expert in water management, has agreed to chair the committee. Initially, because Newton’s water supply and wastewater infrastructure is well-managed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), Green Decade’s new committee will, most likely, devote its attention to what is called non-point-sources of pollution found in urban storm-water runoff. Storm water is collected and discharged to surface water bodies in pipes separate from wastewater (which flows through sewers to an MWRA treatment plant). The City of Newton is responsible for the quality and quantity of these storm-water discharges and is obligated to obtain state/federal discharge permits under the Clean Water Act. Minimum control measures, required by permit, most often rely on community education aimed at pet control and street cleanliness. Technical data and information on the effectiveness of these measures is lacking. This is where Green Decade may be best able to help. Dr. Rosenberg and others from Green Decade’s Board will meet with City officials in the near future and determine precisely where/how we might focus our efforts. Soon after these meetings, the new Water Resources Committee will meet. If you are interested in learning more or joining the committee, please contact Myron Rosenberg directly by email at rosenberg.myron@gmail.com. by Myron Rosenberg

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Rake up the gold! Your garden is a model of organic sustainability. You keep a sweet-smelling compost bin. Maybe you collect and use rainwater. Next step—instead of raking and bagging all of those autumn leaves for city pick-up, why not turn them into some of the best mulch you’ll ever use? A few inches of leaf mulch on your flower and/or vegetable garden will keep weed growth down and provide organic nutrients to the soil. It’s lighter in weight than bark mulch, helps the soil retain moisture and, properly composted, does not have that sharp “mulchy” odor. And, leaf mulch breaks down faster than bark mulch, creating a wonderful, dark soil full of microbes and earthworms. Depending on how fancy you want to be, you can rake all of your leaves into a corner of the yard and leave them. Or you can make or buy cage-like leaf bins to keep everything in one place. The most important thing is allowing the decaying leaves plenty of aeration and moisture in the form of rain and snow. I’ve found that turning the pile every so often helps the process and some people shred the leaves before composting. In 8-12 months, your compost will be ready to spread. So plant bulbs, put out the birdfeeders, find a good spot to compost all those leaves and settle in for a long winter of planning for next year’s garden! by Anna Zeusler

EPA’s Back-to-School Tips Students, parents, and teachers can all make a difference in reducing waste at school. By practicing the “3 Rs” of waste reduction-reduce, reuse, and recycle. Before starting the new school year, sort through your old materials. Many of last year’s supplies can be reused or recycled. Make a list before you shop for school supplies, it will help you remember what you wanted to purchase and limit impulse buying. Buy smart! Purchase and use a wide assortment of supplies made from recycled products, such as pencils made from old blue jeans; binders made from old shipping boxes. Many types of recycled paper products contain a percentage of Post-Consumer Waste (PCW). You can also reuse items like refillable pens, rechargeable batteries, and scrap paper for notes. Recycle unwanted papers and reuse your old folders and binders. Paper that had only one side written on it can be reused; you can cut it up and re-staple it to make a notebook. Buy used goods from resale shops. This is an inexpensive way to get assorted merchandise, and retro fashions are always coming back into style. Waste from packaging accounts for more than 30% of all the waste generated each year. Use school supplies wrapped with minimal packaging; use compact or concentrated products; or buy products that come in bulk sizes. Save packaging, colored paper, egg cartons, and other items for arts and crafts projects. Look for other ways you can reduce the amount of packaging you throw away and recycle! Cover your textbooks with cut-up grocery or shopping bags helps reduce waste and keeps your books in good condition. Be creative - use markers or colored pencils to give your covers unique and fun designs. Paper grocery bags and newspaper are also great for wrapping packages. Use nontoxic products, inks and art supplies, such as vegetable-based inks, white tape instead of whiteout, and water-based paints, and batteries with less mercury.If you bring your lunch to school, package it in reusable containers and carry them in a reusable plastic or cloth bag, or lunch box. Bring drinks in a thermos or water bottle instead of disposable bottles or cartons. Make a commitment to walk, bike or take public transportation to school. Tell the managers at your favorite stores that you and your friends are interested in seeing more green items on the shelves. Tell your teachers you want to have a time dedicated to learning more about what you and your fellow classmates can do for the environment. For more tips visit: http://www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/funfacts/school3.htm

Farm stand open at Newton Community Farm Looking for fresh, locally-grown produce? Then shop at Newton Community Farm’s on-site farm stand on Winchester Street on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1 pm. The farm stand is also open Tuesday through Friday from 1:30 to 6 pm. Newton Community Farm is selling our crop of greens and other veggies grown at the Farm! Newton Community Farm is located at the corner of Winchester Street and Nahanton Street. The Farm accepts cash, checks, Master Card, and Visa.

Vote No on Question 1 This November 4th, Mass residents will be voting on a statewide ballot question that would eliminate indexing the gas tax to inflation. Question 1 would eliminate a law that links the state gas tax to inflation. This transportation funding from gas tax indexing is constitutionally protected for transportation. Passage of Question 1 would be a step backwards. It would cause our roads, bridges, public transportation, bikeways and sidewalks to fall into further disrepair, while increasing the significant public safety crisis we face. It would hurt our economic competitiveness, and threaten the gains we’ve made towards a sustainable, healthy, and equitable transportation system. To help defeat Question 1: 1. Tell your friends and family to vote No on Question 1 2. Sign up for updates. Visit saferoadsbridges.com

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617 965-1995 e-mail: info@greendecade.org www.greendecade.org

Printed with soy-based ink on 100% post-consumer waste unbleached recycled paper that is made without a chemical separation process.

Please join/renewonline at www.greendecade.org/join

Green Decade is proud of its 24 year history and our organization’s efforts to help residences, businesses and public facilities become more sustainable. You may also send a $25 payment for a basic membership to Green Decade/Newton, P.O. Box 590242, Newton, MA 02459

Board of Directors Advisory Board Jessica Avery, RecyclingJohn Bates, at largeAnn Berwick, at largeEric Bobby, School OutreachJack Cheng, TransportationMarcia Cooper, PresidentSharon Cushing, TreasurerMichele Davis, Recycling Lucia Dolan, Clerk, TransportationPaul Eldrenkamp, at largePaul Holt, at largeSunwoo Kahng Ira Krepchin, Newsletter Lois Levin, TransportationKen Mallory, Library SpeakersEric Olson, at largeJim Purdy, Vice Pres, EnergyMyron Rosenberg, Development Dan Ruben, Chairperson Mindy Sieber, MembershipPeter Smith, Newsletter; Chamber

Karen AlbertAna Zarina Asuaje Solon, Louise Bruyn, Past Pres.Sheila Clawson David & Elva Del Porto Bev Droz, Past PresidentDianne Dumanoski Kevin Dutt Katherine GekasBonnie Glickman,EcoTeamsEllie Goldberg, New TVFred Gordon, MCAN Bd.Barbara Herson, Past Pres.Francoise LaMonica Brooke LipsittJean MacRae Matt PawaAnnabelle Ship Rohna Shoul Heather TausigMaeve Ward

continuous entertainment, food and games for the kids. Get tips on how to live a “green” life style. See exhibitors with green products, services and ideas. See how far electric cars can take you before you have to switch to gasoline. See the advanced Tesla electric car. Find out how you can convert to solar electricity and reduce your electric bills without spending thousands. Have a green lawn all summer without watering and only cut once a month. This year’s EXPO will include games and activities for kids. Solar Flair Energy, Inc. is the first sponsor to sign up for this year’s EXPO. Solar Flair is a Mass. based company that was selected for the Solarize Mass Newton program by the City. Look for more of Green Solutions EXPO on www.greendecade.org

At Newton Centre with Newton’s Harvest Fair Sunday, October 19 -10:30am-4:30pm

This year’s Newton/Needham Chamber of Commerce Green Solutions EXPO showcases solutions you can use to reduce your carbon footprint. We will have over 50 exhibitors in one area. Come enjoy the Newton Harvest Fair which also features

Green Solutions EXPO

A big hit at the 2013 Green Solutions EXPO was Newton resident Steve Loar’s innovativre single passenger solar/pedal, lithium battery powered hybrid “ELF” vehicle manufactured by Organic Transit. Steve at far left, stands proudly behind his vehicle, while Green Decade’s winner of the 2014 Individual Environmental Leadership Award, Prof. Nathan Phillips and his son look through the open door.

Volunteers needed to rake leaves Newton at Home is a non-profit organization that works with older adults in Newton to enable them to remain living at home for as long as possible. Volunteers of all ages are needed for two hours of time - on a weekday or weekend - to rake leaves at a member’s home. Rakes, bags and work gloves will be provided. Contact 617-795-2560 or volcoord@newtonathome.org.

We’re looking for quiet landscapers . . shhh If you know of any landscapers that rake, instead of using leaf blowers, please contact info@greendecade.orgWe are making a list of landscapers who don’t use gas powered leaf blowers or mowers, both of which have worse emissions and pollution than cars.

Please suggest that your friends join usas we celebrate our 25th year in 2015 !