Tompkins County Environmental Management Council Thursday, February 13, 2020 4:00 PM

TCAT Conference Room, 737 Willow Ave, Ithaca

Agenda

1. Call to Order 4:00 2. Changes to agenda/approval of minutes (1/9/2020)3. Presentation: Freese Rd bridge update, David Weinstein 4:05 4. Privilege of the floor1 4:25 5. Discussion: What is the EMC’s role in commenting on issues or environmental review? 4:35

6. Committee reporting form and expanded agenda– Feedback and thoughts 4:45 7. Community listserv tracking, Cait Darfler 4:50 8. Member reports – City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Village of Freeville 4:55 9. Discussion: EMC environmental recognition awards? 5:05 10. Action: Approve Climate Adaptation Committee “Improve Soil, Create Rain Gardens,

Bioswales & Pollinator Habitat” for Home Gardeners brochure for printing services5:10

11. Action: Approve EMC as co-sponsor for April 4th Climate Wise Gardening Fair 5:20 12. Staff Report 5:25 13. Announcements 5:30 14. Adjourn 5:35

Agenda Packet

1. January draft minutes2. Monthly committee and municipal reports3. Community Events and Announcements4. Draft Climate Adaptation Committee Brochure5. Climate Wise Gardening Info

Reminder to members: If you are unable to attend, please contact Kristin McCarthy, Administrative Assistant at kmmccarthy@tompkins-co.org or 607-274-5560

Next meeting: March 12, 2020

1 Limit of three (3) minutes per person for members of the public to address the EMC

EMC Draft Minutes 1 January 9, 2020 4:00 p.m. 2

TCAT, 737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 3 Attendance 4

Member Seat Member Seat Anthony Arce P At-Large Amanda Champion P Legislative Liaison Andra Benson P Town of Lansing Susan Allen E Associate Member Steve Bissen P Town of Dryden Karen Edelstein A Associate Member Maureen Bolton P Town of Enfield Bill Evans A Associate Member Cait Darfler P Town of Ulysses Anna Kelles A Associate Member John Dennis P Village of Lansing Dooley Kiefer A Associate Member Brian Eden P Village of Cayuga Heights Dan Klein P Associate Member Pegi Ficken P Town of Groton Anne Klingensmith P Associate Member Michelle Henry P Town of Newfield Jose Lozano P Associate Member Katherine Herleman P At-Large Osamu Tsuda A Associate Member Vladimir Micic P Town of Ithaca David Weinstein P Associate Member Steve Nicholson P Town of Caroline Robert Wesley A Associate Member Susan Riley P At-Large Roger Yonkin A Associate Member Tom Shelley P City of Ithaca Darby Kiley P EMC Coordinator Ron Szymanski P Village of Freeville Kristin McCarthy P Planning Staff Regi Teasley P At-Large

Guests – Maureen Reynolds, Sara Hess, Deb Dawson, Mike Merchant, George Adams, Joey 5 Gates 6

Call to Order – Chair Tom Shelley called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. New members 7 introduced themselves. 8 Oath of Office – County Clerk Maureen Reynolds administered the oath of office to new and 9 reappointed members. 10 Agenda Review/Changes – None 11 Privilege of the Floor – None 12

13 Presentation: Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility Projects: Jose Lozano 14 Associate member Jose Lozano gave a presentation on renewable energy/carbon negative 15 projects currently underway or being proposed at the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment 16 Facility. These projects involve such technologies as co-digestion, effluent thermal energy 17 recovery, and biochar production. The Q&A discussion covered various topics, including state 18 policy in regards to CO2 emissions off-sets (co-digestion, biochar production, and effluent 19 energy recovery may not quality currently), emerging contaminants and biochar, and the 20 possible effects of population growth. Tom encouraged Jose to reach out with recommendations 21 for how the EMC could further assist with advancing these projects. A PDF of his PowerPoint 22 can be found on the presentations page of the EMC website: 23 http://tompkinscountyny.gov/emc/documents/presentations. 24

25

Approval of December 2019 Draft Minutes – A motion was made by Pegi Ficken to approve 26 the draft Dec. 12th minutes. Anthony Arce seconded. Motion carried. Ron Szymanski abstained. 27

Action: Consider approval of “Evaluation of Options for the Potential Management of 28 County-owned Forests” Report – David Weinstein and Brian Eden 29 Brian Eden introduced David Weinstein, who was present to answer questions from EMC 30 members on the report on potential management options for forestland owned by Tompkins 31 County. The next steps are for the UNA Committee to review the list of responses to the public 32 comments received, as well as a supplementary report outlining possible actions the County 33 could take in regards to the 33 forest stands. David is open to receiving more comments and will 34 try his best to respond to them. Michelle Henry relayed that Town of Newfield Supervisor Mike 35 Allinger requested local municipalities be allowed to participate and add feedback before the 36 County takes action. Deborah Dawson thanked David and the UNA Committee for their 37 prodigious efforts and service to the County on this project. 38

39 Action: Brian Eden moved, and Cait Darfler seconded, approval of Resolution 2020-01 40 Recommending that the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC) 41 approves the submission of the Unique Natural Areas (UNA) Committee’s report on the 42 evaluation of options for the potential management of the Tompkins County-owned Forest 43 Lands to the Tompkins County Legislature’s Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality 44 (PEEQ) Committee. Motion carried, with 15 members (Arce, Benson, Bissen, Bolton, Darfler, 45 Dennis, Eden, Ficken, Herleman, Micic, Nicholson, Riley, Shelley, Szymanski, Teasley) voting 46 in favor, zero voting no, and one abstention (Henry). There was one minor punctuation edit. The 47 resolution appears in full below: 48

49 1. Whereas, the Tompkins County Legislature in 2019 approved a Five-year Update to the50

2015 Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan, and51 2. Whereas, an Action Item in the Update is as follows: County-Owned Forest Lands:52

Establish clear goals for managing County-owned Forest Lands and develop a plan of53 action for advancing those goals. [County Legislature, Environmental Management54 Council, Department of Planning and Sustainability], and55

3. Whereas, in December 2018 the Department of Planning and Sustainability submitted a56 proposal to conduct a sustainable forestry project on the County-owned forest lands in57 Newfield, and58

4. Whereas, the Planning, Development, and Environment Quality (PDEQ) Committee59 supported the issuance of bids to undertake the project, and60

5. Whereas, no bids were received to conduct the project, and61 6. Whereas, subsequently the EMC’s Unique Natural Areas Committee volunteered to62

conduct a literature search and consult with experts in the field of forestry and then to63 prepare a report evaluating options for the potential management of the County-owned64 forest lands, and65

7. Whereas, the UNA Committee held a public meeting on June 12, 2019, at the Tompkins66 County Public Library to discuss the scope of the project, and67

8. Whereas, the UNA Committee continued to gather relevant information and discuss68 progress at its monthly meetings, and69

9. Whereas, a draft document was produced and reviewed by the Committee and,70 10. Whereas, the UNA Committee issued a press advisory and emailed the attendee list71

from the June meeting notifying the public of a presentation of the draft report on72 December 18, 2019, at the Tompkins County Public Library and to receive comments,73 and74

11. Whereas, the UNA Committee continued to accept comments until January 3, 2020, and75

12. Whereas, the final report was changed in response to the comments submitted, and76 additional comments and responses will be added as an appendix, and 77

13. Whereas, the UNA Committee met on January 6, 2020, reviewed the final report, and78 voted to forward it to the EMC, now let it therefore be resolved79

That the EMC approves the submission of the final report to the PEEQ Committee for its 80 consideration. 81

Organizing for 2020 – Membership, Committees and Committee Reporting, Speaker Ideas 82 Group discussed committee structure and organizing for the new year. The suggestion was 83 made to convert work historically done by Environmental Review Committee to an ad hoc 84 committee model, with EMC members monitoring community listservs and County GML 239 85 Reviews for potential action items of interest. Steve Nicholson reminded everyone that EMC 86 bylaws state two members are needed to form a committee, and George Adams asked if 87 protocols are in place for determining whether an issue warrants environmental review. Other 88 ideas included submitting monthly committee and municipal reports in writing via Google Forms 89 for inclusion in meeting agenda packets, with members reporting in-person quarterly on 90 activities of interest. Members contributed recommendations for 2020 presentation topics, 91 including invasive species; the Earth Source Heat Project at Cornell; environmental impacts of 92 road salt; updates from Barb Eckstrom on developments in the recycling industry and the 93 County’s solid waste management plan, and the NYS plastic bag ban; and introduction to the 94 Climate and Sustainable Energy Advisory Board (CaSE). Suggestion was made to create a 95 CaSE liaison position to keep EMC informed of the new advisory board’s activities. 96

Staff Report – Darby Kiley 97 The department’s work plan for 2020 is still under development. Once it has been approved for 98 public release, Darby will present to the EMC, tentatively in March. 99 Municipal Reports and Member Announcements 100

Finger Lakes Institute of Hobart and William Smith Colleges will host its annual research 101 conference on January 15. 102

Brian shared an old photo from his living off-the-grid days amid the red pines he used to build 103 his family’s house. 104

Meeting was adjourned at 5:30pm. 105

2020.02.13 EMC Monthly Committee and Municipal Reports Page 1 of 4

Executive Committee

Meeting Details

Jan. 24 – We conducted a Zoom meeting to set up the Feb. 9 EMC meeting.

We decided to ask David Weinstein to be the speaker, re the Freeze Rd. bridge project.

We also looked at meeting structure and talked about the reporting forms being developed and the mailing list/information project that Cail was conducting. – Tom S.

Action Items for EMC -- See the Feb. 9 proposed agenda.

Climate Adaptation Committee

Meeting Details

Jan. 6 – 1) We considered our possible projects for 2020. We plan to continue to address flooding issues but will meet with our new members to finalize our project direction.

2) Our work on the Rain Garden/Bioswale/Soil Improvementbrochure is nearing completion and we hope to have it printed inMarch. – Regi Teasley

Action Items for EMC --The full EMC should be aware of our brochure plans before it is distributed.

Outreach Committee Meeting Details

Jan. 23 – The group discussed details related to our next community outreach session scheduled for April 9, 2020 5 - 7 pm Tompkins County Public Library *

Confirmed Topic: Waste Reduction * Brainstormed possible presenters and panel members We confirmed the topic of waste reduction and brainstormed possible presenters for the session. Committee members are reaching out to potential presenters.

Waste Reduction Committee

Meeting Details

Feb. 3 – 1) Distribution of reusable bags and fliers. A distribution database is available. Funds for more bags are being sought.

2) The County has passed a resolution banning single-use foodservice items in County facilities.

2020.02.13 EMC Monthly Committee and Municipal Reports Page 2 of 4

3) There is much concern about the Bag Bill regulations beingproposed by the DEC, some of which appear to be violating thespirit of the law. Many individuals and organizations have writtento the DEC during a comment period that ended Monday.

4) A review of future projects and a work plan for 2020 wereconducted:

a) A general educational effort re encouraging the public to useless single-use plastic items was discussed. Perhaps in the formof an educational brochure.

b) Starting a project to install water bottle filling stations invarious public spaces was discussed. Susan is going to look into details.

c) We will start to work on fabric recycling and clothing recyclingand reuse. Mattress recycling was also brought up. VariousSubcommittee members will research these topics. – TomShelley

Unique Natural Areas Committee

Meeting Details

The UNA Committee will meet this coming Monday, 2/10.

On the Agenda:

Scope of work for the year includes: --Revising early boundary revisions to conform to latest format, --Exploring possible de-listing of several UNA's that have been drastically altered. -- Publicity for completed UNA Inventory Revision. --Mailing of postcards to property owners and responding to any feedback that is received. --We will continue to follow the Co. Forest Management issue.

City of Ithaca Meeting Details

Jan. 23 -- City of Ithaca, Parks Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. Relevant items discussed were

1) Deer management with the Town of Ithaca.

2) Tree retention legislation presented to Common Council.Initial presentation to PEDC was accepted and furtherdevelopment of regulations was approved.

2020.02.13 EMC Monthly Committee and Municipal Reports Page 3 of 4

3) 2020 goals were reviewed, including formalizing a deermanagement policy, review of natural areas and relatedpolicies, developing code/planning document criteria forgreen/open spaces, and additional geese management efforts.

4) PEDC approved controversial ADU legislation to beforwarded to Common Council. There are environmental andother concerns re the propose legislation. – Tom Shelley

Town of Enfield Nothing to report.

Town of Groton Nothing to report.

Town of Newfield Nothing to report.

Town of Ulysses Nothing to report

Village of Cayuga Heights

Meeting Details

On Jan. 27, I attended a joint meeting of the Village Trustees and the Planning Board.

A developer has requested the rezoning of a 6-acre parcel from Residential to a Planned Development Zone. The parcel is directly adjacent and to the south of Community Corners. The proposal is for the construction of 3 buildings of 30000 sf, 38 housing units, and ground floor commercial in the building facing directly on Community Corners.

The issues raised at the meeting by 50 members of the public were as follows: increased traffic, insufficient parking, lack of a viable business model for the commercial aspects, demographics of the targeted residents, stormwater management, and the protection of a 0.6-acre emergent wetland.

The preponderance of those in attendance had strong reservations about the project. I counseled reserving final opinions about the project awaiting a potentially satisfactory response from the developer to the issues raised by the residents.

The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 7:00. – Brian Eden

Environmental Items of Note

From Brian Eden:

2020.02.13 EMC Monthly Committee and Municipal Reports Page 4 of 4

1. The National Environmental Policy Act (1970), the bedrockenvironmental legislation, is in the process of a downwardrevision. The President stated that “America was once a nationof builders. Now it’s a 3rd world country. It’s really sad.” Theproposal is to reduce the types of projects that requireenvironmental review and neither cumulative impacts norclimate change impacts need be considered.

2. The development of 5-G wireless has been spoken of herefrequently. We are not prone to fear mongering here but this is anew technology that relies on millimeter rather than microwaves. The FDA has done little testing on Radio FrequencyRadiation Exposure limits for public safety.

3. The Town of Lansing has formally established an AdvisoryCommittee on the Power Plant’s Future.

4. The Office of General Services is the NYS steward of publiclands. Assemblywoman Lifton facilitated a phone call with 5OGS Administrators in September. We requested that OGShold a local public meeting prior to renewing its lease withCargill to mine beneath Cayuga Lake. We followed up withextensive communications, memos, and scientific data. Noresponse was ever received from the OGS.

5. It’s been 5 years since Governor Cuomo declared a frackingmoratorium in NYS. Legislation has been introduced in the NYSSenate (S6906) to convert the moratorium to a statutorilymandated ban (Subsequently in the Governor’s FY 2020-2021Budget message in January, he added a similar provision.)

6. Revisions to the regulation of refrigerants (HFCs) are underreview by the NYSDEC.

7. Comments are due on the State Energy Plan by March 8.

8. Comments are due on revised downward Federal Coal AshRules by January 21.

Community Events: Date Time Title Place Details

Feb 8-15

Various times

Darwin Days 2020 PRI https://priweb.org/darwindays

Feb. 11 4pm and 7pm

"Motherload" Film Cinemapolis MOTHERLOAD is an award-winning crowdsourced documentary about a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of the digital age, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. https://www.bikewalktompkin s.org/film-series

Mon. Feb 24

7-9PM Climate Crisis is Serious … Are We?

Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public Library.

The League of Women Voters of Tompkins County hopes everyone will begin the new year by re-energizing our efforts to confront the crisis of Climate Change. What is needed and what should we do?

Speakers Art Weaver, the head of the Ithaca Chapter of Extinction Rebellion; Nick Goldsmith, the Sustainability Coordinator of the City and Town of Ithaca; and Cheyenne Carter and Marisa Lansing of the Sunrise Movement, an American youth-led organization. link

Tues., March 10

7pm Streets Alive! Film Festival

Cinemapolis Website

Sat. April 4,

10 AM -3 PM

Climate Wise Gardening: An

Boynton Middle

Website

Earthkeeping Fair School, 1601 N. CayugaStreet, Ithaca,NY

Wed. April 22

Various times

Earth Day 2020 Events happening on the day and on the weekend following

● next global youthclimate strike isscheduled to happenon Earth Day 2020

● Compost Fair, held inconjunction with the4H Duck Race, andStreets Alive! isscheduled forSunday, April 26,2020

Sun., April 26

1-5pm Streets Alive! Ithaca ● Website

Fri., May 15

All day Bike to Work Day

Newsworthy and notable: ● Cooperative Extension Seeks New Environmental Program

Committee MembersCornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCE-Tompkins) is seeking six community members who will form a Program Advisory Committee to develop and guide environmental issues programming in our county. This effort emerges from increased local interest in climate change, renewable energy, water quality, alternative forms of transportation, and resource conservation issues.Program Advisory Committees typically meet once a quarter, and volunteer for a term of 1 to 3 years.

To join the Advisory Committee, please send a letter of interest by February 26th to Dawn Montanye at dm773@cornell.edu or at CCE-Tompkins, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca NY 14850-3555. Please direct questions to Dawn at 607.272.2292.

● Become an Energy Navigator & help people reduce energyuse & bills & transition to renewables!

Our fifth year! This hands-on and in-depth training prepares volunteer Energy Navigators to help others in the community understand their energy use and make progress towards reducing energy use and bills, and switching from fossil fuels to renewables. Focus is on helping low- and moderate-income residents--both homeowners and renters--save energy and money.

Navigators will learn about programs and options that can help homeowners and renters cut down on their energy use and bills, reduce their carbon footprint. Topics include understanding energy bills, home energy efficiency, renewable heating, solar energy, transportation alternatives, and more.

Applications are due March 9th, and training begins on April 8th, 2020. http://www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/navigators

● TCAT to pilot on-demand rides via “Tconnect” for Drydenarea this spring

First three of a series of informational meetings slated in February Tconnect will provide on-demand rides to TCAT’s Route 43 bus stops in downtown Dryden in both directions for residents who live outside of reasonable walking distance, enabling them to travel anywhere within TCAT’s service area.

Meeting specifics: Ø 8 a.m. Wed., Feb. 12, at the Village of Dryden’s offices, 16 South St., DrydenØ 2 p.m. Mon., Feb. 17, at Southworth Library, 24 W. Main St., DrydenØ 10 a.m. Sat., Feb. 22, Poets Landing Community Room, 4 T.S. Eliot Drive, Dryden

● Call for Artists○ Gimme Coffee in Trumansburg has generously offered their walls in March and

April for a fundraising art show. If you or another artist you know of would like tomake a donation of an art piece to the art show please emailCLEAN.CayugaLake@gmail.com. Artists will be given the option of donating apercentage or the full amount of the sale to CLEAN. Thank you in advance foryour consideration.

● College of Human Ecology's Green Ambassadors will be curating “Full Circle:Back to Our Roots”, an upcycling/recycling exhibit, to be held in the Jill StuartGallery, Human Ecology Building from March 18, 2020 through April 10, 2020.We are looking for submissions from the CHE community, as well as local artists,so please spread the word. Installation will be on Monday, March 16. For moreinformation, please contact Karen Steffy, ks247@cornell.edu

DEC Environmental Notice Bulletin: ● Negative Declaration

○ Tompkins County - The Town of Enfield, as lead agency, has determined that theproposed Amendment of Local Law #1 of 2009 will not have a significant adverseenvironmental impact. The action involves the amendment of a local law toaddress the unique land use and issues arising from wind energy and large-scalewind farms. The project is located throughout the Town of Enfield, New York.

● Tompkins County - The Town of Enfield, as lead agency, has determined that theproposed Solar Addendum to Site Plan Review will not have a significant adverseenvironmental impact. The action involves the enactment of provisions for residential andcommercial solar development in the existing Site Plan Review Law. The project islocated throughout the Town of Enfield, New York.

● Tompkins County - The City of Ithaca Planning Board, as lead agency, has determinedthat the proposed 411 to 415 College Road will not have a significant adverseenvironmental impact. The action involves the construction of a six story building with a7,038 square foot footprint, ground floor retail, and 56 student apartments on floors twothrough six. The project includes a partially covered outdoor plaza area on land partiallyowned by Cornell. Project development will require the removal of the existing four storybuilding known as the Chacona Block, as well as the existing outdoor patio and retainingwalls. The parcel is in the MU-2 Collegetown Area Form District (CAFD) and requiresDesign Review. The project is located at 411 to 415 College Road in the City of Ithaca,New York.

Too Much Rain?

Change your yard & garden to make

a difference.

Improve Soil,

Create Rain Gardens,

Bioswales &

Pollinator Habitat

Plant a tree—or Many

Trees—for Tomorrow

Trees are masters of water up-

take and carbon dioxide intake.

In a year, a 100 foot tall tree

can take up 11,000 gallons of

water, and convert 48 pounds

of carbon dioxide into 200

pounds of oxygen.

Native trees are adapted to our

region and contribute to the

ecosystem.

Trees provide innumerable

benefits.

These gardening practices

Slow the Flow of

rainwater to our streams

and lake.

They help to filter out excess

nutrients and pollutants linked

to Harmful Algal Blooms.

Plants and trees absorb carbon

dioxide and their deep roots

and rich soil hold it.

Let Nature do the work.

____________________

Resources:

www.resilience.org/stories/2015-09-02/

why-not-start-today-backyard-carbon-

sequestration-is-something-nearly-

everyone-can-do/

www.ecologicalgardening.net

www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2016-4-july-

august/green-life/how-put-your-yard-

work-for-climate

(c) Dan Segal @ The Plantsman

_____________________________

Tompkins County Environmental Manage-

ment Council. Ithaca, NY. Spring, 2020.

Resource: Akiva Silver. Trees of Power.

Chelsea Green Publishing.

Healthy Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of the

garden. Try using compost, cover crops

and other natural amendments such as

Fall leaves to add nutrients and carbon.

Resources:

www.ccetompkins.org/gardening/composting

www.gardenista.com/posts/dirty-secrets-

10-ways-to-improve-garden-soil/

Resources:

Lynn Steiner & Ronald Domm. Rain

Gardens: Sustainable Landscaping for a Beauti-

ful Yard and Healthy World. Voyageur Press.

Video: How to Make a Raingarden.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2EoHBnCCII

Cooperative Extension: www.ccetompkins.org/

environment/water-conservation-quality

Rain Gardens

Fill the concave garden with deep-rooted

native flowers, grasses and shrubs to absorb

and filter water. This also creates habitat

for birds, butterflies and other pollinators.

Bioswales

Bioswales are landscaped sponges de-

signed to capture, filter and move

stormwater from a parking lot or

neighborhood roadway.

Resources:

http://nrcsolutions.org/bioswales/

www.soils.org/discover-soils/soils-in-the-city/green-infrastructure/important-terms/rain-gardens-bioswales

Cornell Bioswale at Botanic Gardens:

www.news.cornell.edu/essentials/2014/10/foundation-studies-plantations-bioswale-garden

ESF stormwater information: www.esf.edu/

ere/endreny/GICalculator/index.html

© Maureen Bolton

Less Lawn, More Plants

Make part of the yard into a flower or

vegetable garden.

Use eco-grass to replace turf. Decrease

mowing, air pollution and noise.

Avoid fertilizers, insecticides and herbi-

cides. Promote vitality and save money.

Resources:

www.gilmour.com/grass-alternatives-

backyard-lawn

www. WildOnes.com

Rain Barrels

Catch and store rainwater in a rain

barrel beneath your downspout.

Resources:

www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/

clean-water/green-infrastructure/rain-barrel-

garden

www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-

barrels

www. ccetompkins.org/environment/water-

conservation-quality/rain-barrel

© DanSegal @ The Plantsman

From:To:Subject:Date:

Thomas J. ShelleyKristin McCarthyRe: Co-sponsor Climate Wise Garden Fair? April 4 Thursday, January 30, 2020 2:43:03 PM

Subject: FYI: Co-sponsor Climate Wise Garden Fair? April 4

From: Sara Hess

To those who co-sponsored the Climate Wise Garden Fair last year but did not have an exhibit:

The first Climate Wise Garden Fair was a big success last April, with over 300 people attending and giving us high marks on the evaluation feedback forms. Now we're planning another one on Saturday April 4, 2020, also at Boynton Middle School. The "save the date" announcement is going out now - see below.

Your organization was listed as a co-sponsor last year and you helped to publicize the free event through your newsletters, email lists, announcing it at meetings, etc.

If you would like to help by co-sponsoring the Fair again this year, please reply to me so we can include your organization name on our publicity.

Co-sponsors do not have to contribute funds for this free fair, but donations are welcomed. Costs are primarily covered by donated goods and services of the planning agencies (Cornell Cooperative Extension, Fossil Free Tompkins, Dryden Resources Awareness Coalition, Citizen's Climate Lobby, League of Women Voters, Food Forest Farm, and Social Ventures).Best wishes!Sara Hess

...........

Climate Wise Gardening: An Earthkeeping FairSaturday, April 4, 2020. 10:00 AM -3:00 PMBoynton Middle School, 1601 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY

FREE! Over 30 demonstrations, exhibits, and talks on how to adapt your gardenpractices in the time of climate change:

- Create a rain garden or swale to deal with flooding or wet areas

- Modify your lawn for less mowing and more plants- Choose pollinator and bird-friendly perennials and shrubs- Use cover crops to enrich soil while reducing erosion and weeds- Healthy soil is key – best ways to improve without chemical fertilizer- Free soil pH testing – bring a dry sample from your garden- Lyme disease, invasive pests, tomato blight – what to do!- Free tree and shrub seedlings to take home

Everyone with a garden or yard can be “climate wise” by adopting practices thatprotect the earth and support wildlife. Hands-on activities and displays will show howthe ecosystem works and how soil, microorganisms, and plants capture carbon. Together, we can contribute to bringing carbon and water cycles back into balance.

Co-Sponsors: Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County, Fossil Free Tompkins,Social Ventures, Dryden Resource Awareness Coalition, League of Women Voters,Citizens Climate Lobby, and many others.

"All things are bound together, all things connect." - Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation