Wissahickon Growing Greener 
Let's Promote and Educate RESIDENTS about a Sustainable Future for OUR Area   

News                               (The Community Calendar has moved to this page)

Culinary Arts Institute Goes ‘Landfill Free’, by Alana J. Mauger, Think Green Editor
  • Montgomery County Community College's brand new Culinary Arts Institute (CAI) became the institution's first "Landfill-Free Enterprise" when it opened in August 2013. The CAI partners with Sustainable Waste Solutions (SWS), of Souderton,  to convert all waste -- trash, recycling and food trimmings -- into energy or materials.  "Sustainability is so important in the food industry, especially since we produce so much waste," explained Chef Instructor and CAI Business Manager John De Pinto.  For waste that can be recycled, SWS employs single-stream advanced techniques to increase the rate of materials that are actually recycled, eliminating  byproduct waste that may end up in the landfill.  For materials that cannot be recycled, SWS employs Energy-from-Waste or Waste-to-Energy processes, which create energy, typically in the form of electricity, from the combustion of solid waste.  SWS also transforms 100% of the CAI's food scraps -- including meats and high fat foods that typically cannot be composted -- into agricultural compost through a scientific process that complies with government regulations regarding disease control and ground water pollution. In addition all of the CAI's cooking grease collected and transformed into biofuel.

Solar Powered Schools and Vocational training in Philly
  • Read about  the Philadelphia Solar Schools Initiative that is helping bring solar power to 20 Philadelphia schools with a sustainable energy education effort that includes in-school classes and vocational training to prepare the students for “green collar” career opportunities.   The kids are interested!

Looking to support your local farmer during the winter?

Shop the ReStore (or donate your cabinets and extra tiles when you remodel)
  • Montgomery County ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center. They sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. All proceeds support Habitat for Humanity programs in Montgomery County.   www.restoremontco.org
  • Location: 533 Foundry Rd, West Norriton, PA 19403
  • Contact Info:  610-631-3149, restore@habitatmontco.org
  • Store Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday 9 am to 2 pm  
  • FREE pick-up for large donations in Montgomery County. Please call our donations coordinator at 610-631-3149 to schedule a pick-up.


Recycling Campaign Signs:

As of this week, there is $879,731 remaining for solar rebates from Pennsylvania’s PA Sunshine Solar rebate program. 

Second Anniversary of the public’s success here in Delaware River Watershed! Send in pictures.
  • November 21 will be the second Anniversary of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) cancellation of the meeting where they were expected to lift the moratorium on gas drilling that would open the Watershed to drilling and fracking for gas.  November 21, 2011 was the first attempt to lift the prohibition on drilling; a moratorium that had been adopted by a unanimous vote of the five Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) members – the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and President Obama’s representative, the Army Corps of Engineers -- in May 2010.  
  • The Delaware River Keeper wants you to tell the members of the DRBC what it is about this watershed that you want protected. Please snap a photo of a special place you don’t want destroyed, a picture of your family, your friends, your pets, or an important “reason to protect” that you want to share with these officials who have maintained this moratorium.  You can also use a picture you already have.  They will be binding them together in a scrapbook that we will present to the Commissioners at their December 3 public meeting. IMPORTANT: Submit your photo at the latest by November 22, to debra@delawareriverkeeper.org , to make sure they can include it in the scrapbook.

Don’t Trash Those Leaves!
  • Before you bag up the leaves falling from your trees, consider their potential for your landscape. The leaves of one large shade tree can be worth as much as $50 of plant food and humus...  Pound for pound, the leaves of most trees contain twice as many minerals as manure. For example, the mineral content of a sugar maple leaf is over five percent, while even common pine needles have 2.5 percent of their weight in calcium, magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus, plus other trace elements.  Composting your leaves is quite simple and doesn’t require any expensive bins or tumblers, just a good mix and time. Your compost pile can be any size and can be loose or fenced in with some chicken wire. Make sure you can access it from one side so you can easily turn the compost every so often. Turning your pile will allow oxygen to help the decomposition process.  Start with a 6 inch layer of leaves, shredded or not, and then add a two inch layer of something green that contains more nitrogen such as manure, grass clippings, green weeds, or vegetable waste from the kitchen. If you don’t have green waste, then add a little nitrogen such as dried blood or cottonseed meal. You can also spread a little native soil between the layers which will add some bacteria, fungi and other organisms that will help decompose the organic waste. Turn your pile every three weeks or more often if you want. If you turn the pile three or four times before spring, you can have some fine compost ready for spring planting.
  • Once you have compost, use it in your garden or landscape by incorporating into planting soils or topdressing a planting bed. The compost will improve soil structure, loosening compacted clays that have trouble draining or helping sandy soils hold moisture and nutrients.
  • For more information about composting download a free publication from Penn State Extension.    Posted: October 21, 2013  http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/news/2013/don2019t-trash-those-leaves


PECO offers programs and rebates for energy savings in your home:  https://www.peco.com/Savings/ProgramsandRebates/Residential/Pages/default.aspx

Gas Drilling Study in Bucks, Montgomery Counties Begins.  State officials have commissioned a study on the potential for gas drilling in Bucks and Montgomery counties.



Planting in the Fall
  •  Because the days are shorter and (theoretically) cooler, the rate of photosynthesis decreases so the tree doesn’t need to work as hard to push nutrients out to the limbs and leaves since they are shutting down. Planting trees and shrubs in fall also enables the root systems to get established and grow before the hot summer returns. TreeVitalize, a statewide effort to plant trees in communities, has a whole section on tree care, plus a wealth of other information and links on trees. The Plant Smart section of the iConservePA.org website can steer you in the direction of native trees suitable for your landscape. And if you have a question, our master gardener and forester is there to assist.  This tip was from the Seeds newsletter and you can sign-up for Seeds here. 

What's so great about meadows?
  • Meadows are a great way of addressing numerous environmental issues. Meadow grasses and wildflowers have deep roots, as deep as 12 feet. Rainwater follows those roots deep into the ground, replenishing the water table, decreasing flooding and decreasing the amount of sediment and nutrient (phosphate and nitrate compounds) leaving the site, which improves the quality of the runoff reaching the Wissahickon. Meadows eliminate the need for weekly grass cutting and fertilizing, which lowers the carbon footprint of a property and further reduces the nutrients. Meadows provide food and create valuable wildlife habitat. And they are beautiful!  This is from the WVWA Currents:  Read Full Article Here 

How can grazing help climate change?
Searching for funding for your clean energy project? Look here.


System to report natural gas pollution events from the Clean Air Council


The Buycott app will help you keep Monsanto out of your shopping cart:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2013/05/14/new-app-lets-you-boycott-koch-brothers-monsanto-and-more-by-scanning-your-shopping-cart/


Need to recycle a bike?
  • Try Doylestown Bike Works at 139 south Main Street doylestown. 215-340-7746. They will fix up the bike and donate it.  If it can not be fixed, they will reuse what they can to fix up another bike.  The bikes are then donated to charity.  http://www.doylestownbikeworks.com/


Fairmount Water Works has some amazing programs.  Check here to find out what you can go for free, including tours of the Fairmount Dam Fishway, Science Saturdays, Cinema Sundays

What's a farm explorer?
  • FARM EXPLORER ™ inspires people to eat more fresh food and provides tools for healthier eating. FARM EXPLORER™ is based on supporting research that curriculum combining gardening and nutrition improves student attitudes towards and preferences for fruits and vegetables. Research also shows that eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a lifelong healthy weight. From schoolyards to senior centers, our FARM EXPLORER ™ travels directly to communities, bringing fun, hands-on curriculum about gardening and ecology, seasonal eating, and how to prepare simple, healthy recipes. - See more at: http://www.greenerpartners.org/farmexplorer/index.php#sthash.weNDUpjv.dpuf To learn more click here!

Interesting Website: Mother Nature Network, http://www.mnn.com/

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA) of Ambler is developing a trail stewardship program 


Check out the urban map to free food: http://fallingfruit.org/  
  • There are lots of fruits and veggies growing on public property.  Find it here and also add some that you might have to offer.


Get the PHS Guide to Great Gardens 
  • To help you enjoy Philadelphia on foot, PHS has created the “PHS Guide to Center City Gardens,” a handy map of nearly 50 beautiful public green spaces in downtown Philadelphia. The map is available at area hotels, tourist information centers, and on their website.

Check out an Energy Audit (Assessment) Kit for FREE
  • The Wissahickon School District 6th graders created Energy Audit Kits which contain a kill-a-watt meter, a hot water gauge, a refrigerator thermometer and a shower flow meter, and you can check them out from the WVPL library!  Go here to learn more: www.wvpl.org or log on to http://spica.mclinc.org/ and search "home energy audit kit" to reserve one.

Check iConservePA's website for water conservation info
  • iConservePA’s web site is turning its focus to water. They’ve added new content to help you use water wisely in all aspects of your life. At home, we can make simple choices inside and outside the home that help save money and water. If you are involved in your community’s decision making, you know that managing storm water, providing access to water-based recreation, and protecting water supplies are vital to citizens’ health and well-being. If you are anoutdoor enthusiast, you know our lakes, rivers and streams provide natural beauty and countless opportunities for exploration and adventure.
  • Log on today to find daily tips and new ways to conserve. They’ve also added a My Conservesection that breaks down topics and links by how you define your role in conservation. Of course, you’ll still find native garden templates, a native plants database, energy saving ideas, tree planting tips, ways to live local, and so much more. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to join our conversation on conservation.
Elmwood Park Zoo is collecting items for Terracycle.

Learn more about rain gardens.
  • Check out this informative 7 minute video that was filmed in Ambler about their rain garden project.  http://www.stormwaterpa.org/raingarden  If you live in Ambler, you might be able to take part in the program.  They are offering a class on March 23, 9 - 11 a.m.,  Upper Dublin Township Building.  
    • The Ambler EAC is working with homeowners in Ambler Borough to keep storm water from entering our local streams by creating rain gardens!   All homeowners, regardless of where you live, can attend this workshop where participants will learn how to design, build and maintain a rain garden on their property. Also, they will share  a variety of incentives available exclusively to Ambler Borough residents.  
    • Master Gardener Presenters: Thomas McGeehan and Leslie Bass
    • Please pre-register by March 18  at AmblerEAC@gmail.com  or 267-322-1521.  Space is limited. Light refreshments will be served.  Cost: $20/person, $25/couple paid at the door.


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