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

News                        

Philadelphia keeps stormwater out of sewers to protect rivers
Explore Montgomery County Trails this summer
  • The Montgomery County Health Department in partnership with the Planning Commission and Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites is sponsoring a family friendly Trail Challenge for all ages. The Montco Trail Challenge highlights ten different trail systems in the county. You can choose the ones you want to explore and report your findings online or at one of five parks’ offices or ranger stations.  http://www.montcopa.org/trailchallenge

Support Bees by planting flowers​​

TVS are no longer being recycled by Best Buy
  • From the Montgomery County Recycling Facebook page: "Computers and peripherals can still go to Best Buy or Staples for free recycling. Best Buy was the last widely available free option for TV recycling since most counties and municipalities have had to discontinue their programs in the face of the failing state law. If you must get rid of a TV, Best Buy and junk hauling companies will pick up your TV for a fee. Please consider contacting your state representatives to alert them that the law needs to be fixed or the landfill ban on TVs needs to be lifted to prevent illegal dumping in our county and state.  The state Covered Device Recycling Act needs to be amended to address the reality of the situation that it has created."

Philly Mayor and Council President Launch Energy Campaign!
  • The Campaign plans to raise $ 1 billion in public and private investment for energy efficiency improvements in Philadelphia's old, inefficient buildings.  The initiative would create approximately 11,000 new jobs over 10 years, and save hundreds of millions of dollars every year.  The focus is municipal buildings,  schools, low income housing and small commercial buildings.  The large commercial building work would be implemented through ESCOs (Energy Service Companies).  The Philadelphia Energy Authority is undertaking a six month planning process to develop a detailed plan.  Learn more at: http://phlcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PEA-EnergyCampaign-2_8_16-FINAL.pdf


Montco Starts Its Bike-Rental Program at Two Park Locations
6 Tips for Building Soil for Your Raised Garden Beds and PlantersLearn about single-stream recycling
Systemic Pesticides and Food Health
  • Instead of being sprayed on a growing crop, "systemic pesticides are absorbed into the plant’s tissue, usually via the roots. They are highly water soluble, which means that a plant simply drinks up the pesticide-laden water, and the chemical is transported through the plant’s vascular system. If a bug attempts to nibble any part of this plant, it will soon die.Some pesticides are now being applied to seeds, here by growing in the food we eat."  Read about this in Eartheasy's article.  

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published a guide to nature play. 
  • You can view or download the beautifully illustrated edition at ConservationTools.org or access the text-only edition.  Unstructured, frequent childhood play in informal outdoor settings powerfully boosts the cognitive, creative, physical, social and emotional development of children. It also engenders deep conservation values-more so than any other factor. If we want future generations to carry on the work of conservation, then we need to be paying attention to what is happening in childhood. To make conservation efforts endure, we must emotionally connect children to nature.


Tip from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Authority:  Manage your Stormwater at Home
  • Consider installing a rain barrel or rain garden at your home to be part of the stormwater solution! Rain gardens and barrels help to filter, evaporate or re-use stormwater to prevent flash flooding in urban and suburban areas with high impervious cover. Keep your stormwater out of the storm drain and use it on your land instead.


EWG'S SEAFOOD CALCULATOR
  • Eat healthy fish and shellfish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury. EWG's Best Bets are also from sustainable sources.  Use EWG’s Seafood Calculator to get your custom seafood list – based on your age weight, gender, age and more.



Tip from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Authority: Protect & Restore Natural Stream Buffers
  • Stream buffers are the trees, shrubs and vegetation that line a stream, and they are the Wissahickon Creek’s last defense in slowing down and filtering stormwater that flows to the creek. Make sure stream buffers are intact and healthy by letting them grow naturally.

Tip from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Authority: Grow a More Natural Lawn and Garden
  • Native plants are adapted to local conditions and often don’t require extra watering, fertilizers, or pesticides to thrive. Take advantage of local flora by consulting the WVWA and reduce or eliminate your pesticides and fertilizer use. Think about replacing part, or all, of your lawn with a natural meadow or rain garden for a native landscape that the local birds and butterflies will thank you for. 

Tip from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Authority: Be Aware of the Storm Drains
  • Anything that washes into storm drains during a rain event flows directly to the Wissahickon Creek and its tributaries without being filtered! This water, known as stormwater, brings everything that is happening on the land into the creek during rain events including litter, pet waste, detergent from washing your car, household chemicals, and yard clippings or leaves. These are easily swept into the Wissahickon, increasing bacteria, debris, and algae blooms from increased nutrients in the Creek. Help the Wissahickon by composting yard clippings, washing your car at a car wash, always picking up after your pets, carrying out everything you bring into parks, and disposing of used car oil and household cleaners properly.  Read the entire Currents magazine here.

Resource: iRecycle
  • FIND LOCAL RECYCLING FAST.  iRecycle can tell you how, where and when to recycle just about anything. Using your current location, ZIP code, address or city, get access to vital details for collection points, such as website, phone number, directions, hours of operation and other materials collected.  iPhone/apple device- click here.  Android device- click here. 

Choices for PA Energy Suppliers
  • If you can't put solar panels on your roof but still want to suport renewable energy, you have options.  Check out www.papowerswitch.com and click on the "Shop for Electricity" tab to review different options. If you want to purchase renewable energy, scroll down on the far right, check the "Renewable Energy" checkbox, and slide the slider over to "100% renewable." Once you click the "Renewable Energy" box, options will appear for "Renewable PA" or "Choose PA Wind."


Med-Return Box Available at Whitpain Township Building.  Keep prescription medications out of landfills and water supplies.
  • This Med-Return Unit is a secure box that has been installed in the Police Department lobby. This box will allow anyone to dispose of unwanted drugs at their convenience. There are certain restrictions as to what can be placed in the return box. Use the Med-Return box but please observe these guidelines.
  • Accepted Items: * Prescription Medication, * Prescription Patches, * Prescription Ointment, * Over-The-Counter Medications, * Samples, * Medications for Pets
  • Not Accepted: * Needles, * Hydrogen Peroxide, * Inhalers , * Aerosol Cans, * Medications from businesses or clinics, * Ointments, lotions, liquids, * Thermometers