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UPCOMING EVENTS Introduction to Home Energy Savings Organic Garden and Landscape Tour 
 Massachusetts Municipal Association Do you want to reduce your home energy costs by 20% or more? Are you looking for cheap, do-it-yourself solutions and energy savings financing options? Learn about all this and more by attending a seminar called Introduction to Home Energy Savings. The program is one of 130 such programs, sponsored by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, that are being held statewide. The workshop will stress the importance of reducing heat usage by providing do-it-yourself sealing techniques, information on which in-depth alterations are most cost effective, tips on reducing electricity and water usage, and provide resources for home audits, rebates and financing alterations. Presenters will illustrate hands-on tips and will distribute free educational materials. Refreshments provided by Whole Foods on Walnut St. in Newton will be served beforehand. For more information, visit www.newtonfreelibrary.net or call 617-796-1360.
Join us for another great season at the 30th Newton Farmers Market! The Green Decade will have our information and resource table under the red tent at both locations — volunteers of all ages are welcome to join us, as always. This year we will also feature our the popular "Magic Energy Bike" which demonstrates the difference in energy required to light up the old light bulbs vs the energy-efficient CFL bulbs. Last year’s giant caterpillars were also a special attraction, so they will return as well! Our friends from the Angino Farm will also be at both markets this year, so stop by and see us both. The Newton Farmers Markets are held twice weekly from July through October. If you'd like to volunteer for a couple of hours at either location, please contact Margaret Ford, Community Outreach Coordinator, at mford@greendecade.org or 617-964-0606.
Join us for an afternoon guided tour of four organic gardens featuring flowers, vegetables and even an organically maintained lawn! Each site will highlight a specific aspect of organic gardening, such as composting, watering techniques or plant selection. Learn more about organic gardening and tips for making your garden (or lawn) grow without chemical pesticides and with alternatives to invasive species! The tour goals are to showcase flower and vegetable gardens, rain- and drought-tolerant gardens and lawns, as well as sustainable gardening techniques such as intensive planting. The tour is limited to 25 people; we will meet at City Hall at 12:00 noon and car-pool to the gardens. The tour is a bargain at $20 per person, or join the Green Decade and save $5. $15 for Green Decade members. More information & photos of the 2008 gardens.
As of July 1, Newton homeowners can switch your electricity from conventional fuels (coal, oil, gas and nuclear) to wind power — no more greenhouse gases, completely renewable! NStar, has just been licensed by the Mass. Dept. of Public Utilities for a 10-year contract with the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in upper New York State (www.mapleridgewind.com). By choosing NStar Green, you can designate 50% or 100% of your electricity to come from this wind farm. By switching to wind power, you will be helping wind farms succeed and expand, which will eventually lead to lower prices. Right now wind power is slightly more expensive than conventional fuels, so switching to 100% wind power will add 6.2% to your electricity bill. If your average bill is $50, it will go to $53; if it's $80, it will go to $85. If you're not completely happy, you can switch back at any time. And it takes just 60 seconds to switch! For more information and to enroll go to NSTAR Green www.nstar.com/residential/customer_information/nstar_green/nstar_green.asp and follow the directions
In the 1920’s Welcome Wagon "hostesses" would visit new homeowner families in their new home with a basket of small gifts and coupons from contributing businesses. These home visits continued for over 50 years until the early 1980s, but ultimately, as more women entered the workforce, no one was at home during the day to answer the door when the Welcome Wagon lady knocked. Green Decade's Eco Basket hopes to bring back this lovely tradition in a way that gives new homeowners a "green" start to their Newton life. A collaborative effort between the City of Newton, Green Decade Coalition, the Barry Price Center, Newton merchants, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Newton real estate brokerage community, our Eco Basket welcomes new families in an innovative, environmentally friendly way by gifting new families a basket containing a number of useful environmental items($180 value). For more information. |
