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Bucks Transition Group: Focusing on the future

February 21, 2012 By
Bucks Transition Group

 

by Kathleen Black

Saving money and living “green” are hot topics these days, and the Bucks Transition Group (BTG) explored them in depth during their “Re-Imagine: Living Well with Less” forum on Saturday, January 28th at the Doylestown Library. This is the third such event that the BTG has hosted, and about a dozen people led sessions on everything from strengthening the local economy to renewable energy solutions to recycling building materials.

BTG is part of a larger worldwide grassroots movement known as Transition Towns.

“Transition Towns actually started in Great Britain, based on an agricultural viewpoint called permaculture, which is basically working with the environment rather than against it,” explained Gail Stringer, a BTG member. “There are approximately 1,000 transition town organizations in existence now. The goal is to help people recognize that we are going to have problems with global warming and with the gradual depletion of oil,” continued Gail.

“We’re going to have to learn how to adjust, and be able to survive and prosper, but we have to prepare. Transition Towns work at helping people develop skills that used to be common, but we don’t know how to do now, like growing your own food, canning your own food, woodworking, tool-making, depending on neighbors, and having them depend on you.”

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: Bucks County Conservation District

February 20, 2012 By

For over 50 years, Bucks County Conservation District, under a delegation agreement with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, has regulated earth disturbance with the goal of protecting the county’s soil, water and other natural resources. They work with builders, developers, municipal officials and the public to prevent soil erosion and water pollution and to remediate areas affected by soil and water issues.

New to Bucks County Conservation District this year is their affiliation with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (www.keeppabeautiful.org). In July 2011, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful released its report on illegal dumps in Bucks County. The survey of the county identified 123 illegal dumpsites containing an estimated 223 tons of trash. 

Illegal dumpsites pose many threats to the health and safety of humans and wildlife, including giving mosquitoes a place to breed.  An initial goal of Keep Bucks County Beautiful will be to work with volunteer groups, municipalities, and community partners to get these sites cleaned and have them remain clean. 

Bucks County Conservation District will also be promoting and distributing Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful educational materials in Bucks County schools and sponsoring other outreach opportunities to keep Pennsylvania and Bucks County beautiful.  

For more information on Bucks County Conservation District visit their Web site at www.bucksccd.org.

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: The Lower Makefield Township Environmental Advisory Council

February 7, 2012 By

The Lower Makefield Environmental Advisory Council (LMT EAC) is a seven-member volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the environment in Lower Makefield Township. The members are interviewed by the township supervisors and selected based on their experience, interest, and enthusiasm for making our town a better place in which to live. In 2012 the following members are on the Council: Jim Bray, Chairperson, Alan Dresser, Vice-chairperson, Geoff Goll, Rick Ewing, Joe Sundeen, Gail Stringer and Laura Brandt.

The Board of Supervisors relies on the EAC to identify environmental problems, research the issues and propose various solutions to environmental problems within the township. The EAC also reviews land development proposals and makes written recommendations to the Township Engineer and Planning Commission to improve the environmental impact of these projects.

In the past several years the EAC has received several national awards for environmental excellence from such elite organizations as the U.S. E.P.A. and the state of PA. These awards recognized LMT’s contribution in the fields of energy efficiency, sustainable buildings and stormwater management to name but a few. Also, the EAC in its Recycling and Drainage Basin Naturalization projects has saved LMT’s taxpayer’s over $300,000 in real dollars over the last five years.

Recently, the LMT EAC has tackled various projects that involve: municipal green building, recycling, saving energy, preserving open space, stormwater management and community education. As an example, in October of last year in a unique collaboration with the Economic Development Commission, the EAC co-sponsored a local Green Business Expo held at the newly green, renovated Makefield School Cafetorium. Over 25 businesses from Lower Makefield, Yardley Borough and Morrisville Borough set up information displays and approximately 300 people attended this successful venture. And the feedback from the exhibitors and attendees was very positive. Current plans are to hold a similar event in the spring of 2013.

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow

February 7, 2012 By

Bucks County Audubon Society (BCAS) at Honey Hollow’s mission is to generate awareness, education, and above all else, a sense of stewardship toward the environment. BCAS is a private, non-profit organization founded as a chapter of the National Audubon Society in 1969. Since its inception, BCAS has been dedicated to conserving wildlife, promoting awareness of environmental problems, watching birds, educating the community about the interdependence of humans and their world, and furthering the wise use of land, air, and water.

The Honey Hollow Visitor’s Center is located on the Honey Hollow Watershed in Solebury Township at 2877 Creamery Road. Due to the early conservation work carried out by local farmers and the Soil Conservation Service, the entire Honey Hollow Creek watershed was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1969. It remains the only agriculturally-based National Historic Landmark in the United States. The Center is open to school and community groups for educational programs throughout the year.

BCAS is a private 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Funding for BCAS programs comes in the form of support from general and professional business memberships, bequests, individual donors, corporate and business donations, matching gifts, in-kind materials and service donations, as well as grants from public and private agencies. BCAS also receives support through special events, birdseed sales, outreach programs, field trips and program fees.

Their next special event will be held on March 24th at the New Hope Winery. Their birdseed sales are self-service, available 24/7 via the Tuckamony Farm entrance at 6324 Upper York Road, Solebury.

All contributions to BCAS are tax-deductible. For more information about the Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow, visit their Web site at www.BCAS.org or call 215-297-5880.

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: Bucks Transition Group

January 30, 2012 By

The Bucks Transition Group (BTG) is a volunteer citizens group that was formed in 2009 by people living in various townships in order to encourage awareness of issues around sustainability for local economies. BTG springs from the Transition Towns movement that has taken hold in Cheltenham, Media, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Bethlehem and other locales across the nation.

BTG has chosen to focus on potentially catastrophic high cost of energy that has a ripple effect upon the daily cost of living. Transition Towns seek to help residents and local economies cope and prepare for a time when oil is scarce and expensive. They honor the elders, organize re-skilling and knowledge transfer through workshops for both young and old. 

A founding principle of Transition Towns is that the group is maintained as positive and inclusive. BTG encourages egalitarian participation so that people can share their knowledge of sustainable alternatives to dependence on fossil fuels. It fosters the understanding that unless one grows their own foods, makes their own clothing, energy and all other basic needs, they are not independent of the oil-based economy.

BTG collaborates with existing organizations, local businesses, residents and local governments. It organizes events that aim to have participants share information that fosters community resiliency and personal happiness. 

BTG wants to provide a message of resourcefulness in the face of adversity. BTG specializes in Open Space Forums, four-hour events which empower every participant to lead round-table sessions to share their own expertise, or to ask questions. Open Space Forums encourage egalitarian participation and socializing between experts, businesspeople, residents, students and all.

Local township Environmental Advisory Councils support BTG. Its consensus driven meetings occur on the third Saturday of every month in the Lower Makefield Township Building, Room C. All are invited to attend. For more info contact Deb Barndt at 267-337-0489 or e-mail debsdb1@msn.com.

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: Bucks County joins Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s growing grassroots network

January 30, 2012 By

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced the newest affiliate to the growing Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network, Keep Bucks County Beautiful. 

Keep Bucks County Beautiful was developed with the support of the Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD). Gretchen Schatschneider, BCCD District Manager, will serve as the Affiliate Coordinator. The Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown (GOAL), led by Dale Frazier, will partner with BCCD representing Levittown and other areas in Lower Bucks.

In July, 2011, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful released its report on illegal dumps in Bucks County. The survey of the county identified 123 illegal dumpsites containing an estimated 223 tons of trash. Of the items inventoried at each dumpsite assessed, 76% of the sites contained tires, 71% contained yard waste, 67% had construction and demolition waste, 66% had recyclables, and 54% of the sites had household trash. 

Illegal dumpsites pose many threats to the health and safety of humans and wildlife, including giving mosquitoes a place to breed. West Nile Virus, carried by mosquitoes, has been a primary concern for environmental officials. 

An initial goal of Keep Bucks County Beautiful will be to work with volunteer groups, municipalities, and community partners to get these sites cleaned and have them remain clean. The affiliate will also be promoting and distributing Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful educational materials in Bucks County schools and other outreach opportunities in addition to other Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful programming.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s mission is empowering Pennsylvanians to make our communities clean and beautiful.

Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and its volunteers have removed almost 86 million pounds of litter from Pennsylvania’s roadways, greenways, parks, forests, and waterways.

Individuals and groups interested in volunteering in Bucks County can contact Keep Bucks County Beautiful at 215-345-7577.

If you would like to learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Keep Bucks County Beautiful, visit the Web sites www.keeppabeautiful.org and www.keeppabeautiful.org/AboutUs/AffiliateNetwork/KeepBucksCountyBeautiful.aspx.    

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: Bucks County Foodshed Alliance

January 24, 2012 By

The Bucks County Foodshed Alliance (BCFA) is a non-profit, grassroots organization of producers and consumers working together to foster and expand a local, sustainable food supply in Bucks County.

Its goals are to support the growth and distribution of fresh, healthy and delicious locally produced food year-round; educate people of all ages about locally sourced food and its benefits; maintain a communication network of trusted information for farmers, consumers, chefs and institutions in the community; and support and preserve the farming economy of Bucks County. It was founded in 2006 by a group of women who were looking for fresher, better-tasting, antibiotic- and hormone-free, nutritious food for their families.

“Foodshed” describes the flow of foodstuffs from the area where they are grown to the place where they are consumed. “Sustainable” means it is not dependent upon fossil fuels for fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides.

BCFA encourages organic farming methods, while generally preferring local products grown on small, independent farms using natural systems to promote soil fertility and discourage pests and weeds to “certified organic” foods shipped great distances.

BCFA offers regular programs that include films, speakers and summer farm tours that are open to the public. It hosts two seasonal farm markets – Wrightstown on Saturdays and Lower Makefield on Thursday evenings – and serves as a network between farmers’ markets across the county.

BCFA hosts an annual Farmer Forum, in partnership with the Heritage Conservancy, to examine issues of particular interest to local farmers. BCFA has also partnered with the Doylestown Food Co-op and other organizations that share its goals.

In 2012, BCFA will establish a Bucks County chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local, one of nearly 80 national chapters of the Food Routes Network (www.foodroutes.org). The nonprofit FRN provides communications tools, organizing support and marketing resources to grassroots chapters working to rebuild local food systems and promote sustainable agriculture. It encourages and supports new farmer initiatives and apprenticeships, and works to expand the breadth and depth of food production and to facilitate distribution, processing and infrastructure for a strong local food system.

BCFA welcomes to its hard-working committees and board those who share its passion for a local, sustainable food supply. BCFA is a 501(c)(3) public charity supported by donations and a major grant from the Sierra Club.

For more information e-mail admin@BucksCountyFoodshedAlliance.org, call 215.598.3979 or visit www.BucksCountyFoodshedAlliance.org.

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COMMUNITY GUIDEBOOK PROFILE: Cool Cities Committee of the Lower Makefield Township Environmental Advisory Council

January 24, 2012 By

Lower Makefield Township, like many communities around the world, is addressing the serious issues facing us all in the areas of environmental degradation, rising energy costs, and climate change. The Cool Cities Committee is at the center of this effort.

The Cool Cities Committee consists of residents of the Township (with some contributions from residents of the immediate surrounding area) who work to maintain and improve the community and environment of the Township.

Through the efforts of these volunteers, the Cool Cities initiative has produced a Township Sustainability Action Plan aimed at meeting the following goals:

  • Provide opportunities for cost savings for the residents of the Township;
  • Maintain and improve the overall environmental health of the township;
  • Reduce overall Green House Gas emissions produced in the Township by 17% over 2005 levels by 2020;
  • Improve the energy security in the Township and in turn nationally by reducing energy use and therefore reducing reliance on expensive (politically and financially) foreign energy sources.

A copy of The Plan is posted on the Lower Makefield township Web site, in the EAC section [www.lmt.org/Boards&Commissions/EnvironmentalAdvisoryCouncil]. It has been presented to the Board of Supervisors and potential initial projects have been discussed. Now it is time to get to work implementing the projects described in the plan.

This project should provide significant benefits for our community and all of its residents. We cannot do what is best for our town without the meaningful participation of its residents.

For more information, and to volunteer to be part of this exciting activity, call Gail Stringer, Member, Lower Makefield Township Environmental Council Chair, Cool Cities Committee, at 215-295-7149 or e-mail ggstringer@comcast.net.

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Re-Imagine: Living Well With Less

January 13, 2012 By

The Bucks Transition Group (BTG) is sponsoring, “Re-Imagine: Living Well With Less” on Saturday, January 28th from 12:00 – 4:00 PM in the Pearl S. Buck Meeting Room of the DOYLESTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Organizers have adopted the theme, “Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, Rebuild.” Anyone can lead a session during this fun and informative event. “Re-Imagine” offers people the opportunity to socialize while learning more about making better use of resources and saving money on everything from home energy to clothing, food and transportation and making their homes greener and their lives more enjoyable.

As the second annual exciting “Open Space” forum to be held by BTG, the format allows attendees to decide their topics and lead one of the multiple concurrent half-hour sessions. For businesspeople, experts and residents alike, an Open Space forum offers participants the opportunity to lead by sharing what they know, or by asking about what they don’t know. Each session results in lively discussions by the diverse audience.

Individuals have expressed interest in holding sessions on bicycling, composting, gardening, home canning, and clothing re-use. Others may lead sessions with questions about consignment and thrift shops, food recovery, and backyard livestock, with experts and other attendees helping to provide answers. Making use of daylight and solar energy, re-purposing of discarded items and materials, recycling, water conservation and even first response effectiveness, are some of the other topics that people have plans to lead.

The Keynote Speaker will be Bucks County Commissioner Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia. Megan Yarnall of Terracycle will speak at the break. Presenters and exhibitors from Del-Val College, Food Shed Alliance, and Greenergy are also expected.

In the face of uncertain economic times of rising gas prices, shrinking budgets and significant unemployment, experts predict that ability to thrive will increasingly depend on people maximizing their readily available resources and taking the time to get involved with developing sustainable local economies.

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Keep Bucks County Beautiful Celebrates America Recycles Day

January 5, 2012 By
America Recycles Day

 

On November 15th, Bucks County Conservation District and its partner in Lower Bucks, the Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown, joined with other Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) affiliates to celebrate America Recycles Day. As the mission of KPB is to empower Pennsylvanians to make our communities clean and beautiful, recycling bag holders were distributed to shoppers at the Doylestown Redner’s Market and the Fairless Hills Shop Rite.

Plastic bags that are not properly recycled can end up in the ocean where they are often eaten by birds and marine animals. The UN Environmental Program estimates that over a million seabirds, as well as more than 100 thousand marine mammals, die every year from ingesting plastic debris.

Shoppers that were “caught being good” either by dropping off plastic bags to be recycled or using cloth bags to carry home their groceries were also entered in a contest to win a prize of a recycled plastic shopping bag filled with items made from recycled materials and other eco-friendly items.

Winners of the prize bags were Susan Neiss, Jamison, Tammy Dunleavy, Warrington, John Moran, Cobalt Ridge and Nanette Fuchs, Farm Brook. Congratulations to all our winners for recycling and helping to Keep Bucks County Beautiful.

If you would like to learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful visit the website www.keeppabeautiful.org.  If you would like to learn more about Keep Bucks County Beautiful, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org/AboutUs/AffiliateNetwork?KeepBucksCountyBeautiful.aspx

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