If a butterfly flaps its wings in Vermont, will a breeze rustle the needles of an Oyamel fir tree in Mexico? Back in the 1970’s, the Butterfly Effect spun off from the concept of Chaos Theory, which attempted to reconcile the apparent randomness of the universe. The Butterfly Effect holds that the faintest movement of …
This fall Sustainable Woodstock will make free insulating window inserts for community members, and you are invited to join us! From Thursday October 27th to Wednesday November 2nd, we will host a community build at the North Universalist Chapel Society Church (North Chapel), which is generously donating their space for this project. We will construct …
In 20220, Sustainable Woodstock—partnering with the Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District and Good Point Recycling—collected, shredded and recycled some 2.5 tons of paper and collected over 4.5 tons of used electrics. In 2022 we will again stage this event at the Woodstock Union High School & Middle School parking lot from 10:00AM-1:00PM on …
From appreciating their beauty and form to understanding their role in storing and sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change—trees are having their moment. Here in the Green Mountains, much of the attention goes to Vermont’s State Tree; our arboreal rock star, the sugar maple. According to iNaturalist.org, however, there are some 75 species of tree …
The growing awareness of climate change and its impacts on the world around us is often accompanied by thoughts and feelings that color the perspectives that influence how we live each day. When was the last time you experienced a hot summer day and simply thought about taking a swim, or going out for some …
With the existential impacts of human-caused climate change wreaking havoc around the world, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that we need to do everything possible to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. And while the huge quantities of fossil fuel consumed by lawn care equipment hasn’t previously drawn much attention, that’s beginning to change. A 2019 U.S. …
There are many ways to reduce your personal transportation emissions, including: carpooling, biking, taking public transportation, and driving a hybrid or electric vehicle. One way of reducing emissions that has become more popular in recent years are electric bicycles, or “e-bikes.” E-bikes are a great transportation option that is becoming more familiar as more people …
A ray of light may soon break through the political storm clouds that have long overshadowed previous attempts to implement meaningful efforts to fight climate change at the federal level. The climate and energy bill proposed by Democrats in the U.S. Senate, which is part of the larger Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, would provide …
Hope on the Horizon in Federal Climate & Energy Bill Read More »
The Whole Earth in Our Hands It wasn’t long ago when we listened for decisions rendered by the Supreme Court of the United States with hope that the court’s rulings would reflect justice for all, and a jurisprudence imbued with compassion and concern for the greater good. This hope now seems misplaced, if not quaint, …
Native communities of the early 1600’s, such as the Wampanoag and Massachusett, taught the newly-arrived Europeans how to plant seeds individually rather than sowing seeds by broadcasting them on the ground, as was the custom in Europe. Over many generations, by carefully selecting and planting seeds from preferred plants, Native Americans encouraged certain varieties of …
