Dec. 2nd News | 🌱 Biochar giveaway, energy experts, and board openings

[Zach Scheffler]

Hi everybody! 👋

Hoping you're warm and well on this snowy Monday. And thanks again for your interest in our work here on the St. Albans City Climate & Energy Committee. Here are a few things we're up to as we enter the snowier months of the year:

📒 Next meeting: 6PM Thursday, Dec. 5th, St. Albans City Hall - Curious about our work? Have an idea? Want to meet committee members? Join us in City Hall's council chambers this Thursday evening. All are welcome. Virtual options are available. Find full details and agenda items here.

🌱 Sign up for our free biochar waitlist - We're looking for folks interested in using biochar. Biochar is a type of charcoal which is made at high temperatures. In the soil it acts as a sponge for both water and nutrients. It also provides habitat for soil organisms. Benefits to plant growth vary depending on soil type. Biochar reduces excess wetness, balances nutrient availability and accessibility, and improves soil ecosystems. This can help your garden do better. Also, since biochar is almost pure carbon in a stable form, it’s carbon remains sequestered in the soil for hundreds of years.

We're able to provide this biochar thanks to compost gifted by Hudak Farms. A big thank-you to volunteers Jim Stiles and Ed Ballantyne. Learn more in our press release.

Jeff Rouleau, teacher, brought a car-load of rich biochar-compost mix to St. Albans City School. Thanks, Jeff!

📼 The "Energy Experts" are on YouTube! We assembled energy experts at our local library in October. They answered your questions about renewable energy, home heating, weatherization, transportation, and more. Watch the entire Q&A on YouTube.

✋ Board openings - We're seeking community members interested in local climate and energy work. Our board is all-volunteer and meets once a month. It has seven voting members, and 2 vacant seats are now open. The committee also welcomes non-voting volunteers. Learn more and apply here.

📣 Updates and gratitude - Our Fall WindowDressers event was a success. Volunteers built 155 inserts to weatherize drafty homes and lower residents' energy costs. Many thanks to Marlena Valenta at the Northwest Regional Planning Commission for organizing. And to Laura Isham and Sue Knightes for their help (and cookies!). We also want to thank Food City, Hannaford, and Price Chopper for their generous donations.

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That's all for now, everybody! Appreciate your readership. Stay warm and be well.

Sincerely,
The St. Albans Energy Committee
stalbansvt.com/energycmte