Environment Commission Notes and Next Meeting

[Kathleen O'Neil]

Hi Folks,

Here's a summary of what we covered at our last meeting on Feb. 29. (Sorry for the delay in getting this to you.)

ACTIVITIES

1. Hike: We have decided to lead another hike this spring. It's planned for May 12 (the Saturday before Mother's Day), starting at 10am, and ending around noon back at church, where we'll have a potluck lunch. Ballard and Marjorie have offered to scout out an urban trail close to the parish, so people would be able to park at church and walk from there. More details will be announced this weekend.

2. Earth Day Stream Cleanup: David and Kathleen couldn't lead the stream cleanup this year, coordinated with Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS), but the Env. Commission is encouraging St. A's members to participate in one of two stream cleanups to be held 9am-noon on Saturday, April 21. The first option will be one at the same location we led last year, the Paint Branch off Metzerott Road, right off Route 1 (being led this year by a Univ. of MD group).

A second option is a site on the river in Washington DC, quite close to RFK Stadium, which is being led by Maureen David. Contact Maureen for directions to the site (m...@umd.edu).

You can sign up for either site at http://www.anacostiaws.org/earthday2012#Map - or just show up. Signing up ahead of time gets you an optional T-shirt. AWS provides cloth gloves and trash bags. There will be a picnic afterwards at the RFK site at a table Maureen will reserve.  We will provide information about the cleanups at church this weekend.

DISCUSSIONS

1. Proposed garden: Our group had discussed helping to get a flower and possibly herb/vegetable garden started this year, with the understanding that the Student Center residents would do the bulk of the work of maintaining it (and reap any food benefits). Charlie Jones, Buildings and Grounds chairperson, has been tasked with getting approvals to move forward with the project, and he attended our meeting. He says there is not agreement as to whether the garden can move ahead in the proposed location (between the church and Student Center), since that location would require removing a mature holly tree to give the site enough light, and some parishoners oppose cutting down the tree. The process of reaching consensus will likely continue through the spring and summer, so we probably won't break ground on it this year.

Our members supported the idea of a garden in this location, particularly since it could also be the focus of a contemplative space with benches (something our campus currently lacks), and part of a welcoming path through that section of our campus. We felt growing flowers in another location on the church site would help fill the altar guild's needs, but lose this benefit.

2. Replacement Windows Estimate: Carol asked Buildings and Grounds for a wish list of projects that would help the facility become more efficient in the long-term, should money become available. We suggested replacement windows for the parish hall, basement and other locations. Ballard offered to ask a contractor he used for his home window replacement to look at the church and give us an estimate. David and Ballard met with the contractor at St. Andrew's in March and he will give us an estimate for replacement windows soon.

3. Encouraging residents to recycle: The College Park Committee for a Better Environment found that about 26% of residential waste is recycled, and is looking for ways to improve that by educating residents. Ballard (who serves on the committee), said that they also see room for improvement in recycling business waste, which is usually controlled by the waste haulers that businesses contract with. We'll watch to see what the town decides to do, and may propose an educational Adult Forum on recycling, and ways to increase it, this fall.

4. Book Discussion: We are reading "Crow Planet" by Lyanda Haupt, which discusses the nature we can find in urban settings. We'll talk about the first five chapters at our next meeting.

5. NEXT MEETING: Please fill out this Doodle Poll to help us pick a day for our next meeting: http://www.doodle.com/ud5e5zh23be9gsb3

Regards,
Kathleen & David