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Environmental Speaker Series Calendar
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UPCOMING EVENTS Organic Garden and Landscape Tour NSTAR Green – Wind power for your home 
Join us for another great season at the 29th 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 4-5 homes with organic gardens featuring flowers, vegetables and even an organically maintained lawn or two! 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, with alternatives to invasive species and without chemical pesticides! The tour is limited to 25 people; we will meet at City Hall at 12:30 pm and car-pool to the gardens. For advance ticket purchase, more information & "sneak peeks" of the gardens: 617-965-1995.
Please join us for a guided tour of four solar powered energy efficient homes. We will also see the solar systems on the Newton Community Services Center and Newton South High School, which hosts one of the largest solar arrays in the state. Both photovoltaic and solar hot water systems will be featured, and information about costs, financing, installers, and other topics will be covered in some detail. This is a chance to assess the potential of your home for solar access and solar energy power, and to learn how to support renewable power even if your home is not suitable for a rooftop system.
Register online or make your check out to GDC/N-Solar and send to Green Decade Coalition/Newton , PO Box 590242, Newton, MA 02459. Proceeds help support upkeep of the solar panels at NCSC. More information or call 617-965-1995 or info@greendecade.org.
Insulating your home properly is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to minimize your energy waste and maximize your energy dollars. And despite what you may have heard, it is possible to weatherize your older home without compromising its historical character. This workshop will include hands-on demonstration of various energy-saving tools, such as blower doors and infrared cameras. We'll also take an objective look at the different products and techniques for increasing energy efficiency. Learn how you can stay warm this winter, save money, and reduce your ecological footprint at the same time. The workshop will be held at The Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead (527 Washington St., Newton); proceeds will go to The Green Decade Coalition and the Newton Historical Society. More information on "Insulating Your Older Home"
A higher quality of life at a lower cost of living—what could be better? David Del Porto and his wife, Elva, have spent 25 years turning this vision into a reality. Today, their Newton Centre home is a model of sustainable design. You'll tour their "Urban Ark," and discover how they've integrated space heat, food production, air purification, and wastewater treatment within an amazing two-story greenhouse. They'll share the successes and failures of their quest for green living, and show you how to invest your time and money to get the most benefit from the least effort. And with rising fuel and water prices and dwindling resources, there's no time like the present to learn methods that can provide environmental and economic security for you and your family. Directions to the meeting point will be provided to registrants; proceeds will go to The Green Decade Coalition. More information on the "Urban Ark"
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 Welcome Wagon 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, Green Decade Welcome Wagon 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.
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