Friends,  you're invited!

W&OD Day of Service and Social 9/21

We’re so excited to officially launch our first Making History Bloom project on the W&OD Trail on Saturday, September 21 from 3-6pm! We found the perfect spot for our first native meadow, right next to the LOVE sign in Vienna, a favorite destination for family photos. 

Now we need your help to prepare the site! The first step is to remove the many invasive plants. We’ll meet at 3pm on the trail by the LOVE sign, with expert leaders to show us what needs to be done. Afterwards, we’ll convene at the nearby Caboose Brewery to relax, socialize, celebrate our hard work, and raise funds for continuing this important project. 

Native Meadow Plant Count 9/22

Join us for a native meadow plant count in Rappahannock County on Sunday, September 22 at 1pm. We’ll meet at our Making Trash Bloom meadow at the Rappahannock County Landfill, where you’ll help us identify what’s growing in the meadow we planted there two years ago. You’ll be able to spend time outside, meet like-minded folks, and collect valuable data that will help us spread Making Trash Bloom to additional landfills! 

Help us promote recycling at WoodsTACO and Tater Fest 9/28

On Saturday, September 28, we’ll be volunteering to promote recycling at two Shenandoah County celebrations: Woodstock’s WoodsTACO and Mount Jackson’s Tater Fest. Join us at our table to educate people about the state of recycling in the county, encourage people to recycle at our collection stations, and (if you can) help us transport empty bottles and cans to the local collection center. 

If you want to join us for a few hours, reply to this email and we’ll send you more information. Thanks in advance for helping us keep waste out of our landfill!
More information on volunteering for either event can be found here.

Library of Congress Book Festival Highlights

We had the incredible opportunity to share our mission at the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival in Washington, DC! Teaming up with Michael Recycle, the sustainability superhero from the City of Winchester, we explored the exciting world of recycling—sharing practical ways to reduce waste and highlighting the crucial role pollinators play in our ecosystem.

At our booth, we engaged thousands of festival-goers, offering a unique perspective of the world through a bee’s eyes! Using prisms and ultraviolet light, we demonstrated how these vital creatures see their surroundings, helping attendees understand their importance in a new and captivating way. It was heartwarming to see so many people eager to learn about these tiny but mighty heroes!

Our Sustainability Scavenger Hunt was a crowd favorite, guiding attendees to discover eco-friendly practices woven into the festival itself. Participants explored bike racks, compost bins, and reusable bags, gaining first hand experience in how simple, everyday actions can create a big impact.

The enthusiasm, curiosity, and excitement from everyone involved was truly inspiring. A huge thank you to all who visited our booth, volunteered, and helped make this festival experience so memorable and impactful!

Fall Seed Gathering on 10/19

Come join us for a special seed gathering event with Ali & Jeff Carithers, the charismatic hosts of our Native Virginia Now video series! Explore their stunning wildflower meadows, and learn how to identify, collect, and preserve native perennial seeds. Plus, you’ll get to take home some seeds for your own collection. It’s the perfect day of nature, learning, and inspiration!

Attendance at the seed gathering is limited to Sustainability Matters members and volunteers and registration is required. Volunteers and members will receive the registration link via email at the end of September. If you’re not already a member, there’s still time to join!

Saturday, October 19 1-3pm
You will receive location information upon registering.

ICYMI Socials

Plastic in our Brains
Researchers have found microplastics in the human brain. Find out what this means, and how to limit your exposure. 

Celery Leaf Salad
Celery leaves are packed full of vitamins and can make a great addition to your next salad. 

Mums vs Asters 
Plant for pollinators this fall. Ditch the mums and plant some native aster!