Environmental Awareness

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Welcome to Environmental Awareness!
Maria Bartlett, Chair

SPOTLIGHT ON GARDEN CLUB CONSERVATION EFFORTS

HARWICH GOES GREENER

The Garden Club of Harwich has partnered with their Department of Public Works in designing a compost program to offset food waste in their town. Learn how Massachusetts became the only state to reduce food waste by clicking on the link below.

Getting the Word Out on Garlic Mustard

The Scituate Garden Club has started a successful campaign, working with their town on "Ship Shape Day", to work with the public to eradicate this invasive species. Click on the link below to see a PSA by the town's 4th graders.

HARWICH GOES GREENER

The Garden Club of Harwich has partnered with their Department of Public Works in designing a compost program to offset food waste in their town. Learn how Massachusetts became the only state to reduce food waste by clicking on the link below.

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Environmental Awareness for GCFM has included a number of activities over the years through our mission to preserve a healthy environment:

Articles for the quarterly Mayflower (see Mayflower page for full archive)
Public policy action by the Board has included:
- Advocating for an updated Bottle Bill in the MA legislature in 2012 and during the November 2014 petition campaign. Those efforts were unsuccessful but are on-going with current 2024 legislation (H3289/S2149). Learn about it here:
  - LETTER TO GCFM BOARD AND DISTRICT PRESIDENTS 3/20/2012
- Advocating for a ban on retail sales of neonicotinoid pesticides. The ban went into effect on July 1, 2022. Learn about it here:
  - LETTER FROM JILL MALCOLM TO MDAR 12/15/2020
- Advocating for the 2024 Bill to Establish Municipal Reforestation Plans. Learn about it here:
  - LETTER FROM MARJORIE DIENHART TO THE CHAIRS 2/2/2024
Workshops/presentations at Annual Meetings and Fall Conferences
Designed a table-top display on Gardening Products to Use/Avoid for use at meetings (see picture)
A 2011 state-wide contest for clubs on reducing members’ greenhouse gas emissions (details here)
Updates on international, national and state policies, meetings and legislation can be found in the Mayflower and at GCFM Board Meetings.

If you are interested in environmental issues, have suggestions for items to include, and/or wish to be involved with this effort, please let me know! I look forward to hearing from you!

maria_bartlett@verizon.net
978-590-0547