Environmental News Roundup – October 14, 2015

Big Apple-based Big Farms growing greenhouse in Culpeper

BrightFarms, a greenhouse aquaponics developer, has opened its doors to the public in Culpepper County, Virginia. This project has increased the production of local produce and 24 new jobs. Most of our produce comes from California, Florida, Arizona, Mexico, and Canada. This causes the price and travel time of the produce to increase, and the quality to decline. In addition to the aquaponics system, there are interior beehives that assist with the pollination. Since this new project is local to Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, it cuts the time and cost of transportation, while growing produce that is free of pesticides and GMOs.

Johnie Forte, Jr. Memorial Environmental Education Grant

The Johnie Forte, Jr. Memorial Environmental Education Grant is open to all Fairfax County Public and Private Schools, clubs, and programs that reside in schools. Fairfax County Schools and environmental clubs can earn a grant of $250-$500 to carry out their environmental projects involving sustainability initiatives, litter prevention and control, recycling, reuse, composting etc.  

All requests must include an itemized budget. Additionally, they need to be completed by the end of the school year, unless more time is specifically requested. Projects which are awarded grants are invited, but not required to present their program results at SpringFest 2015.

*This grant is sponsored by Clean Fairfax and Fairfax County Recycling Program.

Lexus Made A Cardboard Car That Actually Drives

Recently, Lexus reviled a car that is made out of cardboard, and runs on an electric engine. Over the steel and aluminum frame, the car included 1,700 recyclable sheets of cardboard. The team consisted of five people. Together, they came up with the digital design, modeling, laser cutting, and assembly. The car was on display at the Grand Designs Live event in England.  

Two tales of one village

Last October, Yirca, Turkey went through a devastation of many olive trees from a coal company. Late last year, officials declared in court that the destruction of olive groves illegal. In the same village, GreenPeace has installed solar panels electricity systems in the village’s school, mosque, and cemetery. Moving away from the dependency of fossil fuel, now the village can use renewable energy powered from the sun. The installation of the solar panels included the village’s school, mosque, and cemetery. With the help of local people, volunteers from eight different countries, and GreenPeace, the residents from Yirca can enjoy renewable solar energy, and remove dependency from coal.    

Saturday, May 16, 2015: 10AM to 4PM

Come along and bring a friend! Enjoy the day with free events!

Digital Responsibility is Offering an Environmental Scholarship

Our friends at Digital Responsibility are offering a $1,000 E-waste scholarship to high school, college, and graduate students, who are interested in the environment.

“The purpose of this scholarship is to help you understand the impact of e-waste and what can be done to reduce e-waste” (Digital Responsibility).

For more information, check out their website and be thinking of the best 140 character application you can! Hurry up, the deadline is on April 30, 2105!

Mark your calendars! As the warmer weather creeps up, it’s a nice time to come by and enjoy SpringFest!

Document Shredding

Document Shredding Event on March 21

Fairfax County will host a document shredding event on Saturday, March 21, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Mason District Government Center (6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale 22003).

We will not accept paper documents from businesses at these events. Please remove all paper from binders and remove binder clips, plastic page covers and binding. Information stored on film or computer disks and credit cards will not be accepted – paper documents only.

All documents will be securely shredded on-site by a private contractor and the shredded material will be taken to a local recycling facility for processing. For additional information related to shredding events, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/shredding.htm.

Each of these events are free services for Fairfax County residents. No business waste will be accepted at these events. Please visit the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program website – www.fairfaxcounty.gov/recycling – for additional information about trash and recycling topics in Fairfax County. You can also contact our office by calling 703-324-5230, TTY 711.

Conservation Assistance Program

Funding Assistance for Conservation Work on Homeowner and Community Association Property

Have you ever thought about improving your community’s common lands by installing a rain garden to capture runoff, incorporating native meadow or tree and shrub species into your landscaping, or even installing porous pavers on a portion of your parking lot? Do you want to improve the energy efficiency of your community’s clubhouse or other shared building? These practices and more are now eligible for cost-share funding through the newly-launched Conservation Assistance Program (CAP).

Visit the CAP webpage on the Conservation District’s website to learn more about eligible practices, funding levels, and who can apply. Applications are due by March 11th, so don’t delay!

For other updates, please consider subscribing to NVSWCD’s monthly watershed calendar. Email conservationdistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov to subscribe.

Squirrels have been around for ages. . . and they are EVERYWHERE. Yet, not many people know much about these furry little creatures. A blog released by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), includes 10 nutty facts about squirrels.

1. Squirrels can find food buried beneath a foot of snow.
2. A squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing.
3. Squirrels may lost 25% of their buried food to thieves.
4. They zigzag to escape predators.
5. Squirrels may pretend to bury a nut to throw off potential thieves.
6. A newborn squirrel is about an inch long.
7. Humans introduced squirrels to most of our major city parks.
8. Squirrels are acrobatic, intelligent and adaptable.
9. They get bulky to stay warm during the winter.
10. Squirrels don’t dig up all of their buried nuts, which results in more trees!

To find out more information about squirrels and ways to celebrate them, click here.