Welcome!
Founded in 2017, Westfield Green Together (WGT) promotes and educates about sustainable practices in the city of Westfield, Indiana. To receive our newsletter, subscribe on our website at https://wgtogether.org
Also check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WGTogether/
What’s Happening in Westfield?
Westfield board member, Bobby Jean Kimball, graciously hosted a garden tour at her home on June 24th. Here are some photos of the well-attended event:
The Wandering Peacock pottery studio on Jersey Street hosted an open house on August 23rd which included refreshments, music, booths selling pottery and yard art, live pottery wheel demonstrations, plein air painting, a live mural painting as well as public tours of the community sharing garden. Here is the WGT table, where we gave away seed packets and educated attendees on winter seed sowing, and the WGT mural:
The Westfield High School Shamrock Connections students have been helping WGT with gardening at Monon Trail Elementary School (MTES) and the community sharing garden. Produce, shown below, will be used by the culinary students at the high school:
Upcoming Events:
- On September 20th from 9:00 to noon, WGT will be planting natives to enhance parking lot gardens at 151st and the Monon Trail. If you would like to help, contact WGT at the email address at the top of the newsletter.
- The Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District is conducting a native tree and plant sale fundraiser through September 21st. They also offer free native landscaping plans to support residents in transitioning to native landscaping. For more information: www.hamiltonswcd.org/treesale.html
- The City of Westfield is offering free, family-friendly nature walks along the Midland Trace Trail. All ages are welcome along with dogs on leashes. The 2-mile walk is considered easy to moderate. Attendees are asked to register on the city’s website beforehand. Walks are being conducted on select Friday mornings, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., on October 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th starting from Grand Junction Plaza (225 S. Union Street).
- WGT is working with staff at Grand Park to do a large tree planting project in early October. Follow WGT to learn when dates are confirmed and to sign up to help.
- A Weed Wrangle will take place at Asa Bales Park on October 18th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. All are welcome!
Easy Ways to Reduce Your Impact on the Earth
- With fall approaching, just a reminder to leave leaves on the ground! Fallen leaves are beneficial by providing natural mulch, suppressing weeds, enriching the soil with nutrients as they decompose, and offer vital habitat for wildlife including insects, birds and small mammals. This practice also reduces pollution from leaf blowers, conserves soil moisture and can even help mitigate climate change.
- While walking along a Lake Michigan beach this summer, our newsletter editor, Monica, picked up several mylar balloons and LOTS of high gloss curling ribbon. Both of these items take many years to decompose and are hazards to wildlife. Consider using paper or fabric decorations like bunting, paper lanterns, streamers, pompoms and paper flowers, as well as bubbles, pinwheels, and kites for interactive fun. Instead of curling ribbon, use fabric ribbons or streamers for backdrops and decorations, or opt for alternatives like washi tape or colorful yarn for crafts and gift wrapping.
- Halloween is a fun holiday for kids and adults alike. It can also be a source of a significant amount of waste. It is estimated that 85% of costumes go to the landfill and most are made of non-recyclable materials. So, here are some environmentally-friendly costume and party suggestions: source your costume from your closet, reuse an existing costume, swap with friends or make one using cardboard, etc.; shop thrift stores and consignment shops for affordable costume options; shop sustainably for party items and buy local; look for foods, candles and treats that have minimal and, preferably, non-plastic packaging; use reusable plates and utensils and reusable treat bags; buy locally sourced pumpkins; look for cardboard-packaged candies which are generally recyclable; create digital party invitations; try roasting the seeds from your Jack-o-Lantern for a tasty treat, and compost it when the holiday is over; make sustainable decorations out of newspaper, leaves, pinecones, corn husks, pumpkins, gourds and other sustainable materials.
Fun Green Resources
Check out HortusScope at https://hortusscope.info. for a list of “green” events and educational tidbits in central Indiana.
The Indiana Native Plant Society provides a wealth of information about protecting natural places and how to add native plants to your garden. Check them at https://indiananativeplants.org
The Xerces Society’s Bug Banter podcast explores the world of invertebrates and uncovers how to help these extraordinary animals. Each episode shares secrets of tiny creatures that live amongst us but are often unknown.
Your Westfield Parks
The Westfield City Council approved a resolution to purchase approximately 22.5 acres of land for a new park at the northwest corner of 186th Street and Casey Road. The city is still woefully behind where it should be as far as park acreage based on population, but is moving in the right direction.
Green Book Club
The book club took a hiatus during the summer, but will meet again for a “walk and talk” at MacGregor Park on Saturday, November 1st, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the book “Not Just a Homemaker: The Extraordinary Life of Sheila MacGregor” by Paulette Brooks. The book is available at the Westfield Washington Public Library or through Evergreen. Join us whether you have read the book or not!
And, if you haven’t yet read our last book club book “Waste Wars,” we are happy to loan you a copy. Just fill out the contact form on our website. A quick takeaway from the book:
- Everyone needs to reduce plastic use as only 9% of all plastics worldwide are recycled
- Plastic waste perpetuators (tech companies, cruise ship operators, petrochemical conglomerates) need to be held financially liable for their role in the plastic trash epidemic
- Over 200 new petrochemical plants, which produce plastics, are currently under construction in North America!
Other
Federal solar tax credits expire at the end of 2025! Now is the time to “go solar.” Solar United Neighbors can help. Contact them at: https://solarunitedneighbors.org/locations/indiana/
Westfield Green Together 