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Photo Credit: Dreaming Out Loud
February 2024
This Black History Month, Sustainable DC is proud to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of Black farmers in and around the District. As we work towards a more sustainable and equitable future, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the resilience, expertise, and cultural heritage of Black farmers who have played a significant role in shaping our local agricultural landscape. Despite historical challenges and systemic barriers, these farmers have persevered, cultivating not only nutritious and diverse crops but also fostering community connections.
Through their commitment to sustainable farming practices, many Black farmers in the area are at the forefront of innovative approaches that promote both environmental stewardship and food justice, both key focus areas in Sustainable DC 2.0. Join us in acknowledging and supporting our local Black-owned farms such as Dreaming Out Loud, Three Part Harmony, Deep Roots Farm and many more as we work together to build a more inclusive and sustainable food system for all. We also would like to encourage you to support organizations such as the Black Dirt Farm Collective which provides a safe space for farmers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Zero Waste DC Plan Released
Under the Sustainable DC Plan, the District established an ambitious zero waste goal to divert 80% of the entire citywide waste stream away from landfill and incineration towards its highest and best use. On February 22, the Bowser Administration released the Zero Waste DC Plan, a strategic roadmap to accomplish this goal through cost-effective and sustainable solid waste management.
The Zero Waste DC Plan outlines a series of actions and policies that together would divert almost one million tons of DC’s solid waste annually, lower DC’s greenhouse gas emissions by over one million metric tons annually, and create 300 green jobs within District government. The Plan was developed through eight years of research and analysis, collaboration between District agencies and external stakeholders, and 20 community events and several public surveys that allowed residents to provide feedback, ideas, and solutions aimed at reducing DC’s waste footprint.
Read the Plan at https://zerowaste.dc.gov/zwdcplan.
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Rheaply Reuse Marketplace Launching in DC
Rheaply, the climate technology company on a mission to bring circularity to every business, is launching a Public Reuse Marketplace in Washington, DC. Now, DC area businesses of all sizes can donate, buy, or sell furniture, fixtures, building materials, and other workplace items to fulfill any project. Join for free today and help keep valuable products and materials in use, reduce costs and landfill waste, and reach Sustainable DC and Zero Waste DC goals. Learn more about other reuse opportunities at the Department of Energy and Environment’s Reuse DC website.
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District Adopts the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule
The District has adopted the Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) II Rule, which requires auto manufacturers to ensure that every new light-duty car sold in the District is a zero-emission vehicle by 2035. ACC II would set the District on a path to lower vehicle emissions and kickstart a healthy transition to electric vehicles and cleaner air. Maryland and Virginia have also adopted the rule, meaning that by the year 2035, every new car, sport utility vehicle, or pickup registered in the DC region will have to be a clean, zero-emission vehicle.
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Host a Battery Collection Site
As part of the District’s newly launched battery recycling program, the program coordinator Call2Recycle is inviting businesses, libraries, office buildings, government agencies, and retailers to participate as battery collection sites. These sites are a cornerstone of the recycling program and participation is free! If your organization is interested, please reach out to Call2Recycle at customerservice@call2recycle.org to learn more.
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GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Request for Applications - Community Stormwater Solutions Grant Program
The Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Department of Energy and Environment partnered on this program to provide up to $35,000 in funding to support community-oriented and inspired projects that are designed to increase knowledge and lead to behavior change as it relates to watershed and stormwater-related issues. This grant can fund activities such as educational events/workshops, installation and maintenance of runoff-reducing green infrastructure, art installations, restoration of habitat, litter or pollution reduction, or other project types that meet the goals of the grant program. For more information, please visit https://cbtrust.org/grants/district-of-columbia-community-stormwater-solutions/. Applications are due March 28.
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Request for Applications - DC Energy Storage Grant Program (Round 2)
The Department of Energy and Environment seeks eligible entities to apply for the Energy Storage Grant Program to maximize the benefits of renewable energy in the District by deploying and integrating battery energy storage systems in commercial buildings and multifamily residential buildings with five or more units. The amount available for the project is $3,560,494. For more information, please visit https://doee.dc.gov/node/1709011. Applications are due April 12.
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JOBS
DC Greens – Farm Assistant
The Well at Oxon Run is seeking a full time, temporary farm assistant to work alongside their farm manager during the months of April through October. They will be responsible for daily farm operations including, but not limited to crop production and community engagement. For best consideration, applicants should apply by March 4. For more information about the role or to apply, see the job posting.
Department of Energy and Environment – Environmental Protection Specialist
This position is in the Air Quality Division of the Environmental Services Administration. The incumbent in this position will assist in the development and drafting of environmental policies, regulations, guidelines, procedures, and forms. They will work on one or more environmental programs and assist in planning, developing, preparing, and implementing Standard Operating Procedures, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and similar quality control measures relating to specific environmental disciplines. For more information and to apply, visit careers.dc.gov and enter job ID 25245. Applications are due March 27.
EVENTS
Rooting DC 2024
The Department of Energy and Environment is excited to announce the 17th annual Rooting DC Conference on Saturday March 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.! This day-long event started in 2007 as a small gathering of 150 urban gardeners and has grown into an annual event with hundreds of attendees and local experts from across the region. This year's event is in person and includes educational workshops, networking space, and valuable community building where local food systems stakeholders share their knowledge and learn from one another. Register on the Rooting DC Eventbrite page.
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Fix-It DC
Fix-It DC events are community repair events dedicated to changing the “throw-it-away” mentality. Visitors bring their broken items to the Fix-It DC event where volunteer Fix-It coaches provide guidance in troubleshooting how to repair each item. The next event is:
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Saturday, March 16, 1:30–3:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW) – Registration Opening Soon Here
Event organizers are looking for coaches to help other residents try to repair their small household items. If you are interested in coaching, please sign up here.
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Healthy Homes Fair
Join the Department of Energy and Environment and Electrify DC, a leading nonprofit dedicated to home electrification, at the inaugural Healthy Homes Fair on April 6 at the DC Armory. The event will be a free, full-day expo and interactive learning experience for 1,000+ home renovation professionals, career seekers, homeowners, and renters. Registration is open on the event website.
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The Human Flood Exhibition
The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center is hosting The Human Flood, a site-specific collaborative installation conceived and created by Ellyn Weiss and Sondra N. Arkin, focused on the mass migration of human populations caused by climate change that is underway and will only increase. The exhibition is available February 7 to August 11. More information is available on the museum’s website.
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eCYCLE Collection Events
By recycling used electronics, individuals can help recover valuable resources and properly manage potentially hazardous materials. eCYCLE DC, through manufacturers’ collection and recycling plans, is bringing District residents more options for recycling their electronics.
The following items are banned from the trash and are collected at the eCYCLE DC collection events: computers and monitors, tablets, e-readers, mice, keyboards, DVD or VCR players, printers, televisions, game consoles, and portable music players. For more information, check out this fact sheet. See below for upcoming eCYCLE DC events around the District.
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Saturday March 2nd, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle on 10th St NE between F St NE & G St NE (Ward 6, near Sherwood Recreation Center)
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Saturday March 9, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle on Anacostia Ave NE between Dix St NE & Benning Rd NE (Ward 7, near Anacostia Park Baseball Fields)
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Saturday March 16 , 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle on corner of Joliet St and Martin Luther King Jr Ave St (Ward 8, near Bald Eagle Recreation Center)
Please visit the eCYCLE DC website to check for any updates closer to the event date.
Farming While Black: Authored by Leah Penniman, this is the first comprehensive manual for African-heritage people ready to reclaim their rightful place of dignified agency in the food system and provides a concise “how-to” for all aspects of small-scale farming.
The Cooking Gene: Renowned culinary historian Michael Twitty offers a fresh perspective on our most divisive cultural issue, race, in this illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry—both Black and White—through food, from Africa to America and slavery to freedom.
High On The Hog: In this docuseries, chef and writer Stephen Satterfield traces the delicious, often overlooked origins of African American foodways from Africa to Texas. |
