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March 2025

Image Credit: Danielle Simmons at Lamond-Riggs Urban Food Hub

As the first signs of spring emerge, gardeners everywhere are gearing up for another season of growth. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, spring is an exciting time to prepare your garden for the months ahead. Through sustainable gardening practices, you can enhance soil health and promote biodiversity. Here are some tips for preparing your gardens, garden beds, or growing containers:

1. Ensure soil is in good condition, meaning it’s rich, dark, and teeming with life including earthworms and insects.
2. Till the soil to break up clumps but be careful not to overdo it and harm the soil structure.
3. Add organic matter like compost, manure, and cover crops to enrich the soil with nutrients.
4. Choose seeds well-suited to the local environment, like natives, drought tolerant species, and heirloom varieties, which can be better for pollinators.
5. Consult with a trusted garden guide and learn your garden zone for optimal seed germination and plant growth, including whether seeds can be started indoors or sown directly in the ground.

Spring is a time of renewal and growth, and by taking steps to prepare your garden sustainably, you are setting the stage for a fruitful season. Happy gardening!

Launch of DC 2050: A Plan for All 8 Wards The Office of Planning (OP) kicked off the first full rewrite of the District’s Comprehensive Plan in nearly 20 years. OP is working alongside residents, community-based organizations, businesses, and elected officials to develop DC 2050 which will guide where and how we build new housing, grow job opportunities, connect neighborhoods, preserve our rich history, and invest in amenities. Learn more and take the DC 2050 Vision Survey at https://dc2050.dc.gov/.

Help Save a Bird's Life with Lights Out DC This Migration Season In urban areas, bird collisions with buildings occur because of light pollution. The problem worsens during periods of migration, such as mid-March to June. Migrating birds can’t see window glass. Unfortunately, to them, the large plant next to your window looks like a great place to rest. The easiest way you can help protect birds is to turn off all unnecessary lights at night. For more information, see https://doee.dc.gov/page/safety-migrating-birds and check out City Wildlife’s Lights Out DC campaign.

RiverSmart Schools Maintenance, Education, and Training

The Department of Energy and Environment seeks eligible entities to design and implement the RiverSmart Schools Education program. The program (1) restores selected schools’ green infrastructure installations, (2) teaches teachers in selected schools how to use the sites as educational tools, with students’ hands-on care, and (3) provides “light” assistance and/or resources to schools not selected for the more intense work. The amount available for the project is approximately $75,000. For more information, see https://doee.dc.gov/node/1766841. The deadline for application submissions is March 28.

2025 Youth Bicycle Clinic and Ride Grant

The Department of Energy and Environment seeks an eligible entity to educate youth in the District on bicycle maintenance, safety, and basic repairs. The purposes are to (1) help them become bicycle pioneers in their respective communities, (2) deepen their knowledge and exposure to alternative forms of transportation, and (3) encourage them to seek alternative forms of transportation. The amount available for the project is $60,000. For more information, see https://doee.dc.gov/node/1769066. The deadline for application submissions is March 31.

Casey Trees – Director, Tree Operations

Casey Trees is a nonprofit committed to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. The Director of Tree Operations manages and motivates a team of employees dedicated to planting and maintaining thousands of trees across the District, Maryland, and Virginia through a variety of programs and funding sources. The incumbent oversees and ensures the smooth and uninterrupted operations of functions, activities, and internal and external relationships. For more information and to apply, visit the Casey Trees job webpage. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Anacostia Watershed Society – Director of Development and Communications

The Anacostia Watershed Society’s mission is to protect and restore the Anacostia River by bringing partners and communities together to achieve a clean and safe Anacostia River for the benefit of all living in its watershed and for future generations. The Director will lead a high-performing team of development, marketing, and communications professionals in formulating and implementing a creative multi-year strategy that enables the expansion of the organization’s donor base, revenue, visibility, and influence, while maintaining benchmark best practices. For more information and to apply, visit the position description. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

PurpleAir Sensor Project

The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) seeks to increase its measurements of air pollution on a hyperlocal scale by empowering residents from across the District to participate in the PurpleAir sensor project. PurpleAir sensors track and collect localized air quality data, measuring particulate matter in the surrounding area. Residents can host a PurpleAir sensor at their home or their workplace. DOEE will loan PurpleAir sensors to residents through a loan agreement signed by both DOEE and the resident. Installation and maintenance of the PurpleAir sensor will be handled by DOEE staff and trained Air Ambassadors. It’s completely free! To learn more, visit https://doee.dc.gov/service/purpleair-sensor-project.

Sustainable DC Newsletter Input

Thank you for reading the monthly Sustainable DC newsletter! The Sustainable DC team works to bring you the key updates on sustainability in DC through this newsletter. As subscribers, you can let us know what you find most valuable and what you’d like to see done differently. Please fill out the short survey at https://forms.gle/CK3osWXMnYVP9NLJ8 by April 18 to provide your input on the Sustainable DC newsletter and engagement activities on DC’s sustainability plan more broadly.

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 on troubleshooting how to repair each item. The next event is Wednesday, March 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW). Visit https://doee.dc.gov/service/fix-it for more information and to register.

World Water Day at Union Station Come on down to Union Station’s Main Hall for World Water Day, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. There will be a free water bottle giveaway and the Department of Energy and Environment will have an engaging lineup of activities including trivia on DC’s water-related goals, tips for helping keep our local streams and watersheds healthy, a floodplain model, info on wetlands, and more. Learn more at https://www.unionstationdc.com/events/world-water-day/.

Sustainability Summit Join Destination DC and the Department of Energy and Environment at the second annual Sustainability Summit on Wednesday, March 26, 8:00-11:30 a.m. Hosted at the Embassy of France, the summit will focus on the theme of “ambassadors” to empower attendees to serve as an ambassador for a more sustainable future for tourism, meetings and events in DC. The District’s Sustainability Award Winners will be recognized at the event. Learn more and register at https://washington.org/event/sustainability-summit.

Healthy Flavors of the City 2025 Join the Department of Parks and Recreation on Saturday, March 29 at the Benning Stoddert Community Center from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to enjoy tasty, nutritious dishes prepared by executive chefs, receive food and nutrition advice from culinary experts and registered dietitians, and engage with local leaders and healthcare providers. Learn more and register at https://healthyflavorsofthecity2025.splashthat.com/.

ReThread DC Clothing Swap ReThread DC, the District’s textile reuse and recovery initiative, will be hosting several workshops with the Southwest Neighborhood Library, located at 900 Wesley Place SW. The workshops will cover a range of mending techniques and upcycling projects for beginner and intermediate sewers. To kick off the series, ReThread DC will be hosting a clothing swap for all ages, sizes, and genders on Sunday, March 30 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. that will feature items in gently used condition. Learn more and register at https://doee.dc.gov/service/rethread-dc.

DC-MD-VA Food Waste Prevention Week Food Waste Prevention Week is a national movement to educate and inspire real cultural change around food waste to help families save money, reduce the negative impact of food waste on the environment, and address hunger in our communities. The DC region’s Food Waste Prevention Week is happening April 7-13 and will include tours, informational resources, and more. Learn more at https://dmvfoodrecoveryweek.org/.

Spring Evening Fishing Event Would you like to go fishing but don’t know where to go or what equipment you need? The Department of Energy and Environment can help you get started! Come by the Tidal Basin on Wednesday, April 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for an evening of fishing. All equipment and bait will be provided. For more information on fishing in the District, see https://doee.dc.gov/service/learn-fish.

DC Climate Week The District will be host to the first DC Climate Week April 28-May 2. Organized by a volunteer steering committee that includes representatives from climate tech, policy advocacy, and more, the week-long event aims to establish DC as the nation’s center of climate innovation by providing opportunities to engage with policymakers, fund climate solutions, and showcase cutting-edge technologies. Each day will focus on a climate theme, such as urban development and mobility and nature-based solutions. Learn more at https://www.dcclimateweek.com/.

Healthy Homes Fair The Healthy Homes Fair is a free, fun, full-day event packed with practical resources for homeowners and renters, information on incentives available, and career enhancing opportunities for building professionals and jobseekers. Expo (1 to 5 p.m.): Explore more than 100 exhibits to learn how to upgrade your or your clients’ home for greater comfort, improved health, and lower energy costs. Academy (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Learn about heat pumps, battery storage, smart panels, electric vehicle chargers, insulation, and solar, geothermal and wind renewable energy solutions. The fair will be Saturday, May 10 at the Pryzbyla Center at Catholic University. Visit https://www.healthyhomesfair.org/ for more information.

Looking for Volunteer Events? The Sustainable DC team maintains a calendar of volunteer opportunities on the Sustainable DC website. The calendar features volunteer events with community organizations that advance the District’s sustainability goals. If you would like to receive biweekly emails with upcoming volunteer opportunities, you can sign up through the form on the bottom of the volunteer webpage.

Composting Saves Renters, Homeowners Hundreds of Dollars in Trash Bags: Washington Informer article about the evolution of the District’s composting options and the benefits residents have discovered.

National Park Service moves forward with Piney Branch Tunnel Project: WUSA9 article about initial steps to move forward on the Piney Branch Tunnel Project, which will divert sewage overflows from going into Piney Branch and Rock Creek during storms.