Urban Agriculture Takes Root

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 04/07/2026 10:50 AM EDT

April 2026

Image Credit: Vinicio Linares

This past March, more than 900 local growers and food-systems stakeholders gathered at Rooting DC. This free urban gardening conference hosted 50 exhibitors and 30 workshops and supports the Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan’s goal to expand urban agriculture. Presentation themes included gardening strategies and techniques, health, wellness and culinary, sustainable resource management and conservation, and food systems and policy. Presentations are now available on the Rooting DC webpage! Feeling inspired by Rooting DC and want to volunteer at a community garden this spring? Check out our volunteer calendar and newsletter which highlight opportunities that support the vision and goals of Sustainable DC.

District Sustainability Award Winners Announced

Mayor Muriel Bowser presented this year’s District Sustainability Award winners at Destination DC and the Department of Energy and Environment’s third annual Sustainability Summit,. The winners are Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center, To Go Green, VMDO DC, DC Greens, Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Erin Palmer, and American University. The District Sustainability Awards highlight businesses, individuals, and organizations that are working towards a more sustainable DC. Descriptions of the winners and case studies can be found on the District Sustainability Awards webpage.

DC Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency Releases Third Report

The DC Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency released their third report focusing on responding to recent drivers of climate change and strengthening the District’s capacity to meet locally determined climate goals. The report affirms substantial progress made to mitigate and adapt to climate change; assesses overall progress toward established long-term goals; and recommends new actions, while affirming previous recommendations made in the first and second reports by the Commission. To read the report, visit their website here.

Strategic Energy Investment Dashboard Published

The Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) Research, Analytics, and Development (RAD) Branch launched the Strategic Energy Investment Dashboard. This public tool enables users to view DOEE-funded energy projects aimed at reducing utility costs, modernizing buildings, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions in one place, showing where dollars were invested and the types of energy projects that are happening in every ward, Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and Census tract. Accompanying this launch is a new post to the RAD Publicly Available Discussion blog: https://rad.quarto.pub/rad-pad/posts/seid/seid.html.

Water Pollution Reporting Tool Launched

The Department of Energy and Environment’s Inspection and Enforcement Division launched a new Water Pollution Reporting Tool, now available to the public at https://doee.dc.gov/service/reportwaterpollution. Reporting and addressing spills and other forms of pollution helps keep District waterways safe and clean.

District Department of Transportation Opens Requests for Applications for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program

The District Department of Transportation is soliciting applications from organizations, businesses, or property owners to design, build, operate and maintain federally compliant fast charging stations for electric vehicles. Applications are due by Tuesday, May 26, by 5:00 p.m. For more information, see the announcement here.

Anacostia Watershed Society – River Restoration Associate

The Anacostia Watershed is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and restore the Anacostia watershed for the benefit of all who live here and for future generations. They’re seeking a River Restoration Associate to provide on-the-water, field, and facility support for their organization. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.anacostiaws.org/about-us/employment-and-internships.html. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Department of Energy and Environment – Green Zone Environmental Program

Are you a high school senior, college student, recent graduate, or young adult interested in a short-term or summer job working with youth and the environment? If so, you can apply to be a Team Leader, Site Manager, Warehouse Project Manager, Communication Coordinator, Field Manager, or Operations Program Support Assistant for DOEE’s Green Zone Environmental Program. Applications are open until May 1 or May 15 depending on the position. For more information and to apply visit https://doee.dc.gov/summer.

‘Kids Ride Free’ Program in DC Surpasses Major Milestone: The Kids Ride Free program has distributed more than 450,000 access cards since its inception thirteen years ago and saves students an average of $810 per year. The program was created so that transportation would not be a barrier to kids’ success.

Sustainability Summit Brings Six D.C. Schools to Catholic University: Catholic University hosted the Spring 2026 Student Sustainability Summit which brought together DC college students to present and discuss sustainability issues.

Stamp Out Waste!

Celebrate Earth Month at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum with a day of hands-on creativity and planet-friendly fun. Explore how mail and the postal service connect communities while discovering ways to reduce waste, reuse materials, and care for the Earth! The event will be hosted on Saturday, April 11, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Visit their website for more information.

Earth Month at The Library

The DC Public Library is celebrating earth month through sustainable-focused events across library locations. Events include:

Plus-sized Clothing Swap on Sunday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m. at MLK Library
Build an Earth Day Terrarium on Thursday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m. at Parklands-Turner Library
Fabric Recycling with Helpsy on Saturday, April 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Palisades Library
Flowerpot and Clipping Swap on Saturday April 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Shepherd Park/Juanita E. Thornton Library

For more information, visit DC Public Library’s events page.

NatureFest

NatureFest is a week-long event during DC Public Schools spring break, providing a safe space for youth ages 5–12 and their families to connect with nature and build lasting memories. Each day offers a variety of activities including boat rides on the river, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, live animals, skating, and more! NatureFest will take place April 13–17 from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. Register here.

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 Wednesday, April 15, 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.

DC Climate Week / Sustainability Walking Tour

DC Climate Week will be back for its second year in 2026, from April 20 to 26. DC Climate Week is a community-organized week of events, exhibitions, tours, screenings, and gatherings across DC to explore the challenges of the climate crisis and discover the solutions that give us hope.

As a part of climate week, the Department of Energy and Environment is hosting a Sustainability Walking Tour of Southwest on Friday, April 24 from 11:00a.m.-1:00pm. to highlight real-world projects in the neighborhood that bring us closer to achieving the goals in the Sustainable DC plan. View the DC Climate Week events calendar here and register for the walking tour here.

DC Mayoral Sustainability Forum

Save the date for the DC Mayoral Sustainability Forum, a nonpartisan event organized by local community and nonprofit organizations. Held at THEARC Theater, the event will host a discussion on the city’s future with DC’s mayoral candidates focusing on the District’s health, economic resilience, and environment. It will be held on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Reserve tickets here.

City Nature Challenge 2026

The City Nature Challenge is an adventure in metropolitan areas worldwide to discover and identify wildlife. Through observations identifications, you will help scientists collect valuable information on biodiveristy in the Washington, DC metro area. Observations will take place Friday, April 24 – Monday, April 27. Vist their website for more information.

Friends of the National Arboretum Garden Fair and Plant Sale

The Friends of the National Arboretum is hosting their annual garden fair and plant sale on April 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Shop thousands of plants hand-selected by their team of garden experts, browse from 25+ local vendors selling plant-related products, and enjoy free family activities. Learn more and register here.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 10^th Annual Spring Cleanup

Mayor Muriel Bowser invites residents across all eight wards to participate in the 10th Annual Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visit this link to find the cleanup happening in your ward.

Dreaming Out Loud’s Spring Festival

Celebrate the new growing season at Dreaming Out Loud’s annual Spring Festival. The event is a vibrant community event with live music featuring various local retail vendors and food vendors as well as family-friendly activities. It will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Farm at Kelly Miller, 301 49th St. NE, Washington, DC 20019. Register here.

ReThread DC Mending Workshop

ReThread DC, the District’s textile reuse and recovery initiative, is hosting several workshops with the Southwest Neighborhood Library, located at 900 Wesley Place SW. This month, ReThread DC is hosting a Mending Workshop on Sunday, April 26 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Attendees will learn new skills to breathe new life into tired items from their closets. Registration will be available here.

Anacostia River Festival

The 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service present the 12th annual Anacostia River Festival. This free, family-friendly event at Anacostia Park will focus on the theme “Celebrate DC Herstory,” honoring the women who shaped our city while uplifting community, culture, and connection. It will take place on Saturday, May 16 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more information and to register, visit their website.

Nature Forward Flood Education Workshops

Join Nature Forward and their partners for their flood education workshops in wards 5, 6, and 8 this spring and summer. These three-part workshops will be tailored to each ward focused on Flooding 101, Preparedness for Every Emergency, and Community Resilience in Practice. All District residents who attend receive a stipend for food, childcare and/or other needs while learning about flooding, emergency preparedness, and community resilience.