The Iowa City Farmers Market is postponed for in-person shopping until Saturday, July 4. But for now you can buy goods from a new online shop with "virtual stalls" offering fresh, locally grown produce and other goods from many local vendors. Shoppers will be able to select their choices starting on Mondays at 12 noon and make a no-contact pick-up on Saturday mornings at Chauncey Swan parking ramp. The first pick-up day will be Saturday, May 9. Please note that if pick-up time slots fill up, carts may close prior to Wednesday at noon.
This option is made possible by a partnership between the City and Field to Family, with funding from an Iowa City Climate Action Grant and the City's Parks and Recreation Department.
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague has been hosting Community Connection, a video series that highlights response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic. From health experts to nonprofit organizations, watch to learn how our community partners are working to keep people safe and overcome the obstacles of the coronavirus.
Community Connection is shared on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the City's Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor accounts and it airs on City Channel 4.
Jason Nicholson, Accurate Automotive
What do you do for Climate Action?
We've installed solar panels in my auto repair and maintenance shop, which offsets our electric usage by 110%. We do a lot of recycling—metal, cardboard and paper. And it's important to keep our groundwater clean, so we send our used oil offsite to be recycled, and we use a sand/oil separator so those materials can be recycled. At home, we compost, we garden and we use a CSA [community-supported agriculture]. I also feel strongly about supporting local businesses and we shop local as much as possible.
What can others do to take Climate Action?
For one thing, I'm encouraging the use of electric vehicles. Many families have two cars, and having an electric car as one of them has become a good affordable option. It's a great way to get around town and for short trips.
Why does Climate Action Matter to you?
I've always been interested in efficiency and making do with things. But more important than that—there's only one earth. We don't have another option so we need to take care of this one. I think we all need to pay it forward and I like to encourage my customers to think about that perspective too.
Do you know someone who should be featured in Sustainability Spotlight? If so, email your suggestion to brenda-nations@iowa-city.org.
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