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March 2024 | Visit us online at www.icgov.org/climateaction. 

Powerful Prairie Plants

One acre of established prairie can absorb up to 9 inches of rainfall per hour before runoff occurs.

While some native plant species require special steps for germination, there are 20 varieties of forbs and grasses that require no pre-treatment.

In City-managed prairies, there are 125 plant species present. Fun fact: Iowa City has added 200 acres of prairie over the past 5 years!

Smoke in spring brings summer green

Starting Feb. 20 and continuing through the month of March, the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department has been conducting controlled prairie burns at Sand Prairie, Kiwanis/Willow Creek, Hickory Hill, Scott, and City Parks as well as Ryerson's Woods State Preserve. Learn more about how seasonal burning promotes species diversity, habitat, and suppression of invasive species.

Apply now for a Climate Action Grant

The City offers Community Climate Action Grants in order to inspire and promote public involvement in the implementation of Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan with projects that increase energy efficiency, encourage low or no-emissions transportation, minimize waste and/or consumption, support sustainable activities, and promote preparedness and resilience

Awards of up to $10,000 are available for non-profit and community-based organizations and for-profit businesses serving Iowa City. Applications are being accepted now through April 1, 2024.

For more information, visit ICgov.org/ClimateActionGrants or contact Daniel Bissell at DBissell@iowa-city.org or 319-887-6161.

Educating Bus Buddies

A group of girls in the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood recently became the first designated community Bus Buddies following a training session aimed at public transit skill building.

Conducted in partnership with the Johnson County Mobility Coordinator and Iowa City Neighborhood Outreach Office, the training covered how to read bus signs, use the Transit app, and other key skills to become regular transit riders.

The Bus Buddies put their new knowledge into practice by taking a bus ride from their neighborhood to Downtown Iowa City. The confidence to use the bus system independently opens up opportunities to participate in activities and events throughout the community.

Interested in a similar training for your group? Contact T'Shailyn Harrington at THarrington@iowa-city.org to learn more about hosting a Bus Buddies training.

Active transportation options flourish in IC

The return of warmer weather means it is now even easier to bike, walk, or hop on a bus to your destination. Join your neighbors who take Iowa City Transit: since the start of Fare Free Transit last August, Iowa City bus ridership has increased by an average of 47% each month!

Among many important benefits, leaving the car at home even just one day a week puts our community on a path toward better health in the present and reduced climate change impacts in the future.

Community garden plots in full swing for spring

New to community gardening? Plot registration will open to the public on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Registrations will be taken in-person only at Mercer Park Aquatic Center beginning at 7 a.m., followed by online and phone registrations beginning Wednesday, March 20, 2024.  For more information, call 319-356-5100 or visit ICgov.org/GardenPlots.

Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly

The March 4 meeting will include a presentation on the Bicycle Master Plan. Access upcoming and past meeting packets  at the Climate Action Commission web page.

Neighborhood Energy Blitz puts the "act" in Climate Action

Join the effort to blanket the Washington Hills neighborhood with energy-saving materials! Volunteers on the morning shift will deliver kits containing LED bulbs, shower timers, and other climate-friendly items to households within their route. The afternoon shift will pick up used batteries and light bulbs for sorting and disposal. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. To participate, sign up online.  Saturday, April 20  9 a.m. - noon morning shift 2:30 - 5 p.m. afternoon shift For more information, visit icgov.org/energyblitz.

Green Iowa AmeriCorps hosts speaker panel

Learn about city and county environmental efforts while also enjoying light refreshments at the Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A.

• Saturday, Mar. 16, 12-4 p.m.
• Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.

For more information, visit icgov.org/greeniowa.

Calling all upcycling creatives to Knitting Night

Join Green Iowa at the Senior Center for an evening of fiber art using second-hand and upcycled yarns! This event is open to all ages and skill levels: veteran knitters, hobbyist crocheters, and anyone wanting to learn a new skill. We will discuss waste reduction, alternatives to fast fashion, and more while making useable pieces for personal use or community donation.

Earth Expo brings together community organizations

Connect with local green organizations and businesses through educational displays and hands-on activities. A fashion show arranged by Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the City of Iowa City's Resource Management department will begin at 4:00 p.m. and showcase second-hand and upcycled clothing styled by members of the community. Sign up online to participate!

• Saturday, April 6, 2-5 p.m.
• Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.

Frank Wildensee

Iowa City Climate Ambassador

How do you take climate action?

If food waste were a country it would rank third globally in greenhouse gas emissions right after the US according to the UN FAO.  This fact combined with how easy it is for everyone to take action makes it, in my opinion, one of the most important and accessible climate actions.  Aside from not wasting any food at home, as a volunteer for Table-to-Table, I help rescue over 1500 pounds of food on my weekly routes, food that otherwise may have ended up in a dumpster.  

A perhaps less concrete yet just as important climate action is for me to become more knowledgeable about a variety of climate change solutions which will allow me to inform and educate others.  I strive to become as much of an expert as possible and am currently working on my certification as an Electric Coach through Rewiring America.  

Why is climate action important?

I could list all the standard reasons why it is important or the right thing to do to take climate action but in the end, it is as simple as that: I take action because it empowers me and makes me feel good.  If my actions have a small impact or, even better, inspire others to action then I accomplished more than I ever hoped for.  

What can others do to take climate action?

Find an action that speaks to you, that excites you and then start to learn more about it.  Never take on climate actions because you “should” or because someone else tells you it is the right thing to do, but start a climate action because it inspires you.  Perhaps start with a carbon footprint calculator to guide what you could focus on in your own life.  You might be surprised what your greatest impacts are and that could become a springboard to take action.  No action is too small or insignificant.  You never know who you might inspire by taking even the smallest action.

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This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Climate Action and Outreach Division. For more information, contact Sarah Gardner at 319-887-6162 or Sarah-Gardner@Iowa-City.org