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Pledge Selected by E.P.A. as Environmental Achiever
In
celebration of Earth Day, the U.S. EPA Region 2 honored Earth Pledge with
the Environmental Quality Award, recognizing our innovative programs to
promote sustainability. At the awards, Jane Kenny, Regional Administrator,
said, "The superior winners we are honoring today are truly environmental
trail blazers. By taking a leadership role and making local changes, the
award recipients demonstrate that we can all have a positive impact on
the environment." The annual prize was given to sixteen organizations
and individuals, including Silverstein Development for its use of ultra-low
sulfur emitting diesel fuel in the cleanup of Ground Zero and the Durst
Organization for its leading-edge Conde Nast buiding, the first environmentally
responsible skyscraper in the United States.
Click here to read the full press release.
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| Thank
You for Showing Your Support for Earth Pledge
Many thanks to all those who came out on Earth Day, or who joined us at
this year's spectacular Windows on Long Island Wine event! We enjoyed
meeting new friends, answering questions and discussing our programs.
Your commitment to sustainable shopping at Whole Foods helped Earth Pledge
raise almost $40,000 to continue our important work, and more than 900
people enjoyed top local, Long Island wines and fine cuisine, raising
over $130,000. Thank you!
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Three
New “Viridian” Green Roofs in Chelsea, Harlem and Bushwick
As spring approaches, three supportive and affordable
housing organizations are completing green roof projects in different
parts of New York City. The three new green roofs in Chelsea, Harlem,
and Bushwick, Brooklyn, were developed in partnership with the Viridian
Project, part of Earth Pledge’s Green Roofs Initiative.
Just completed on the Rheingold Gardens building in Bushwick, Brooklyn,
is an inaccessible extensive green roof that is visible from the surrounding
buildings. The developer, Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council
(RBSCC) is converting this former brownfield into a combination of commercial
space and nearly 250 units of affordable housing. The 2400 square foot
green roof is planted with ten different varieties of sedum.
Located on West 24th street in Manhattan, the Chelsea Residence is a
207-unit supportive housing facility that will include two accessible
intensive green roofs totaling 5000 square foot Common Ground, a non-profit
community developer, has rehabilitated the former McBurney YMCA to house
homeless individuals and young adults aging out of foster care.
The third Viridian roof going green this spring, a 1000 sq ft accessible
roof garden on The Revella, will be the first green roof in Harlem.
The building is developed by the West Side Federation for Senior and
Supportive Housing (WSFSSH), and will include an extensive ‘roof
meadow’ and several raised beds for vegetables and flowers. WSFSSH
is also planning an 8,000 sq ft green roof on their new GrandParent
Family Apartments, a supportive housing facility for grandparents raising
young children, which broke ground in the South Bronx in November 2003.
Through Viridian, Earth Pledge partners with supportive and affordable
housing organizations and educational institutions to bring the environmental,
health, and social benefits of green roofs to low-and moderate-income
New Yorkers and young people.
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Join
Earth Pledge for Two New Classes at Stone Barns
On May 29th, join Earth Pledge and Cynthia Barstow, renowned consumer
advocate, professor, and author of The Eco-Foods Guide, for
an exciting class on navigating the issues and options involved in making
sustainable shopping part of your everyday routine. Learn how to utilize
local, seasonal produce and make sustainable choices at the grocery
story year-round. Learn the meaning of terms like organic, IPM, grass-fed,
and more; understand the issues related to antibiotics and hormones
in livestock and farmed vs. wild fish; get practical tips on decoding
labels, making sense of a CSA share, and getting your family excited
about local and sustainable foods.
On June 3rd, join Earth Pledge for a discussion of conservation easements.
Conservation easements are a powerful tool for obtaining the working
capital that farm families need to invest in their businesses, plan
for retirement, and transfer their farms to the next generation and
can also offer substantial tax benefits. Come spend an evening with
experts in the field who will discuss factors to consider when deciding
whether an easement is the right choice for your land, and answer any
questions you might have. Speakers include William Brosseau, Easement
Program Manager of the Watershed Agricultural Council; Jerry Cosgrove,
Director of American Farmland Trust’s Northeast Region; Paul Gallay,
Executive Director of Westchester Land Trust; and Jim Lamport, Farmer,
Fairvale Farm.
Classes will be held at the Stone Barns Center, set on the Rockefeller
country estate in Pocantico, NY, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable,
community-based agriculture and includes a farm, restaurant and teaching
center.
Both classes are free of charge.
For more information or to register, call Jon Klar at 212 725 6611 x225.
Early
Summer Seasonal Delights with City Bakery’s Ilene Rosen
On
June 23rd, join Ilene Rosen, chef at the perennial New York favorite,
City Bakery, for a class on preparing her unique seasonally influenced
savory dishes. The selection of springtime dishes she will create with
the class include Wasabi Green Pea Crusted Chicken; Jasmine Rice with
Preserved Asian Beans, Ginger and Thai Basil; Cornbread Salad with Tomatoes,
Pumpkin Seeds, Pepper Jack Cheese, Purslane and Mexican Oregano Vinaigrette,
and other spontaneous combinations inspired by the day's Greenmarket
selection. Proceeds from this class benefit Earth Pledge’s Farm
To Table Initiative.
Click here for more information or for registration.
Earth
Pledge Works With High School Students to Revitalize School Garden
The
students of Bronx Guild ,
a public school sponsored by Outward Bound, are working with Earth
Pledge to design and build a green roof on a shade structure in their
school’s community garden. This is the first in a series of
planned improvements to the garden. Future projects the students will
undertake include building raised beds and seating, and planting vegetables.
The green roof will be used for experiments on temperature reduction
and stormwater retention that will be integrated into the science
curriculum. The roof is slated for completion in early summer.
Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference
Join Earth Pledge at the Second Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable
Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show in Portland, Oregon,
June 2-4, sponsored by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the
City of Portland, OR. Over fifty speakers from nine countries will present
papers on green roof design, policy and research. Colin Cheney,
Director of our Green Roofs Initiative, will be speaking about
green roof policy development in New York City. The event also
includes tours of Portland's notable green roofs and green buildings,
as well as a Green Roof Design 101 Training Workshop, approved
for continuing education credits by the American Institute of
Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects and the
Roof Consultants' Institute.
For more information or to register for the conference, visit
the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.
Earth Pledge Announces FJC Donor Advised Fund
Earth Pledge has embarked on an exciting relationship with
FJC, a foundation of donor advised funds, which has established
an account in our name. We hope this is the beginning of a
fruitful ongoing relationship to support a greener New York.
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