New York State is practically giving away 500 heat pump systems! Participating contractors are available to install either geothermal or air source heat pump systems in income-qualified homes as part of a short-term study at little to no cost to the homeowner. If you know of someone who might be interested in this opportunity, please share.
Big news today! New York State just became the largest pension fund in the world to take comprehensive climate action, including fossil fuel divestment. The $226 billion state pension fund will review and divest from the riskiest oil and gas companies within 4 years and decarbonize the entire fund by 2040. This came after years of campaigning by the DivestNY coalition.
When a building has to be demolished, Significant Elements salvages parts of it to promote the reuse of these parts. Buy purchasing from them, you help the planet AND you get doors, windows, knobs, keyholes, etc that have twice the character of the boring ones you would buy new! Check out their Facebook page to browse their inventory, or visit their storefront in Ithaca.
Schrader Farms Meat Market is a small meat processing facility and retail store in Romulus, NY. They’re your source for high quality, locally-grown meat and honest, reliable, and trustworthy service. Their beef and pork is naturally raised with no added hormones. They offer custom cuts, weights, and flavors. Visit their website to shop their beef, pork, chicken, and variety of specialty smoked products!
Green Home Heroes is a NY State licensed Home Inspection company with Infrared imaging experts who will work to discover any health or structural risks in your home due to mold, structural defects, Carbon Monoxide and gas leaks. They also promote energy efficiency, and will help you understand your options for energy efficient repairs and renovations. And they strengthen our local economy by creating as many jobs as possible! Bravo to Green Home Heroes!
Khuba International offers equity-based scholarships for participation in the Learning Farm’s Outdoor School in Enfield. They are currently looking for business sponsorship from farms! — support the participation of income-challenged and racially-excluded children in education in the natural world. Farms that choose to participate will receive two pollination-partner plum tree starts as a gift from The Learning Farm and other collaborating farms!
We are collecting local stories that highlight the ways our values, thoughts, actions, and policies are shifting in order to create a more just and resilient Tompkins County. This is an opportunity to explore how you are responding to the pandemic, and what solutions or signs of transformation you see emerging. Use whatever medium you like: self-made video or recorded audio (1-3 minutes and horizontal orientation, preferably), written story (200-400 words), or original works of art or poetry. We will share the stories through multiple media to a broad range of audiences.
This Trumansburg cafe serves breakfast and lunch that is delicious, locally sourced, and farm-to-table! They offer takeout every weekend, and this weekend they’re featuring Down East Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese with a panko-parmesan crust. Visit their website to see their menu and place an order!
The Bioscience Resource Project is an educational nonprofit which provides tons of scientific resources, with unique and revealing perspectives on issues that are fundamental to the survival of people and the planet. It publishes Independent Science News, a media service devoted to food and agriculture. They’ve also got internships and trainings for students! Check out some of their recent publications: ‘Bill Gates’ Global Agenda and How We Can Resist his War on Life’ and ‘Why We Need A Small Farm Future.’
Achieving carbon neutrality in the building sector will require converting 100% of the fuels used for heating and cooling to zero carbon sources. Most technology applications to date have been implemented on a building-by-building basis, an approach that tends to limit the speed of transition, reduce efficiency gains, and depress the participation of low-income residents. A possible alternative is for an energy utility to transition an entire street to networked geothermal, which has potential for lower costs, greater efficiency, and improved air quality.
The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a precedent-setting agreement hammered out between grassroots environmental groups, the NYSEG and RG&E utilities, and energy regulators to stop growing gas sales and turn toward renewable heating alternatives, while keeping gas rate increases low. The PSC additionally agreed with grassroots environmentalists and consumer advocates that the utilities’ proposed electric rate increases were too high and ruled to reduce them to 2% per year or less.
Please consider signing the petition calling on the NYS legislature and Governor Cuomo to identify and eliminate all nonessential fossil fuel subsidies and sharing it on your social media platforms. The Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative signed a letter in support of the relevant bill (A257C) in August. At this point, as part of its lobbying campaign, the New York Youth Climate Leaders coalition is asking for individual signers. Only 600 signatures left to meet their goal of 2,000. Let’s help them meet it!
These friends make flours from from 100% locally-grown grape seeds and skins and process them at their mill in Hector, NY! Wine flour can be used to supplement flour in other recipes with flavor, color and nutrition. In addition to antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, each tablespoon adds two grams of protein and three grams of fiber. Visit their website to order some of their autumnal cupcakes (which can also be made to accommodate our gluten-free pals)! They’re selling out quick!
Habitat for Humanity partners with local first-time homebuyers to help them build or improve a place to call home! Recipients work alongside volunteers to build their home, and pay an affordable mortgage when its completed….These mortgage payments are then used to fund the construction of more Habitat homes! This helps strengthen the local economy and improve community connections. Want to help out? You can certainly help build, but theres also plenty of other ways to get involved. Do you identify as a woman and want to expand your handy skills while giving back to the community? Check out their Woman Build Program!
Vonnie’s Kitchen is a Black-Owned, Woman-Owned, Food-To-Go business that offers delicious Caribbean and Dominican-style dinners every Saturday, with plant-based options! Owner, Vonnie, moved here from the Bronx and is a single mom trying to put herself through school. Let’s help her find success in Ithaca! Order by Thursday via her website for pick-up or delivery Saturday.