June 2016

Tools for Home Energy Efficiency
Want to save energy and money at home AND help Claremont win $5 million for sustainability projects? Come learn about the Claremont Energy Challenge. Find out what you can do to start saving energy today, and what rebates are available for your projects.  Get the resources you need to combat climate change, save money, increase your home's comfort and value, and contribute to our community!
CEC WEBSITE HERE.
Wednesday  |  June 1  OR 
Wednesday  |  June 13
6 - 7:30 pm
Claremont Library
208 N Harvard Ave  |  Claremont

SUSTAINABILITY DIALOG: South Claremont Goes Net Zero
In an $1,800,000 EPIC Challenge Grant from the California Energy Commission Claremont, “Accelerating the Deployment of Advanced Energy Communities”, there are plans for South Claremont achieving zero net energy and becoming a model for other communities.  Join a discussion with the Challenge Grant Team:
Devon Hartman: Exec. Dir. CHERP
Dr. Stephanie Pincetl: Dir. UCLA Calif. Cntr. for Sustainable Communities 
Dr. Felicia Federico: Prog. Man. UCLA Inst. of the Environment and Sustainability
Michael Nguyen, MBA: Dir. The Energy Coalition
John Shipman, Rltr, GC: LA County Regional Dir. - CHERP
Free and open to all.  Sponsored by SC, the League of Women Voters, the Interfaith Sustainability Council, and Pomona College.
Mon  |  June 6  |  7:00 - 8:30 pm
Hahn 101  |  Pomona College   
420 N Harvard Ave  |  Claremont

GARDEN CLUB MEETING: How to Banish Pests
Have you ever wondered what "integrated pest management" actually means and why it is important to sustainable gardening?  Dave Schroeder will talk about the benefits of using fewer chemicals in our landscapes and describe natural controls that place less stress on the environment.  Free and open to all interested in gardens of any type.  Refreshments and chat at 6:30; talk begins at 7 pm. 
Wed  |  June 8  |  6:30 - 8:30 pm
Napier Center | Pilgrim Place
660 Avery Rd | Claremont 

Tree Action Group Meeting
Everyone is welcome to help the Tree Action Group work to preserve Claremont's urban forest.  Please join TAG in June to discuss the Claremont Tree Fund, a Tree Inventory, Foothill Boulevard Improvement Plans.  Also, it is time to thank retiring Chair, Mark von Wodtke, and plan a transition to new leadership.  Please email trees@sustainableclaremont.org for more information.

Walk the Town Information Session
We need your help! We're going door-to-door to all 13,000 homes in Claremont offering information and resources to help residents save energy and money in their homes. Get to know your neighbors, combat climate change, and help earn prize money for sustainability projects in Claremont! No experience necessary. By attending this session, you're not committing to volunteer.
Tue  |  June 14  |  7:00 - 8:30 pm
Napier Center  |  Pilgrim Place
660 Avery Rd  |  Claremont 

Green Drinks Claremont
Enjoy a fun evening chatting with friends and meeting new people!  Attendees of Claremont's Green Drinks enjoys stimulating conversation and delicious beer.  Green Drinks International welcomes all to meetup with others and talk about the environment. It is agenda-free, free form, and fun!
FACEBOOK PAGE 
the third Thursday of every month
Thursday  |  June 16  |  6 pm - 8 pm
Claremont Craft Ales
1401 N Claremont Blvd  |  Claremont 

Thanks to the Top Three Claremont Schools and Households in the CoolCalifornia Challenge
Sustainable Claremont is proud to recognize the top three schools and households who secured that Claremont won the CoolCalifornia Challenge of 2015-16.  During the competition we held a mini challenge between Claremont Unified School District Eco Teams, and in May awarded the top three point-earners for their efforts.  Congratulations to Chaparral Elementary for winning First Place and $500 with 117,458 points, to Sycamore Elementary for winning Second Place and $350 with 75,490 points, and to Sumner-Danbury Elementary for winning Third Place and $250 with 26,249 points.  
SC also is awarding memberships to the top three point-earning households (excluding CCC Committee Members).  Congratulations to David Sawhill with 36,584 points, Dean and Jackie McHenry with 32,652 points, and Bob Hale with 29,072 points.
See how many points other ECO teams won HERE.
See how many points other individuals earned HERE.

DEMYSTIFYING SUSTAINABILITY:  Compost: Because a rind is a terrible thing to waste
Garden Club Chair, Sue Schenk, discusses the ease and benefits of composting in the May 2016 "Demystifying Sustainability" column published in the Claremont Courier.  In "Compost: Because a rind is a terrible thing to waste", she describes a variety of ways to start composting, and tips for continued success.  As Sue points out, even if you do not garden with compost, please help reduce waste filling landfills by composting your coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, and more.
Read it  HERE.

Garden Notes June 2016

Composting Workshop 
Learn about the benefits and best practices of backyard composting and worm composting (vermi-conposting). Several examples of composting bins will be demonstrated. In addition, you'll learn the basic of water wise gardening!  A free Chino Basin Water Conservation District Workshop.  Residents living within the district’s boundaries of Montclair, Chino and parts of Chino Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and Ontario have priority.  
Register HERE.
Sat  |  June 4  |  9 am - noon 
Chino Basin Water Conservation District
4594 San Bernardino St  |  Montclair

SMART GARDENING WORKSHOP with reduced price compost and worm bins
Learn backyard composting, water-wise gardening, worm composting, and grass cycling at a free LA County Smart Gardening workshop held almost weekly throughout our area. No reservation needed.  At the end purchase a compost bin for $40 (valued at $100) or a worm bin for $65 (valued at $140).
Website HERE.
Sat  |  June 4  |  noon - 1:30 pm
La Verne Public Library
3640 D Street  |  La Verne

Free Bird Walks
Over 147 species of birds have been observed at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens in Claremont.  You can enjoy looking for and learning about birds at the garden for free on walks sponsored by the Pomona Valley Audubon Society and Wild Birds Unlimited.  Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring any bird guide books and binoculars you have.  There are no admission fees, but reservations are required. 
Get information and register HERE.
Sun  |  June 5  OR
Sat  |  June 18
8 am - 1o am
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
1500 N College Ave  |  Claremont

Watershed Basics Landscaping Workshop 
This class introduces principles of the watershed approach to create a garden that thrives in our local climate, uses resources wisely and looks beautiful all year round.
The class covers: understanding your garden as a mini-watershed, creating a living soil sponge, treating rainwater as a resource, removing turf, selecting the right plants, eliminating runoff, and more…  The event is free, but registration is required.  Residents living within the district’s boundaries of Montclair, Chino and parts of Chino Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and Ontario have priority.  
Register HERE.
Sat  |  June 25  |  9 am - noon 
Chino Basin Water Conservation District
4594 San Bernardino St  |  Montclair