Time is running out to submit your nomination and recognize someone in your community who helped make Lakewood a more sustainable community this year. The 11th  annual Lakewood Sustainability Awards celebrate community members who showed leadership in sustainability through recycling efforts, innovative and energy-efficient building developments, youth-led park cleanups, neighborhood yard and garden programs or other sustainability initiatives! Watch the 2018 Sustainability Awards video to learn more about the awards! 
                 
We've added a new award category this year. In addition to community projects, youth leadership and Lakewood employee efforts, we are adding a "Business Sustainability Award." The deadline for nominations is March 19, 2018. For more information and to submit a nomination online, visit Lakewood.org/SustainabilityAwards. 

Did you know that if every Lakewood resident recycled just one glass bottle that would have the same benefits to our air as planting 234 trees grown for 10 years? Recycling preserves Lakewood’s beautiful parks and opens spaces for the next generation by reducing the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that come from landfills, prompting Lakewood residents and City leaders to ask the question, what will we leave behind?

In response, Lakewood has launched an education campaign focused on recycling. You can expect to see the campaign slogan, “Recycle! It’s Good for Lakewood,” around the community for the next few months. Let us know you recycle by using #LakewoodRecycles and the City’s Sustainability Division will send you a RECYCLE! magnet, button, or decal that you can display to let your neighbors know you recycle.

For more information and recycling resources, visit Lakewood.org/WeRecycle.

Sprout City Farms has two great opportunities coming up this spring for anyone interested in receiving fresh local produce, giving back to the community, or both!

The opportunity to sign up for 2018 Community-supported Agriculture shares is now open. Residents pick up shares weekly from June 27 to October 17. The shares include fruit, eggs, meat, mushrooms and more! Visit SproutCityFarms.org/Programs to learn how to sign up for a share.

Sprout City Farms will be holding their annual Sprout Down spring kickoff fundraiser and hootenanny on March 21, 5 p.m., at the Mercury Cafe in Denver. The event will include tasty bites from local chefs, live music, a silent auction, games and more! This is a family friendly event with a suggested donation of $20 per adult. Go to SproutCityFarms.org/SproutDown to get tickets.

The Green Mountain Area Homeschoolers combined curiosity and personal initiative to address water conservation and to clean up waterways in Lakewood. The students began their project by touring a local water treatment plant, watching the documentary "The Great Divide" about Colorado water history and issues, learning about watershed monitoring and interviewing Lakewood City staff and elected officials. Using funding from the Jane Goodall Institute, the students planted willows along Bear Creek to prevent erosion, picked up trash along the riparian corridor and distributed native, low-water seeds to residents.

The students also created an educational art display at Belmar Library to share information on how to protect water resources. As a result of their hard work, these students not only learned a great deal about water issues, but also taught us how discovery, determination and direct action come together to make a significant impact.

Do you know someone who has dedicated their time to bettering their community and improving the environment?

Nominate them for a 2018 Lakewood Sustainability Award at Lakewood.org/SustainabilityAwards.