CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH ACTION!

An Earth Day Message from Bethesda Green & Our Friends

Earth Day is equal parts celebration and warning: a celebration of the natural ecosystem on which we depend and in which we thrive; a warning to protect our natural environment in every way possible for future generations. Bethesda Green, One Montgomery Green, Poolesville Green, and the Montgomery County Green Bank unite on Earth Day 2021 in reflection of our shared missions and joint interests to preserve Montgomery County’s vibrant and diverse environment. We offer our support to our elected officials, business leaders, and residents in taking the necessary actions - fulsome, serious and, lasting - to address the current climate emergency. Together, we can ensure a green county in perpetuity, one that is an example for communities nationwide to follow. Every day must be Earth Day!

HERE ARE FOUR ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE STARTING TODAY!

1. Plant a Rain Garden

Rain Garden Crowdfunding Campaign Launched!

Bethesda Green is raising funds to install a series of raingardens in roadway medians in downtown Bethesda, Maryland. These natural rainscapes will beautify the community and help counter the adverse effects of stormwater by reducing the amount of pollution that runs into our waterways. Help us raise $12,500 to create four new rain gardens filled with native plant species in the coming year.

Donate to Our Rain Garden Campaign

2. Switch to Clean Energy

Enroll in Clean Energy & Support Bethesda Green's Environmental Leaders

In the US, most electricity comes from burning polluting fossil fuels.In 2019, only 11% of Maryland’s total electricity generation came from renewable sources. We recently sat down with CleanChoice Energy to learn how residents can change that. Check out a recording of the session above.

With CleanChoice Energy, you can choose where your energy comes from. They make sure all the electricity you use is replenished on the grid with 100% wind and solar from your region. Signing up only takes a few minutes. Your utility company stays the same, and they will still maintain your lines and provide your bill. No service calls, equipment, or installation are needed.

Use our link below and CleanChoice Energy will donate $50 to the Bethesda Green Environmental Leaders Program!

Switch to Clean Energy

3. Learn About Sustainability

Join Bethesda Green's Upcoming Sustainability Series Sessions!

City Nature Challenge - iNaturalist Training: The City Nature Challenge is a friendly worldwide competition among metro areas to spot and identify local wildlife. Participants help scientists collect valuable information on urban biodiversity. Join our virtual session to learn how to participate and use the iNaturalist app to submit observations. Monday, April 26 at 5pm.
Biking in Bethesda: Learn about plans and improvements to make biking more accessible in Bethesda. Tuesday, May 4, 5pm to 6:30pm.

Join Our Sustainability Series Sessions

4. Support Green Businesses

Join Us Next Week for the Bethesda Green Innovation Lab Pitch Event: Entrepreneurs as Transformers!

Hear about the exciting companies our Innovation Lab members are building to address environmental and social challenges. US Senator Chris Van Hollen, who has sponsored the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act on carbon trading and who supports a Green New Deal, will offer opening remarks. Networking rooms will open at 3:15 to allow breakout discussions with our eco-entrepreneurs; program starts at 4:00.

Buy a Mother's Day Gift from Grateful Gardeners

Celebrate your Mom this year with dahlias and sweet decorative treats! BG Innovation Lab member Grateful Gardeners is offering Mother’s Day packages that will have Mom yearning for spring so she can plant her dahlia tubers while enjoying hand-crafted dahlia-inspired cookies from @sinful3cookies. Shop two different sizes of gift baskets; a small bundle of 6 dahlia tubers and 6 cookies OR a large bundle of 12 dahlia tubers and 12 cookies.

Click Here to Order Your Flowers

GreenFest Highlights Next Week

Film Festival: The Story of Plastic Plastic pollution is everywhere we look, smothering our watersheds, bays, and ocean, and poisoning communities around the world. Join environmental leaders and the DC Environmental Film Festival for a screening and discussion on the efforts underway in Montgomery County and Maryland to reduce our waste stream and improve our environment. Tuesday, April 27 at 7pm. Register.
Virtual Workshop: Create a Planter with Native Plants Join the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection next Thursday, April 29th at 7pm to learn the steps needed to create a beautiful planter using plants native to our region. Native plants beautify your garden while helping to support local wildlife and pollinators. You will also have the chance to win a planter! Register.

More Upcoming Green Events

Hear Bethesda Green's Kim Goddu-Alexander speak on an Ethical Marketing Panel hosted by UMD Smith School of Business and the American Marketing Association. April 27 at 7pm.
DC Net Impact is hosting a virtual webinar on Environmental Advocacy and the New Administration. April 29 at 6pm
Join the Montgomery County Food Council's virtual Food Sovereignty Panel Discussion April 30, 10am - 11:30am.
Help spot and identify local wildlife through the City Nature Challenge. Trainings are offered throughout April to prepare for the identification days April 30 - May 3.
Give Back to Rock Creek at the 13th Annual Extreme Cleanup! Most service events will take place on Saturday, April 10th, and other cleanup opportunities will continue throughout April.
Register for the Montgomery County Energy Summit from May 4-6. Event hours will be 9:30am to 4pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and 9:30am to 3pm on Thursday.

Donate

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