August 18, 2021 - View online

Sustainability Spotlights

Seeking Local Government Sustainability Stories for Case Studies

Calling local governments and organizations that work with local governments! Green Umbrella is partnering with Indiana University's Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) to author case studies about Greater Cincinnati local government actions that support more sustainable, resilient and equitable communities. The studies will be featured in the ERI Toolkit, with 50 topics to choose from.

Check out two recently published local stories about the Village of Silverton's energy actions and the City of Cincinnati's urban agriculture zoning updates.

Do you have a success story that you want to share? Contact Savannah to take the first step toward showcasing your community!

Common Orchard Project Seeks Orchard Stewards & More Sites

The Common Orchard Project has a new Story Map thanks to UC Co-op Kyle Katz. Check it out to learn about the project and our vision to install public orchards across Greater Cincinnati.

We have the capacity (and trees) to do at least 4 more community orchard installations this fall. If you have a lawn space with enough sun, it's likely an orchard could work in your neighborhood! Fill out this form if you have a spot in mind and we'll be in touch.

Each new orchard will have 1 or 2 stewards committed to help with long term tree care.

A series of 9 free workshops to train stewards and anyone caring for public fruit trees will begin in November. Register for our Orchard Steward Info Session on 9/22 at 6 pm to learn more.

Learn About Our Region's New Greenspace Prioritization Tool

In collaboration with OKI Regional Council of Governments, Green Umbrella's Greenspace Impact Team has developed the Greenspace Environmental and Mitigation Mapper (GEMM). This new tool will aid land conservation organizations and local governments in identifying and prioritizing tracts of land in our region for mitigation and environmental protection. After entering criteria most significant to them, users can map greenspace that aligns with their needs.

Join the team virtually or in-person at OKI for a lunch and learn on September 15 from 12 to 3 pm to get a

demonstration and learn how to best use this new tool. Register by September 14.

Greenspace Gem: Carter Park

The 90-acre Carter Park in Kings Mills lies on the slope of the Little Miami River Valley. Trails on the property descend to an abandoned millrace and remnants of powder mills, for which the nineteenth-century town was named. One of the finest riparian woodlands in the region surrounds the mill ruins. The park is part of the large estate that surrounded the King Mansion, built by the mill owner Ahimaaz King, later owned by the Carter family, then purchased by Deerfield Township.

Explore our region's many protected Greenspace Gems!

Help create a more sustainable region - Donate Today

Sustainability in the Headlines

In Cincinnati, Community Members Learn About Redistricting Maps, WYSO
Little Miami Scenic Trail Is One of the Nation’s Best Urban Trails for 2021, CityBeat
Nine Cincinnati Streets With Lots of Crashes Prioritized for Street Calming, WVXU

MoBo Bicycle Co-Op in Northside Makes Biking Easy and Affordable, Cincinnati Enquirer

80 Acres Farms on Historic $160M Raise: We’re Just Getting Started, Cincy Inno
How This Couple Plans to Eliminate One of Cincinnati’s Food Deserts, Cincinnati Business Courier

Hamilton RNG to Develop Food Waste Digester Projects in OH & KY, PA Business Report

Why Is Utility-Scale Solar Coming to Ohio? Good Land and Plenty of Demand, Ideastream

FirstEnergy Distribution Companies Tried to Charge Customers $24M for Questionable Expenses, Cincinnati Enquirer

Featured Events View our full events calendar

August 19:

LEED Case Study: Glenville Circle North 1:00-2:00 pm, USGBC Ohio

Thursday Rides 6:00 pm, Cincy Redbike

August 20: Early Fall Migrant Shorebirds & Waders 6:00 pm, Oxbow Inc

August 20-21: The Wellness Experience 10:00 am-7:00 pm, Kroger

August 21:

Urban Stream Adventure 9:00 am-2:00 pm, Mill Creek Alliance

Good Vibes Trail Day 8:00 am, Great Parks of Hamilton County

August 22-28: Cincinnati Festival of Faiths

August 22:

Agraria Annual Meeting 2:00-4:00 pm, Institute for Community Solutions

Full Moon Walk: Dog Days Moon 8:30-10:00 pm, Cincinnati Nature Center

August 26:

Green Drinks & Urban Hike 5:00-7:00 pm, Green Umbrella & Spring in Our Steps

Climate Change Poetry Book Club 7:00 pm, Green Energy Ohio

August 27:

Breakfast of Champions 8:00-9:00 am, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

Food Systems as a Community Development Tool 9:30-11:30 am, Green Umbrella

August 28:

The Flowers of Washington Park 10:00-11:00 am, Lloyd Library and Museum

Enjoy the Arts @ Parks 1:00-5:00 pm, Great Parks of Hamilton County

August 29:

The Great Ohio River Swim 7:00-9:00 am, Adventure Crew

Meet Live Birds of Prey! 1:00-4:00 pm, RAPTOR Inc

September 25-26: Great Outdoor Weekend

Professional Opportunities

The Voice of Your Customer is recruiting small business owners or managers who work outdoors in fields like landscaping, public works, parks, utilities, environmental science, lifeguards and coaches to participate in a research project over Zoom. Participants receive $100.

Hamilton County Recycling is offering Waste Reduction Innovation Grants to help communities, schools, non-profit organizations, and private sector businesses implement waste reduction, reuse, food rescue, composting, and recycling programs in Hamilton County.

Ohio EPA’s Recycling and Litter Prevention program supports communities, businesses and academic institutions that initiate or expand recycling programs, encourage sustainable practices, stimulate economic growth and support litter prevention efforts.

Cincinnati Parks' Fall ReLeaf Program will be giving out free trees. Applications open 8/21 for residents in neighborhoods with under 40% tree canopy and 9/4 for all city residents.

Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council is launching Growing Our Teachers, a training to help educators integrate farm to school education in their schools (apply by 9/7).

Ohio Department of Natural Resources is offering $5 million in grants for wetland projects through the H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program (due 9/30).

PEDCO & Emersion Design are co-hosting the REBUILD Conference, focused on Midwest business sustainability issues and potential solutions from across the nation (10/7).