February 16, 2022 - View online

Sustainability Spotlights

Seeking PT Farm to School Coordinator to Increase Local Food Purchasing

Green Umbrella is looking for a Farm to School Coordinator part time contractor to support ongoing grant-funded work to increase purchasing of local foods by schools in our region. This includes continuing the roll out of the successful Feed Our Future marketing campaign. Check out the position listing on our Green Jobs board and share it with those you think might be interested. Proposals are due February 28.

Celebrate CSA Week and Support Our Local Farms

Green Umbrella and the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council is excited to join our region’s farmers in celebrating national CSA Week (February 20-26). CSA Week is the most popular time to sign-up for a CSA, or community supported agriculture. This weekly subscription of seasonal products (veggies, eggs, meat, flowers, etc.) enables each of us to share a local farm’s bounty. Learn more on the Food Policy Council blog.

Join Mayor Aftab Pureval @ Cincinnati 2030 District New Year Kick-Off

Join the Cincinnati 2030 District and Mayor Aftab Pureval on Tuesday, February 22, for an in-person 2030 District New Year Kick-Off event, sponsored by Thompson Hine and Blue Ocean Solids. Meet other District partners, hear about our District's progress and learn what's in store for 2022. Registration required. Free for 2030 District partners; $25 for guests and prospective District partners.

Food for Freedom: A Black History Month Experience

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a widespread disparity of access to not only quality healthcare, but to quality food that negatively impacts outcomes for Black communities. The root of these issues run deep, and back centuries beginning with slavery and, later, a lack of opportunities based on racial discrimination. On Tuesday, February 22 at 6:00 pm, Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council director Michaela Oldfield will join local change agents Mona Jenkins, founder of Gem City Market, and Amaha Sellassie, Founder of Gem City Market, for a meaningful discussion that seeks to incite a

greater vision of social and economic justice; improved nutrition and health; and community activism while addressing the disproportionate burden of social barriers to healthy foods.

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Sustainability in the Headlines

Under the Green Umbrella, Sustainability Means Equity, ISC
Cincinnati Has Made Progress on Its Bike Infrastructure, Still Room for Improvement, WVXU

Duke Energy Plans to Exit All Coal, Double Renewables, E&E News

Rumpke Expands Recycling Program to Accept Disposable Cups, Waste Today

MSD Has a More Detailed Plan to Adjust Rates to Be More Equitable, WVXU

Cincinnati Plans Expansion of ‘Game-Changing’ Speed Cushions for Pedestrian Safety, WVXU

Devou Good Foundation Offers E-Bike Incentive Program, FOX 19

Rumpke Unveils Plans for New Columbus Recycling Center, Columbus Dispatch

More Cities Looking to ‘Daylight’ Buried Rivers and Streams, WCPO

Expanded Amtrak Coverage Ball Now in Ohio’s Court, Ohio Capital Journal

USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate Smart Agriculture & Rural Communities, USDA

Featured Events View our full events calendar

Feb 18:

Winter Naturalist 101 Series: Birding 1:00-3:00 pm, Cincinnati Parks

Annual Moonlit Evening Winter Walk 7:00 pm, Oxbow Inc

Feb 19:

Green Home Tour - LEED Platinum Renovation in OTR 11:00 am-12:00 pm, USGBC Ohio

Maple Tapping and Tasting 1:00-3:00 pm, Cincinnati Zoo

Feb 19-20: Maple Sugaring Days 12:00-4:00 pm, Great Parks of Hamilton County

Feb 22:

2030 District New Year Kick-Off 4:00 pm, Cincinnati 2030 District

Food for Freedom: A Black History Month Experience 6:00 pm, Greater Cincinnati Food Policy Council

Feb 23:

Basic Organic Vegetable Gardening: Seed Starting 6:00-7:30 pm, Civic Garden Center

E-Bike as a Car Replacement 7:00 pm, Devou Good Foundation

Feb 24: The Park Board: Time for a Refresh? 7:00 pm, Woman's City Club

Feb 25:

Regional Trail & Bikeway Committee 9:00 am, Tri-State Trails

Winter Tree ID 10:00 am-2:00 pm, Boone County Conservation District

Feb 26:

2022 Great Tree Summit 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Taking Root

The Forest Calls to Us: Writing Children's Stories in Nature 10:00am-12:30 pm, Lloyd Library & Museum

Conservation & Water Quality in the Miami Valley 10:00 am-2:00 pm, Agraria

Chickens in Your Backyard 1:00-3:00 pm, Gorman Heritage Farm

A Decade of Safer Stairs + Alleys 2:00-5:00 pm, Spring in Our Steps

Feb 27:

Early Spring Waterfowl Migration 8:00am, Oxbow Inc

Maple Syrup Making & Guided Sap Collecting Hikes Cincinnati Nature Center

Local University Activists Talk About Climate Change 4:00-5:15 pm, Faith Communities Go Green

Mar 1:

Vegetable Gardening Question and Answer 6:00-7:00 pm, Civic Garden Center

Queen Mother's Market Cooperative Launch Party 6:00-8:00 pm, Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation & Co-Op Cincy

Mar 3: Farm Preservation Seminar 6:00-8:00 pm, Campbell County Conservation District

Professional Opportunities

Green Umbrella is accepting award nominations (due 2/28), field trip proposals and art submissions (due 3/31) for the 2022 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit on June 16.

USGBC is accepting applications for the 2022 LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program (due 2/25).

Cornell Lab of Ornithology is offering Land Trust Grants to build land trust capacity and fund restoration projects (deadline 3/1).

AEE is hosting the AEE East Energy Conference in Cincinnati for the first time (3/23-3/34). Join energy professionals from commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental sectors to learn about the latest energy-saving strategies, products, services, and technologies. The event will include technical sessions, networking, exploring innovative technology and more.

USDA is offering $1 Billion in funding for pilot projects that provide incentives to producers and landowners that advance climate-smart agricultural production practices. Proposals over $5 million due 4/8; proposals under $5 million due 5/27.

OEFFA is offering Beginning Farmer Pandemic Relief Microgrants of $500 to $5,000 in direct financial assistance to beginning farmers in Ohio.

Co-op Cincy is offering a Cooperative Management Certificate in partnership with the Xavier Leadership Center. The 12-week course begins in April and focuses on the power of cooperative businesses.

The Devou Good Foundation is offering $500 rebates for e-bike purchases.