The summer is in full swing and so are several South Portland Sustainability programs. We have a few program updates and upcoming events to share.
2024 Resilient Yards
2024 Resilient Yards is the follow-up to the inaugural 100 Resilient Yards program launched last spring. This year, we selected 95 yards to receive either a native pollinator garden or a vegetable garden installation. Over 150 people applied, and selections were prioritized based on the existing lawn type, whether the applicant applied last year and an even distribution of sites across the city. If you did not get into the program or would like information about transitioning your yard to be more resilient, please email jdarcy@southportland.org to be added to the list of people who will receive an educational resource packet.
Waterfront Resilience Survey
The Sustainability and Planning departments hosted a Waterfront Resilience Community Workshop on June 20 to discuss potential approaches for building resilience to sea level rise and coastal flooding. If you were not able to attend the workshop, but would like to provide input, please visit our Coastal Resilience webpage, southportland.gov/686/Coastal-Resilience. Take a moment to review the posters and complete the Waterfront Resilience Survey. We appreciate your feedback.
Electric Tool Library and Swap Shop
The Electric Tool Library and Swap Shop, located at the transfer station, have been very busy this year.
The Electric Tool Library provides an opportunity for South Portland residents to borrow electric lawn equipment free of charge by simply using your South Portland Public Library card. It is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A few items, like lawn mowers and string trimmers, are very popular and we recommend reserving them through the library’s hold system. For more information on the Electric Tool Library and the hold system, please visit our website at southportland.gov/298/Electric-Tool-Library-SPETL.
The Swap Shop is a space where South Portland residents can donate acceptable household items or pick out some items to take home. You don’t have to donate in order to pick something up. This is a great way to reuse things that otherwise would go into the waste stream. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. depending on volunteer availability. We are always looking for more volunteers to fill in for an occasional shift. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sustainability Program Manager Susan Parmelee at sparmelee@southportland.org.
Upcoming Events
One Climate Future update
The City Council will hold a workshop at 6:30 p.m. July 9 to learn more about initiatives the Sustainability Department is working on and how we plan to implement the remaining action items in the One Climate Future plan. Attend the workshop and let the council know what your priorities are.
Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July is a global movement to reduce the use of single-use plastics throughout the month. You can sign up for the challenge by visiting plasticfreejuly.org. The site contains helpful resources and tips for going plastic-free. Don’t worry about being perfect. It’s not as easy as you might think. In the words of Zero Waste Chef Anne Marie Bonneau, “we don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Our Sustainable City is a monthly column in the Sentry intended to provide residents with news and information about sustainability initiatives in South Portland. Follow the Sustainability Office on Instagram @soposustainability.
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