March 20, 2024
Dear ::subscriber.first_name::,
The theme of this month’s NewsLeaf is “Stepping Forth.” All around us the natural world is blooming and budding and singing. What strength and beauty there is in the great unfurling. Here at Boxerwood we’re also mindful of human capacity to step forth as well – to take personal and collective action for a better world. Even in complicated times, we can bloom. May this month’s stories bring spring to your step!
Yours for a flourishing Earth,
The Boxerwood Team
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This month Boxerwood educators met 531 children brimming with enthusiasm for making the world a better place. As a result of our Ocean Protectors program all 3rd and 5th graders in our local schools created handwritten pledges to help ocean animals by not littering. You can see their colorful pledges fluttering in the breeze in downtown Lexington, affixed to a giant sea turtle sculpture visiting the Wells Fargo outdoor plaza. The project is linked to Rockbridge Conservation’s Annual Rockbridge Area Clean Up. Thank you to educator Jess Sullivan who shares a moving reflection about her connection with the children here.
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Since January 2024 500+ children in 5 elementary schools are now daily composting school lunch waste as part of Boxerwood’s Waste Busters program. Led by Boxerwood sustainability educator Ginny Johnson, this initiative is springboarding our school partners into previously unimaginable levels of earth care action. Special shout-out to these 5th graders from Buena Vista who worked with Ginny to design “Earth Hero” stickers for all their Waste Busting peers – and yes, this extra bit of swag was 100% their idea!
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“A feeling of benevolence grew in me as I talked with families about composting and how to use their newly acquired tools. I saw classroom teachers, shop owners, retired couples, young couples, and many young families with children. People came from every part of the county and all with a vested interest to learn how to recycle food waste and convert it into soil. It was heartwarming to witness the launching of this year’s Backyard Compost Challenge and see the community forming. Slop On!” – Boxerwood educator Caroline Coons
The rain, wind, and cold didn’t deter scores of animated families who stopped by last weekend to pick-up their Earth Machine composters for the 2024 Backyard Compost Challenge. Our 10-week citizen science project includes 80 “newbie” families as well as 25 returning households who will use their own gear. That’s 356 earth stewards! “I’m so excited to be part of a project that is bigger than myself,” exclaimed one. What was the top impulse for signing up? According to participant surveys, the #1 motivator was “doing something that helped the Earth.”
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A new initiative in Rockbridge is helping local homeowners and business owners take the next (cleaner) steps to 100% electric practices. Led by decarbonizing coach, Boxerwood member, and local resident Morris Trimmer (pictured above right), the initiative is affiliated with COREworks, Boxerwood’s carbon offset marketplace. Offered pro-bono in exchange for a donation to COREworks, Morris’s customized consulting services offers residents research-informed “action pathways” for creating a healthier home and planet.
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Spring is a time of growth, not only in the garden, but within ourselves as well. If you've been looking for ways to get outdoors, connect with nature, and meet folks who love putting their hands in the earth as much as you do – look no further. We’ve got three ways you can leap into vibrant spring action this season as a Boxerwood garden volunteer.
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This year, we’re hosting family-friendly gatherings throughout April and into early May in celebration of Earth Day. These free events are designed to inspire, rejuvenate, and connect people of all ages to the natural world. Upcoming activities include plein air painting, yoga, nature photography, a labyrinth walk, and more. Registration for some activities is limited, so check out our upcoming events and RSVP soon!
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Steppin’ Out In Town: Weekly Bingo!
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Every single week in April, May, and June, Devil’s Backbone Outpost is donating 25% of their Tuesday Night Bingo card sales to Boxerwood! Bingo cards cost $10 each, and you can play as many rounds as you want with each card. Thank you, DB! Join us on launch night, Tuesday April 2, at 6pm.
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PARTNER IN THE PICTURE: RAMGA Compost Team
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A big thank you to the hardy Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners who shared the joy of composting with dozens of families during our recent weekend of composter pick-ups at Boxerwood. As part of their own educational outreach, the RAMGA Compost Team arrived with an interactive display, hand-outs and plenty of good cheer. There were plenty of questions from the public. Too many flies? “Add more brown matter!” Smelly? “More browns!” It was great to see so many folks step into their new composting adventures with greater confidence after connecting with the Compost Team. So glad you could join us, RAMGA friends!
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