March Newsletter

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It's Nearly Spring!

March 19th is the official start whether the weather will or won’t show it—we’ll find out. Crocuses have emerged in the warmest spots and in their resilient way have managed to remain through snow and ice. Are you planning your garden yet? It’s time. Last issue, Brian White reviewed "Nature’s Best Hope" inspiring us to plant natives when and where we can.

Every single organic, native garden contributes to the health of the planet, even the smallest. You’ll find great garden resources and more in this issue including recycling info, news you can use, and important “Save the Dates”. Enjoy.

Keep Hudson Beautiful

The town-wide clean-up day this year will be on April 20th. Green Hudson will be handing out bags and collecting the trash that people clean up at the Rimkus Clubhouse at Riverside Park from 9am to 3pm.

We are partnering with Keep Mass Beautiful (https://keepmassbeautiful.org/), the Rail Trail Flatbread Company, and the New City Microcreamery. Volunteers will be invited for

pizza and ice cream by Rail Trail/New City. To volunteer, contact [email protected]. More information is available at https://greenhudson.org/town-wide-clean-up-day/

Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell

by Sy Montgomery; illustrated by Matt Patterson—Reviewed by Diana Andrews

In Sy Montgomery’s fascinating account of her and Patterson’s experiences helping rescue turtles with members of Turtle Rescue League and Turtle Survival Alliance, we are introduced to people working miracles to rehabilitate turtles seriously injured after being run over, shot by bow and arrow, or chewed by animals like dogs. These wonderful people are inspired by the fact that turtles have been on the planet for over 250 million years, as long as the first dinosaurs, and are among the most endangered major group of animals on earth. They literally mend broken shells; in some cases, they have been able to bring turtles back to life. Montgomery and Patterson also rescue turtle eggs found in potentially dangerous areas and incubate them until
they hatch. When large enough that they are less likely to be preyed on by their natural predators, the young turtles are released back into the wild.

We meet Fire Chief, a 60–80-year-old, 42-pound, snapping turtle, so named, because he was hit while crossing a road next to a firehouse. There’s Chunky Chip, a 50-pound snapper, thought to be 100 years old, who was found with a 2-inch fishhook in his jaw; his human neighbors are so fond of him that they often feed him, which makes him vulnerable to human predators. Turns out humans are one of turtles' worst enemies preying on them for sale in the illegal wildlife trade.

I enjoy Sy Montgomery’s writing, which is informative as well as entertaining. She makes me feel for the critters she’s describing, as well as the people she meets along the way. I’ve always loved all sorts of creatures, including turtles, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about these ancient inhabitants of our woods and ponds.

Committee Reports

Climate & Energy Committee

Mark your calendars: Saturday, April 20. The Climate and Energy Committee is preparing for Earth Day which incorporates Town Clean-Up. This year we will enable street level tracking, so volunteers can tell us where they are cleaning and see what has already been covered. To volunteer, contact [email protected]. In addition to clean-up activities, we will host tables from local green organizations. There will be passive Earth Day and Climate related exhibits at several locations throughout town including at the library.

We continue our work on electrification and reducing carbon emissions. Join us to put advocacy in action by promoting renewable energy, heat pumps, and electric appliances in the Hudson community. Contact: Brian White [email protected].

Education and Outreach Committee

The Avidia community room was filled to capacity for our most recent Climate Cafe, in which Hudson’s Jackie Gillis presented a wealth of information about recycling. It was great to look "behind the curtain" at what happens at a recycling facility. You can view the presentation at greenhudson.org/climate-cafe/. And, when you're not sure if an item is recyclable, go to recyclesmart.org for the answer.

On February 21, two Green Hudson volunteers met with a large group of residents from Quail Run for a discussion and informational meeting. Life in a condo village can require specific adaptations when planning to “go green”. Janice Habermehl and Tom Green talked about composting, recycling, and heat pumps. The slide presentation can be seen here.

Climate Cafes focus on what we locals can do to reduce/eliminate our carbon footprint. They also allow us the opportunity to gather ideas from you, the audience, about measures you’d like to see the Town of Hudson take to support a more sustainable Hudson. These ideas will be considered for inclusion in the Climate Action Plan for Hudson’s Master Plan, a mandate from the Commonwealth.

Information about the upcoming March Climate Cafe appears later in this newsletter. Contact: Jeanette Millard [email protected].

Plastics Reduction Committee (PRC)

The Plastic Reduction Committee is watching to see what happens with the now Omnibus Bill, an Act to Reduce Plastics. S.570/H.882 sponsored by Senator Becca Rausch, Senator Jamie Eldridge, and Rep. Ted Philips. It is now in the Ways and Means Committee. This bill seeks to reduce single use plastics in many ways including plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene containers.

Please mark your calendars for the April 23rd Climate Cafe in which Eileen Ryan, the Chairperson for the Boston branch of Beyond Plastics, and Elisa Pearmain will be presenting on plastics, the dangers to our health and how to move beyond plastic on a personal, local and state level. Currently titled: Beyond Plastics: why we must, and how we can.

For more information on how you can reduce plastic use in your home and what is happening on the state level, check out greenhudson.org/plastic-reduction/. To help with our efforts, please email: Elisa Pearmain [email protected].

Legislative News

The Massachusetts legislative committees either reported bills out to respective Ways and Means (W&M) committees in the House or Senate, extended them, or sent them to study. From the House, five bills related to clean energy—including permitting for energy facilities—have been sent to Ways and Means and will be combined in an omnibus climate bill. The Senate also reported out bills related to grid enhancements, Mass Save reform, the bottle bill, and transportation electrification—which will be combined into an omnibus bill. Both of these omnibus bills will have to be voted on and sent to a conference committee.

A consolidated plastics bill was voted out of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. S.570, An Act to Reduce Plastics (Bill S.570 [malegislature.gov]) combined seventeen bills and bans use of single use plastic bags, requires use of biodegradable food service ware, bans use of small plastic containers for drinks (nips), requires a plan for accessible statewide composting, and requires a recycling program for child car seats. The bill recommends establishment of a commission to study Extended Producer Responsibility Recycling (EPR). Future newsletters or emails will discuss how to advocate for
these final bills.

Local, State and National News

Hanscom Jet Expansion Continues—To get informed and join the opposition click here: Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom.

Wind Renewables Take Effect—If you flip on a light switch in Massachusetts right now, there’s a chance that some of the electrons are coming from the state’s first offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind. While power has been flowing intermittently from the project into the New England grid since early January, its developers announced February 15th that five turbines are fully commissioned and up and running. Together, these turbines can generate 68 megawatts of clean electricity, which is enough to power 30,000 homes and businesses. Learn more about Vineyard Wind's local impact at vineyardwind.com/we-are-offshore-wind.

White House to Invest $18M for Native Seeds—The Department of the Interior announced nearly $18 million in new investments from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to ensure the ready source of native seeds to combat climate change and enhance landscape resilience.

The Department of the Interior Announced $157M to Restore U.S. Lands and Waters

As part of the Invest in America agenda, Massachusetts will receive funding for multiple nationwide projects, as well as for state specific funding to build sea grass seed banks in our ocean parks, support native seed collection and production, and to restore salt marshes.

The case of Juliana vs. U.S. was filed in 2015 by 21 youth plaintiffs. The DOJ has been stalling for years. Find out more and take action here—ourchildrenstrust.org/juliana-v-us .

Did you know that Our Children’s Trust has won youth-led climate legal battles for many years all over the U.S. including here in Massachusetts?—ourchildrenstrust.org/massachusetts

Hudson Community Garden’s 2024 growing season is about to begin. Lots are available, so apply now!

Join this established, volunteer-run garden to grow your own food and flowers, meet new people, and maybe learn new gardening tips. All skill levels and ages are welcome to apply. Open to Hudson, MA residents. To request an application, email [email protected]. Don’t wait! Plots fill up fast!

Gardens and Farms

Native Plant Trust—there’s much to learn from this local “garden in the woods” and from their plant resource page.

Grow Native Massachusetts—Nursery and seed resources, local and state.

Free Native Plant Packets! courtesy of Hudson Land Trust—email Tom Green at [email protected] to get yours. For more information: Care and contents of Hudson Land Trust native plant packets

Put Hudson on the map!—The mission of the Bumble Bee Project is to conserve native pollination systems by providing the specific habitats required by at-risk pollinators. If you have included native plants specific for local at risk pollinators you can be added to the interactive map of these pollinator plantings in our region. Learn more and add your garden to the map!

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) applications are open at two of our local farms. Whether you purchase a CSA share or shop for produce, plants, or more, supporting our area farms is another way to positively impact our local ecology.

Small Farm

Cordelia’s

Siena Farms less local but worth a mention for their community sponsored CSA program to combat food insecurity.

Everything You Need to Know About EVs

Tuesday, March 26th at 7:00 p.m.

Avidia Financial Center's Community Room

17 Pope Street, Hudson

Green Energy Consumers Alliance's

mission is to empower consumers and communities to speed a just transition to a zero-carbon world. Their representatives will present up-to-date information about electric vehicles at this month’s Climate Cafe.

Come hear about technology advances, car

manufacturing and charging stations, and federal, state, and local funding sources. There will be time for questions and answers. Light refreshments and juice will be served.

Resources

Recycle—All your old software, floppies, CDs, VHS tapes, cassettes and the accompanying plastic holders—Greendisk.com

Electrify—From Renew America, how to design a personalized electrification plan

Tuesday, March 26, Climate Cafe—Electric Vehicles

Saturday, April 20, Earth Day, Town Clean Up

Tuesday April 23, Climate Cafe—Beyond Plastics

May 6, Annual Town Meeting

May 13, Town Elections: Town elections will be on May 13. There are a number of positions open. Information about the open positions and important dates for people interested in running can be found here. Deadline to file papers is March 25.

May 28, Climate Cafe—Green Burial

Green Hudson's next meeting

will be at 6:00 p.m.

on Sunday, March 17th,

at the Avidia Bank’s Community Room,

located at 17 Pope St.

Hudson

(rear parking lot, side of building near the drive thru)

or via zoom.

Agenda and zoom invites are sent out one week before meetings.

Recycling Volunteers Needed!

Have fun! Meet your neighbors and

make new friends while helping the planet.

Recycling volunteers needed Saturdays.

For more information:

contact [email protected]

The Assabet River flows through the town of Hudson providing a powerful reminder of why we want to protect the beauty the earth provides. Scientists are alarmed as we witness climate change happening. We need to do more to put a stop to the threat. Join Green Hudson now to learn more.

You are invited

Do you have suggestions for articles, resources of note, inspirations, relevant books to recommend, etc.? Send to [email protected] with the subject line "Green Hudson".

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