The Kingston Green Trail initiative is starting to see action. 

 Today, at the Tour de Kingston bike rally, we gathered over a dozen energized volunteers to advance the vision of a more bike-friendly Kingston. We filled a page with signatures on a letter to Mayor Sottile, thanking him for green initiatives already taken and urging him to work closely with Ulster County’s non-motorized transportation plan to connect trails through the City, and to work with us in establishing bike racks, lanes and other amenities as more and more cities are doing.

 This week, also, all are welcome to gather at 4 pm at the Muddycup Café on Broadway in Midtown for a workshop on permaculture – an ecological landscaping system that produces edible landscapes, cool buildings and restored ecosystems.  Our instructor is Anya Raskin, a permaculture designer as well as a teacher. Her work focuses on inspiring people to create locally viable regenerative systems. She does landscape and garden design that complements her teaching and lecturing, and practically implements permaculture theories.  We will learn some innovative approaches to gardening and landscaping for tough urban areas, including container and rooftop gardening strategies, and ways to create intensive gardens in teeny tiny spaces.  Suggested donation  $5+. 

 By coincidence, midtown Kingston is about to have an opportunity to practice this theory. We are about to receive three huge wooden planters, beautifully decorated with a tulip motif by the artists at the Northeast Center for Special Care, and available to the first three Broadway building owners who sing out their interest. Thanks to arts program director Susan Togut and all the participating artists.  Sustainable Hudson Valley will help cover the costs of cool plants as needed, and we will have our first three amazing little gardenscapes along Broadway for inspiration.

 The first Kingston-based Low Carbon Diet support team has formed and is beginning to work the program for each participant to “lose 5,000 pounds” of carbon emissions in their lifestyles,  plus recruiting more teams for this fun, life-changing program.  Contact Emilie Hauser at 338-4820 or eehauser@gmail.com.

 Please spread the word to friendly KINGSTON friends & associates!

 Thanks!