Earth Day Message from Barrio Alegria

Barrio Alegria leader Daniel Egusquiza describes how building a community is very much an ecosystem. Barrio Alegria offers and promotes art programs in Reading as a community activity. For more information about Barrio Alegria's programming or to support their efforts, please visit www.barrioalegria.com or email them at info@barrioallegria.org Barrio Alegria YouTube: https://youtu.be/GfZ1qhDLQcw

Tour & Talk at Alvernia's EcoHouse - BOG TURTLE CREEK FARM

We visit BOG Turtle Creek Farm, Alvernia University's student-led, working farm and hear about what they do on the farm to increase sustainability and the importance of thieir connection to the community.

Panel Discussion: Farm to Table – Eating Our Way to a Healthier Planet

Our panel will discusses how what we chose to eat (or not eat) impacts our environment. We will cover multiple perspectives on the topic including Cultural, Historical, Agricultural, Environmental, and Economic. What is our immediate Community doing and what can we as individuals do to make a positive impact?

Panel Discussion: How Recycling Works

Bethany Ayers-Fisher and Matt Cougle explain the process of recycling from collection, sorting to bundling and sales

How BARTA Works, a special Earth Day 2021 Presentation

Jennifer Boley, Marketing Manager of Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) Explains how Public Transportation is an important form of Climate Solution. This presentation includes some really interesting statistics Green facts, a comprehensive overview of what's new at BARTA, Current Fares, BARTA Go Mobile App, BusFinder, Special Services

Visit bartabus.com or email barta@bartabus.com with any questions

Seniors & Sprouts Program

A chat with Corky Sheeler of the non-profit organization Seniors and Sprouts. The mission of the group is to get people excited about gardening. Find out how thats happening and the effect its having on program participants

The Scale of our Fashion Industry and Its Impact on People and the Planet

We excitedly welcome Karen Glass, Meg Valente & Natan Pulido for a chat about how chosing what to wear has the power to change the world! We'll cover some history, surprising statistics, social and environmental effects and even some suggestions on how you can take action and be part of the solution.

A Human Planning Process: Climate Action in Berks

Shana Rose, Stephanie Anderson, and Bethany Ayers Fisher- three women living and working in Berks County discuss their involvement in Climate Action Plans, how they got involved, and invite you to join us to do what you can, where you are, with what you have! Bethany can be reached at bethany.ayersfisher@alvernia.edu Stephanie can be reached at stephaniejoyanderson@gmail.com Shana can be reached at www.sustainingwithshana.com Shana's podcast is Sustaining with Shana, look for season 2 later this spring!

Solar in PA — Glass half-full, half-empty, or cracked?

Join a couple of PA Solar Ambassadors to bone up on some solar basics as well as scratch the surface of the exciting new field (get it?) of agriculture and photovoltaics — agrivoltaics! There will be enough basics for the newbie and hopefully some content to interest the seasoned solar wonk. And, the best part will be hearing questions from attendees to see what’s on folks minds about solar; we’ll even try to answer some of them

What is YOUR Clutter Legacy?

The Pandemic has forced us to remain in our homes and be surrounded by our stuff 24/7. It also forced us to reevaluate what is essential and what isn't. With all the death surrounding the pandemic, many of us have come to the realization that if something happens to us, we can't take it with us! What will our clutter legacy be for those we leave behind? These are big, heavy questions that Vali Heist, Certified Professional Organizer deals with every day with her clients. Join us as Heist explores how we can discern what is essential in our homes and what is just an emotional attachment. She'll also explore how prioritizing the value of our stuff and simplifying our homes could help us live in more peaceful surroundings.

Saving Money While Saving Resources with First Energy

Join Earth Day Berks member Scot Case and Met Ed's Jennifer Rivera as Jen explains Met Ed's energy efficiency commitments and programs to help save us all money while reducing our environmental impacts! For more information please go to www.firstenergycorp.com

Saving Money While Saving Resources with UGI

Join Becky Eshbach from UGI to learn about ways to save on heating costs and the future of gas with host Scot Case.

History of City Park

Join local historian Rick Polityka as he shows us how the only constant in Reading is change! City Park is also known as Penn's Commons and has been a part of creating memories in Reading since Reading was founded in 1748. The land was set aside "in common" for use by the residents of Reading by the William Penn family. In 1800 the land was formally sold to the town of Reading for $440. The use of the area has changed drastically over the years. It has been training grounds for soldiers, the county fairgrounds, was the site of the prison and public hangings, and part of our water supply system. It has been and continues to be a space for public gardens, recreation, and memorials. Did you know that some of the trees in the park are over 100 years old? That there was ice skating on the ponds? Can you find the remnants of the horse racing track? Take some time to appreciate the wonderful gift that is Penn's Commons and City Park!

Questions? email Rich at richardpolityka@gmail.com

For more information about Reading and Berks County history visit the Berks History Center at www.berkshistorycenter.org

To visit in person they are located at 940 Centre Ave. in Reading.

Hemp in Berks County: Growing, Building, and Healing

Drew Oberholtzer of COEXIST & Jeffrey Brooks of Oley Hemp will talk about The versatility and importance of hemp as a crop. The role it plays in restoring the environment, supporting the local economy and supply chains, as a sustainable building material, and as a healing, medicinal plant, among other applications...

Restorative Local Economies are the Future - All Together Now PA Presentation

Tune in for an overview of All Together Now PA. This burgeoning non-profit is Uniting Pennsylvania's Rural & Urban Communities To Build Resilient, Self-Reliant Regional Economies That Work.

Founder and Chair, Judy Wicks, will talk about how this group of passionate leaders is working to build regenerative local economies that produce basic needs locally, justly, and in harmony with natural systems. She will talk about each of their four different coalitions in the areas of Industrial Hemp, Local Grain, Plant Medicine and Clothing & Textiles.

Building a Homestead (Live from the Garden)

We visit the Leesport Homestead of Stacy Keeley, owner of Field and Forest Herbals and learn about eating locally, growing herbs and veggies at home, get some Green DIY ideas including moving towards Zero Waste, plus a tour of the garden!

https://www.instagram.com/fieldandforestherbals/

How Landfills Work

Bryan Cleaver from Republic's Conestoga Landfill in Berks County reviews how modern landfills are constructed and built to protect the environment from contamination from our waste. Bryan is joined by City of Reading Public Works Education Coordinator Bethany Ayers Fisher for this discussion.

Master Watershed stewards

A few of the Berks County Master Watershed Stewards take a break from stream monitoring at Nolde Forest to talk about why they choose to be a part of the Master Watershed Stewards Program. For more information about Master Watershed Stewards and to support the program please visit: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards

Linda Ulrich, Crazy Butterfly Lady

Join our neighbor Linda Ulrich as she shares her beautiful garden that is built to be butterfly habitat. Linda's passion for butterflies and her plants is inspiring! She has been raising butterflies since 2006 and has raised and released over 1000 butterflies! For more information on how to start your own butterfly garden please visit https://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/

Nature Hour - They're Baaaack: The Return of the 17 Year Cicada

Our friends at Lancaster Conservancy shared this really cool video lecture about Brood X Cicadas that should emerge in our area in May 2021. Naturalist Keith Williams teaches us the difference between Cicadas and Locusts, what the Cicadas do for the seventeen years between emergences, and how Cicadas benefit the ecological systems they live in. For more information about Lancaster Conservancy please visit: www.lancasterconservancy.org