September 2026
Sustainable Warwick Minutes
September 16, 2026
Presentation
Climate Change: Our main topic of discussion was climate change, which is increasingly affecting everyone, and simultaneously becoming increasingly difficult to talk about. Peter Lyons Hall, a member of the town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force, was invited to provide an overview of his current participation in Cornell University’s Climate Education and Community Engagement, part of their Civic Ecology Lab. The 4-week course was designed to explore ways for communities to become more involved in climate-based actions. Climate predictions are coming faster than predicted! People are aware of climate change, but overwhelmed and need specific tasks to get engaged. The course cited the (5) stages to engagement: awareness, knowledge, contemplation, action and maintenance.
Peter proposed the introduction of badges to involve community members, similar to Boy/Girl Scout badges. These can be awarded when individuals, or groups (schools, etc.), achieve a particular goal in climate change action. Peter will develop this idea further and tap SW for assistance when appropriate. CleanEnergy@sustainablewarwick.org
Action Reports
Food Scraps to Compost: The Committee met with Mayor Newhard and the Village DPW to identify a possible alternative location for the storage of our bins. Conversations are ongoing. The program remains paused while these efforts continue. Garden@sustainablewarwick.org
Hiking Club: Kate and Christina reported that each hike has brought in new members to the club. Our web page on local hiking has a new section – Other Area Hikes of Interest – that features upcoming hikes that members can explore on their own. Be sure to check it out! Our next scheduled hike will be held on October 24th at Fuller Mountain Preserve. Details to follow. Save the date! If you would like to receive information on this, please email the hiking club. Events@sustainablewarwick.org
Book Club: We read Crossings about road ecology, creating safer road crossings for animals threatened by the increase in roads and road traffic. Good topic which the members enjoyed. Next book is The Great River by Boyce Upholt - a history of the Mississippi river. BookClub@sustainablewarwick.org
Pollinator Pathway: Our committee works at Mountain Lake Park on the second Tuesday of each month from 9.00am until 10.30 or so. The September session focused on removing Mugwort, an invasive weed that will go to seed in the coming weeks. New members are always welcome. Pollinators@sustainablewarwick.org
Community Garden: Our gardeners work together in the garden on Fridays and Sundays at 9.00am. The garden is next to the Community Center, which is asking for our help with Applefest staffing.
Farmers’ Market (Village of Warwick): Christy and Kate shared that the market has extended an open invitation for Sustainable Warwick to continue to have a presence at the market (despite no longer collecting food scraps). Looking ahead at the 2027 Season, the group discussed the possibility of using this presence to promote activities across the organization, and for Committee chairs to consider staffing the table with related information. For the remainder of this season, SW will host a table once per month with targeted information. Garden@sustainablewarwick.org
The SW monthly meeting in October will be held on Wednesday the 21st via Zoom at 7 PM. We hope you will keep in touch and join us at the meeting.