Climate Action Coffee (CAC)

Climate Action Coffee is a project of TALLE – Takoma Alliance for Local Living Economy

Wednesday Climate Action Coffee (CAC) Series

Climate Action Coffee continues to meet on Zoom every Wednesday, 8 – 9:30 AM

To join Wednesday Zoom meetings, use the Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88246766222?pwd=TzRPNkt0a09sbzRoMFpTdTZITU9ZZz09

Or join by phone at 301 715 8592 with Meeting ID: 882 4676 6222 and Passcode: 828066

We are eager to resume in-person meetings at Busboys and Poets in Takoma, 235 Carroll St. NW when we are free from COVID concerns. At the moment, we do not feel it is safe to do so. In the meantime, please support our generous sponsors, who have shown creativity and resilience during the pandemic, by ordering takeout from their exceptional menu, delivered in biodegradable containers.

CAC letter to the Mayor and Councilmembers about our climate and environmental concerns  (February 3, 2023)

Climate Action Coffee Subgroups focusing on specific community-related projects

 

Climate Scouts / Ecosystem Restoration Camps

One of the aims of this subgroup, currently dormant, is being met in part by the Climate Action Club (above). Over a number of months it informally explored what resources and activities are available that we might promote and support to give young people (middle school age) opportunities to engage with Nature – from planting vegetables in planter boxes to getting out into the woods and streams in the area. It occasionally invited an outside guest to share what they or their group is doing (e.g., Forest Explorers – https://www.forestexplorers.net/ ). The Climate Action Club now is meeting most of these needs. At the “adult” level, some of us are exploring what we might do to foster one or more Ecosystem Restoration Camps in our mid-Atlantic region
(see https://ecosystemrestorationcamps.org/ ).
We are also exploring the possibility of creating one or more “Miyawaki Forests” locally
(see
https://bio4climate.org/miyawaki-forests-talk/ ).

For more information, contact Philip Bogdonoff,
pbogdonoff@gmail.com

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Pollinators

The focus is action and education on the value of our natural environment. In particular native plants and pollinators are promoted as integral parts of a healthy Takoma Park public and private landscape. We are collaborating with a number of other local and regional groups, including Harvest Share, and the wildlife corridor group being led by the Sierra Club. Meets on Zoom every two weeks on Thursdays from 9-10:30 am (via Zoom).
For more information contact: Marguerite Cyr,
mhcyr@verizon.net

Visit the 2024 Calendar for Pollinators

Climate Action Coffee & Friends of Native Trees in Takoma celebrated National Pollinator Week (and following weeks) in 2023! – Read the 2023 press release

For additional information about native plants and related news, see the website Native Plants for the DMV

Event: Pollinators Combat Food Insecurity in Takoma Park

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Takoma Stormwater Solutions (TSS)

TSS promotes stormwater management practices that will help our community cope with a rapidly changing climate. Through advocacy, education, and example, we aim to reduce or mitigate the risks to health, property, and the natural environment from flooding and stream pollution. We advocate for diverse viewpoints, communities, and solutions. We believe that appropriate and equitable stormwater management is an integral element of a sustainable future. Meets weekly on Mondays evenings from 6:30-8 pm (via Zoom). For more information see the TSS website:
https://www.takomastormwatersolutions.net


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Community Food Forest

The Takoma Park Community Food Forest subgroup of CAC launched in February 2022.  Then, at the Thursday evening Climate Action Coffee on March 3, 2002, presentations were made about the possibility of a food forest on the Washington Adventist Hospital (WAH) site.  Since then CFF has met with the CFO at Washington Adventist University (new owner of the WAH site), surveyed Takoma Park for other possible sites for food forest (nearly 20 have been identified), tabled at the TP-SS Co-op Earth Day festival, and begun compiling a list of private and public food forests in and near Takoma Park.   (Breaking news:  It looks like we may have a site for our first Community Food Forest!  Stay tuned — or come to our meetings.)

We meet every other Monday evenings, 8 – 9 pm.  To be added to our mailing list, please contact Amy at amymangono@gmail.com or Miles at milesamoore@gmail.com

See here for more information about the CFF subgroup, including pictures and a link to a survey.

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Recent Events and Messages

Climate Action Coffee Questions for Takoma Park 2022 Candidates for Mayor and City Council

CAC/Pollinators at Takoma Park 4th of July Parade 2022

CAC/Pollinators participated in Takoma Park’s July 4th parade with a colorful and creative float educating and inspiring residents with pollinator facts and chants. Special thanks to our young friends who animated the trailer, to Jill and Ashley for butterfly wings, to David for the trailer, to Phil for the hybrid car, and to Jane for the creation space. See photos here.

National Pollinator Week (June 20-27)

The Pollinator Group of Climate Action Coffee is kicking off National Pollinator Week (June 20-27) on June 19th.  Join us at our table at the corner of Carroll and Laurel in front of the church on June 19th from 10-2, and again on June 22 at Crossroads Farm Market from 10:30 to 2:30.  We will have information about pollinators, food forests, native plant gardens in TP, as well as the Native Plant and Wildlife Corridor. Take home a black-eyed Susans and start your own native plant garden.  Channel your inner pollinator and come march with us, in costume of course, in the TP 4th of July Parade. Contact MHCyr@verizon.net for details.

March 3, 2022 Meeting on Minor Master Plan and Food Forest Presentations (agenda, video, chat text)

Climate Action Coffee “First Thursday” Meeting with County Planner Melissa Williams on the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment, Long Branch-Sligo Resident Concerns, plus Presentations about the Possibility of a Food Forest on the Washington Adventist Hospital site.

March 1, 2022 Event: Climate Action Coffee and the City of Takoma Park invite you to join us for a Virtual Brown Bag Lunch and Learn panel discussion and Q & A on invasive plant species.

Time: 12:00 – 1:30pm

Featured speakers Corinne Stephens, Sara Tangren, Jesse Buff, and Lily Fountain will provide an overview of invasive plant species in our region, why we care about them, how to identify them — and what you can do to remove them. Updates about what Maryland is doing at the legislative level to curb the spread of invasive plants will be followed by a question and answer forum.

Recording of event on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pakoFBg5qQ

Saving Dorothy’s Woods 3/26/22

On Saturday, March 26, 2022 more than 20 Takoma Park residents and friends (some in foto) came out to help protect City-owned Dorothy’s Woods from invasive plants. Kudzu, Garlic Mustard and Ivy were removed, 22 trees were rescued, and 7 bags of trash removed.  All was accomplished while complying with the City’s onerous approval and 10-day waiver requirements.

A Tribute to Larry Silverman

Larry Silverman popped onto our zoom screens sometime in the summer of 2021. For many of us in this Sligo Creek-Anacostia River Watershed, his was a familiar name and face–longtime community member, entrepreneur and, as it turns out, stormwater management activist. Along with a sharp intellect, astute legal mind, and willingness to do the work to put ideas into words, he brought his kind, gentle and thoughtful demeanor. Larry almost instantly became a cornerstone of Takoma Stormwater Solutions. Larry shared our vision for real solutions to what can seem a task of insurmountable proportions. His insightful, strategic thinking was infused with graceful respect and the wisdom of an experienced soul. We feel incredibly lucky that Larry shared his last Monday evenings with us. We feel tremendous gratitude for the ways he shaped our collective vision. And we feel an obligation to carry on this work in his name, in his spirit, and with all of the positive vision and energy that he bequeathed to our group. Rest in peace, good colleague. May the healing waters carry you to a place of harmony and balance.

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Climate Action Coffee Messages to City Council: The Good, The Bad & The Actionable

>>To the TALLE Archive to see previous events