As featured on Litchfield.BZ
Litchfield’s increasing focus on conservation was on full display Saturday when the Sustainable Litchfield Committee held its inaugural Earth Day celebration at Litchfield High School.
Litchfield’s increasing focus on conservation was on full display Saturday when the Sustainable Litchfield Committee held its inaugural Earth Day celebration at Litchfield High School.
Committee Chairman Dean Birdsall, First Selectman Denise Raap and Lynne Stoddard, Executive Director of Sustainable Connecticut Executive Director Lynne Stoddard delivered opening remarks before Jerry Geci, chairman of the Save Money and Reduce Trash Task Force, led the crowd in a rousing rendition of “This Land Is Your Land.” Litchfield Poet Laureate Robert Piazza followed with an original poem in honor of Earth Day.
Twenty-six community organizations were positioned in the high school cafeteria during the two-hour program to provide information on their conservation initiatives. All of the organizations have worked with the Sustainable Litchfield Committee over the past two years to promote the importance of conservation.
A composting demonstration was held by Geci’s committee, which handed out complimentary composting buckets provided by Ace Hardware of Litchfield. Participants were able to inspect a fleet of electric vehicles, including a Tesla, a Mustang, and a BMW as well as the smaller Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt. For youngsters interested in a touch-a-truck experience, USA Hauling was at the event with one of their trash collecting trucks.
Several residents brought their electric bicycles to share with the crowd.
The program concluded with the drawing for a free 60-gallon rain barrel from the Aquarion Co. The winner was Amy Dyer of the Litchfield Farmers Alliance. Dyer planned to donate the barrel to a local farmer.
