PA Resources Council hosts workshops for Earth Month
The Pennsylvania Resources Council, a statewide environmental organization dedicated to the vision of a Pennsylvania where nothing is wasted, will offer a variety of events this year in Delaware County to celebrate April as “Earth Month.” The events will include topics such as stormwater management, composting, waste reduction, landscaping with native plants, and sustainable lifestyles.
• April 16, 6 to 7 p.m., Art of Healthy Living at Marple Library: Discover ways to make a home environment safer and healthier by avoiding the common toxins in household items. Participants can learn economical and simple tips room by room, and receive handouts for homemade facial ingredients, cleaning products and pesticides. Register for the free event at https://delcolibraries.libcal.com/event/16563156.
• April 19, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Native Plants and Stormwater Management event at Rose Tree Park: Attendees can learn how simple changes to their yards can help protect local streams and reduce stormwater runoff. This free workshop will introduce the basics of stormwater management, green infrastructure, and nonpoint source pollution, and highlight practical steps homeowners can take to better manage rainwater on their properties. PRC will also discuss the benefits of native plants and how they can help absorb runoff, support wildlife and improve water quality. Participants will receive native plants to help get started at home, while supplies last.
• April 20, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Bokashi Composting: free event in Upper Darby and in Glenolden on April 30, also 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Bokashi is a simple fermentation style of composting that relies on anaerobic or effective microorganisms. This style of composting pickles food scraps, is great for small spaces, and allows people to compost prepared foods, scraps, meat, small bones and dairy in only 5 to 8 weeks. Attendees will receive a free bokashi system complete with two, repurposed 5 gallon buckets with air-tight lids and 2 pounds of upcycled bokashi bran from Garden of Oz. Each household is limited to one system, while supplies last.
• April 22, 7 p.m., a free virtual Rain Garden Training Course is a four-week program that covers everything a person will need to design and install their own native rain garden. The course includes class sessions, hands-on rain garden build experience, and individualized project support. Registration is free for residents of the Darby, Cobbs and Schuylkill River watersheds. Upon completing the course, participants will receive free native plants and tailored resources to help make their own rain garden project a success.
• April 22, 6-7 p.m., Backyard Composting in Rutledge: This workshop covers the importance and benefits of composting, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance, and ways of using finished compost. The PRC Backyard Composting Workshop is free for Rutledge residents, but if residents want to purchase an optional 82-gallon compost bin, the borough has offered to subsidize $20 for the first 15 residents to request one. The cost to the residents will be $50 instead of the usual $70.
• April 23, 6-7 p.m., Backyard Composting workshop at Rose Tree Park: The workshop will thoroughly cover the importance and benefits of composting, the process, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance, and ways of using finished compost. Register for only the workshop for $20, or can purchase an 82-gallon compost bin for an additional $50.
• April 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Electronics Recycling and Collection at Upland County Park. This free PRC e-waste collection event is sponsored by Delaware County Parks in partnership with County of Delaware, Delco Sustainability and Reworld. Anyone can drop off one TV, computer equipment, home and mobile phones and electronics, entertainment and audio devices, cables and cords. Small appliances are free to drop off. One TV is free to drop off, but there is a charge of $30 for each additional traditional or flat screen TV or $40 for each additional rear projection or console TV. Freon-containing devices such as refrigerators and dehumidifiers, large appliances and smoke detectors are not permitted at this event.
• May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Middletown Community Day: PRC will give away free information about its programs, partnerships and past projects. No registration is required.
Further details and registration links for each event can be found at http://prc.org/calendar. PRC is located on the grounds of Rose Tree Park at 1671 North Providence Road, Upper Providence. For more information, call 610-353-1555 or email info@prc.org.
PHOTO/Rain Garden by Alisha Goldstein, Environmental Protection Agency
