Category: York Ready for Climate Action

York Ready for Climate Action (YRFCA) was originally founded in 2006 as a citizens’ committee called ‘York Goes Green’. While our organization started small, our mission expanded beyond what we ever thought possible. This is why, in 2018, we became affiliated with the nation-wide Sierra Club initiative, also known as Readyfor100. Readyfor100’s goal is to motivate individual communities to commit to using renewable energy sources for all energy produced community-wide by specific target dates. As a small community in Maine, we felt ready to take on this challenge. Within one year of affiliating ourselves with Readyfor100, York Ready for Climate Action met this goal in July 2019. The town Selectboard voted to join The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, securing York’s commitment to using renewable energy sources for energy production. Even though our main goal has been completed, our priority here at YRFCA remains the same: to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere by eliminating the burning of fossil fuels wherever possible. 

YRFCA not only greatly values combating climate change but also representing our community equitably, ensuring that our organization reflects the residences of York. Our organization consists of ten members that govern our nonprofit; those being Daphne Gignac, Susan Glick, Diane Kleist, Doreen McGillis, Carrie Mayo, Mac McAbee, Greg Norris, Michele Putko, Debby Rohnquist, and Fred Weston. We believe that in order to make substantial change within the climate crises, we need to not only address science-based, environmental issues but social justice issues as well. Therefore, the governing body of our organization is primarily led by women to encourage women and minorities to pursue STEM-related fields to further help their communities. Additionally, our board is made up of members from the community that consistently engage within York’s local government to foster stronger relationships with political leaders that may lead to significant environmental change. 

In the past, our main programs have revolved around our goal to reduce York’s greenhouse gas by 50% by the year 2030. Our two main programs, EcoHomes and Waste Reduction and Diversion (WRAD), have been incredibly successful within the past few years. The EcoHomes program focuses on helping community members make environmentally-friendly changes within their homes at low or reduced costs. Some of these changes include switching home electricity to solar energy via our partner Community Solar, LED light bulbs, and composting and recycling with our partner Mr. Fox Recycling. There have been over 5,000 households in Maine that have made the commitment to becoming EcoHomes within the next few years. In 2021 alone YRFCA had 518 homes join The EcoHomes project. Even participating in one subprogram within the EcoHome project makes a big difference in the York community. For instance, there are 108 EcoHomes participants that have begun composting and recycling with our partner Mr. Fox Recycling. Participants have three options to help decrease the 7% of greenhouse gasses that come from food scraps in their garbage. They can deposit food scraps in the Mr. Fox food recycling bins at the Witchtroft Transfer Station. However, if a participant is unable to get to the station, Mr. Fox Recycling also offers a pick-up service. The last option is to create homemade compost from the food scraps to sustain home gardens. The Waste Reduction and Diversion (WRAD) project is another way for York residents to become engaged with the issue of food waste. WRAD’s objective is to diverge food waste from landfills and instead turn it into compost. With the help of our partner, Mr. Fox Recycling, this project has been successful in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that come from the surrounding landfills. While York Ready for Climate Action believes that we have made consistent progress with each of these projects, we also believe in creating a wider range of programs to reach more residents. This is why YRFCA is proud to have begun the first stages of implementing other projects that support climate change and environmental issues. 

Of the hundreds of plant species in York, Maine, many of them are considered to be invasive and/or non-native. According to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, Maine has around 2,100 plant species, one-third of which are non-native or invasive species. Non-native and invasive plants can cause irreversible damage to the surrounding environment and to other indigenous species, especially in areas like York that consist of a variety of different environments that range from terrestrial to oceanic. Most of these species can become serious threats to indigenous species during the growing seasons of spring, summer, and fall. Not only do these threats include the loss of biodiversity and increases in the odds of food insecurity, but the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has stated that invasive and non-native species can weaken the resilience of natural habitats battling the effects of climate change, which can negatively impact the well-being of humans who reside in or rely on these natural areas. The lack of knowledge surrounding the spread of invasive species can also cause detrimental impacts on humans. Invasive species can spread new diseases, existing diseases, or other toxins into the environment, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture. York Ready For Climate Action seeks to mitigate these impacts by educating the public on the environmental and human consequences of invasive and non-native plant species.

Irresponsible gardening practices, such as using non-native species in gardens, methane-filled fertilizers, and gardening out-of-season plants decrease the biodiversity and environmental integrity of the city. This problem stems from a lack of knowledge within the community on sustainable gardening practices. If non-native and invasive plant species continue to outcompete native ones, then York is at risk to lose the majority of its natural ecosystems. Not only will this have vastly detrimental effects on the environment but younger generations will never get the opportunity to learn and interact with their native and natural environment. This will also lead to a decrease in York’s natural resilience to fight climate change, which could have devastating effects on the nearly 13,000 people who live there.

York Ready for Climate Action has a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase educational programs that are available to individual homes, and increase the number of individuals that are willing to take part in greenhouse gas emission reduction. Updates on our website, monthly informational pamphlets, and gardening events can establish a much-needed conversation about invasive and non-native plants, sustainability, and climate change. Widespread knowledge of sustainable gardening practices can help decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the community by preventing invasive species from taking over, which may alter the ability of native plants to participate in the carbon cycle. Other detrimental effects, like the loss of biodiversity and the possibility of the spread of diseases to humans, may also be mitigated by accessible information. York Ready for Climate Action has always “supported the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by supporting climate actions, enhancing awareness of the effects of climate change, and advocating for solutions that move us toward sustainable earth”, which includes the fundamental rights of humans to have access to environmental information in order to make educated decisions regarding the environment that they call home.

York Ready for Climate Action (YRFCA) strives to raise awareness for and provide education about invasive/non-native species within the York community while also combating negative impacts on local biodiversity. 

Educate York, ME:

YRFCA has created a collaborative community to combat climate change impacts by encouraging households of York, Maine to subscribe in various subscription programs. We are extending this program to include a facet that addresses invasive species impacting our local environment to increase biodiversity and improve environmental wellness. We will distribute two pamphlet packages to all households (85,314) in York that will include educational materials about the local environment as well as include sustainable gardening tools and native species seed or bulb packets. After the initial pamphlets, households will need to subscribe to the program (at no cost) to continue receiving the materials. 

This program will not only lead to more knowledge among the community but we are expecting a 25% increase in native plants and a 15% decrease in invasive plant species by the end of the first year (2022-2023). We will achieve a 30% increase of online interactions with our website as well as have 4,300 subscribers by the end of the first year to act as a measure of awareness and education within the community. 

Goal: Distribute educational pamphlets and sustainable gardening supplies to all of York’s households. 

Objective: Increase native plant species by 25% and decrease invasive plants by 15%.

Improve York’s Access to Eco-Friendly Tools:

This portion of the program involves the Grow Native initiative that begins at the end of 2022 to 2023, ensuring the community has access to the eco-friendly tools necessary to take the steps toward a greener community. 5 of YRFCA’s members will be contacting local businesses and organizations that sell eco-friendly gardening products and native plants; to ensure York households know all the places that provide the tools we recommend or inspire them in becoming greener members of the community. The list of stores and organizations will be listed not only on our website but on the monthly pamphlets, we will distribute to all households that have joined the YRFCA in becoming educated in invasive plant species and greener gardening practices. YRFCA will ensure the stores are accessible to at least 90% of the community to enable options between products and locations. 

Another way in which YRFCA will be ensuring access to resources is through our pamphlets. Along with the monthly educational pamphlet will be a free test/sample of eco-friendly product which will allow the household to try using the sustainable product before buying it in-store. The free product will come from our organization, local businesses that want to promote their products, and the community themselves. Essentially the product from the community will be the food scraps that were given to us to be made into compost and then turned into fertilizer to replace the harmful chemical-filled fertilizers that are currently being made, sold, and bought. 

The final accessible opportunity that we will be providing to the community will be the two Grow Native Initiative events that will be held ⅓ and ⅔ throughout the duration of the program. At these events, the local businesses, organizations, and community members will be showcasing various eco-friendly products at tables for one weekend at each event. YRFCA and our volunteers will also be there helping out and surveying accepting participants. The surveys will gather information on how much the community knows about invasive plant species, their thoughts on changing gardening practices to combat climate impacts from the invasive plants, and their thoughts on products they may have used. The eco-friendly products will include native Maine plants, gardening tools, and gardening supplies such as fertilizers, composting tactics, pots, and gloves. YRFCA will ask all the businesses to showcase both new and best products to ensure at least 45% of products are still being worked on and developed to be more sustainable. This event will not only provide the community access to eco-friendly products and options but will help show the community how important it is to combat the negative effect of nonnative and invasive plant species have on the climate. 

Goal: Improve households’ access to eco-friendly tools and products within the local community by 40%. 

Objective: Provide free eco-friendly products within all pamphlets, showcase at least 45 new sustainable products at the two Grow Native events, and create 2 public gardens with the necessary supplies to efficiently grow native plants. 

Unite York

York Ready for Climate Action has seen the positive impacts of a united community firsthand, which is why our organization will commit to hosting two public events during the end of 2022-2023. These events will focus on low-cost and sustainable practices, gardening workshops, and local businesses. 15-20 volunteers from YRFCA will run tables and booths that have information regarding plants, herbs, gardening practices, and composting. At least two months prior to an event, YRFCA will contact at least 10 local businesses inviting them to table at an upcoming event. Our hope is that these interactive tables will incentivize members of the community to become more active within their local community while also supporting environmental causes.

Goal: Unite the York Community and increase reliance on local businesses

Objective: Two events will be hosted by York Ready for Climate Action from 2022-2023 with a target of 30% community attendance. 

Goal 1: Educate the York, ME community on invasive vs native plants and green gardening practices. 

• Provide monthly, subscription-based pamphlets with factual information regarding invasive/native plant species and sustainable gardening practices to at least 5% of York’s population. This will not only lead to more knowledge among the community but the number of native plants will increase and invasive plants will decrease. Achieve a 30% increase in awareness and knowledge by the end of the first year (End of 2022-2023) within the community. 
• Track the number of purchases for eco-friendly gardening products in the area through surveys that are published ⅓ and ⅔ of the way through the year. Have a survey on our website (Yorkreadyforclimateaction.org) and in the pamphlets that ask how much information individuals have retained from the pamphlets and what exactly they have learned.  
• Keep a datasheet of houses that have joined the initiative and those that go to the website for more information with an achievable objective of 50% increase in both areas. 

Goal 2: Improve York’s access to eco-friendly tools, gifts, and products. 

• Provide monthly gifts to registered Grow Native members that include native seed packs, fertilizer/compost bags, and other sustainable products (beginning at the end of 2022-2023). We will keep a constant log of Grow Native members and the number of gifts YRFCA gives out each month from the end of 2022 to the end of 2023, with a target goal of at least 5 new members each month.
• Showcase sustainable products during Grow Native events and survey individuals’ reliance on said products. 
• Increase the percentage of individuals with gardens in the York area from 2022- 2023. Increase the population of overall native species in the York area by 5%. Decrease the population of overall invasive/non-native plant species in the York area by 5%.

Goal 3: Unite the York Community and increase reliance on local businesses

• Host YRFCA events to raise awareness and participation in the Grow Native initiative. Our target is to have 15% of our community attend events. Volunteers will track the number of new members to YRFCA since launching the Grow Native Initiative. 
• Survey York’s carbon emissions during the Grow Native Initiative and analyze increasing or decreasing trends (End of 2022-2023). This data will be available to community boards/members to foster environmental change. 
• Increase local business sales by 10% during non-tourist seasons (particularly winter months) and work with community partners to create shopping incentives for businesses in the future. 

York Ready for Climate Action (YRFCA) is proposing the “Grow Native Initiative”, a program based on educating the public on invasive/non-native plant species and low-cost eco-friendly gardening practices. The first part of this initiative will provide households with informational pamphlets. These monthly pamphlets will contain sustainable and low-cost gardening techniques as well as information regarding invasive/non-native and native plant species that are prevalent in the York area. Along with the pamphlets, each household will receive a monthly gift of starter bulbs, seed packets, fertilizers, or other beginner gardening equipment. The products that will be in these gifts will be locally sourced. Starter LED light bulbs will come from our partners; Eldredge Lumber, Efficiency Maine, and MaxLite. The seed packets will come from the Wild Seed Project, an organization that focuses on getting native plants back into the Maine community. The fertilizer will be sourced from individuals active in Waste Reduction and Diversion. 

The second part of this initiative involves updating the YRFCA website to include specific educational classes and videos regarding invasive/non-native plant species and eco-friendly gardening practices. 

The final part of the initiative focuses on community events. Twice a year, the YRFCA will host an event that focuses on either gardening workshops or local business markets. We hope to make these events free to the public, with the only expenses going towards local vendors and businesses. The YRFCA will also be active in these events through educational booths, compost sites, recycling areas, and EcoHome sign-up information.

3/7/2022

Mr. Jesse Miller

Chair

The Pepper Foundation

11 Hills Beach Road, Marcil Hall #121

Biddeford, Maine 04005

Dear Mr. Miller, 

The York Ready for Climate Action (YRCA) team is pleased to offer this Letter of Inquiry for The Pepper Foundation’s consideration. Our organization is requesting a program support grant of $85,000 for the creation of the “Grow Native Initiative”, which involves generating educational opportunities and community-based events that address the detrimental impacts of invasive and non-native species within the York area. 

The YRCA began in 2006 when a small group of citizens in the York area came together to combat climate change as they felt it was time the community stopped waiting for the government to do something. This led to the creation of the organization and motivating individual communities to commit to using renewable energy sources community-wide by specific target dates. This goal was met in 2019, allowing us to direct our attention to environmental actions such as the Grow Native Initiative. 

We aim to fill our community’s need for native plant and sustainable gardening education through a series of educational pamphlets. These pamphlets will discuss topics such as indigenous and invasive species in the area, how to maintain and restore biodiversity in your backyard, and education on sustainable gardening practices. These pamphlets will also be accompanied by a monthly subscription gift that is based on supplying 250 homes; such as seed packets ($5×750=3 for each home), fertilizers bags filled with the compost contents ($30 for the actual bags), or other gardening supplies that will vary in cost between $2.50-$20. We believe that the educational tools we provide will assist and encourage the York community to implement sustainable gardening practices within their homes. 

In addition to the pamphlets, we will be expanding our website to include a wider variety of information pertaining to the topics such as invasive species, non-native plants, and sustainable gardening practices. There will be articles, blogs, video tutorials, and a list of more eco-friendly and sustainable options for individuals who are interested in learning more about a healthier greener yard. There will be a section dedicated to educational programs that teach individuals how to identify different plants and restore biodiversity within their yards. All of these additions will cost $500 to add to the website based on quotes from web design businesses and they will be included under the EcoHomes drop-down menu as it involves creating a more sustainable home for individuals and their community. 

As a non-profit organization, YRCA understands that real, meaningful change begins within one’s own community, which is why our organization wants to set aside program funds to host programs and events for the citizens of York. These events will range from sustainable local business markets to creating community gardens. We plan for these events to cost anywhere between $10,000-30,000 and our goal is to host at least 2 large events within the year. The connectivity between residents, local businesses, and non-profits will benefit not only the spirit of the community but will also raise awareness of local and sustainable actions in a fun and engaging way. 

Our core values are strongly rooted in serving our community to create unity between the environment and humans. We believe that by making sustainable lifestyle changes accessible for everyone in our community, the quality of life within the city of York will improve, not only for the environment but for humans as well. Furthermore, we aim to address education and solutions regarding climate change impacts to ensure that future generations can experience a vibrant and healthy environment. The Grow Native Initiative aligns with many of the core values and missions of the Pepper Foundation. Our organization ultimately aims to serve the unmet needs of our community to better our livelihoods and our surrounding environment. In addition, we are heavily committed to implementing climate change combating initiatives. 

Not only will the York, Maine environment benefit from individuals being educated and participating in the Grow Native Initiative; but the community will, as well. This initiative will solve the lack of education and awareness of invasive plant species and sustainable gardening in the York area. The pamphlets, extended website, and gardening/business events will educate and spread knowledge of sustainable gardening practices to ensure the health of the community is able to confront climate change impacts. The organization anticipates reaching 100 new homes/individuals joining the cause/initiatives within the year.

Thank you for providing YRCA the opportunity to share a Letter of Inquiry with you, The Pepper Foundation, with whom we share the common goal of combating climate change by building a stronger and healthier community. We hope to be invited to share a full proposal of the Grow Native Initiative for the fund of $85,000 to begin the initiative for an entire year at the end of 2022. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me at (717) 315-0752.

Sincerely, 

Montana Stephens, Alex Kiehnau, and Abbie Anderson

Executives of the Grow Native Initiative

Our team is incredibly well-rounded. For instance, we are all goal and task-oriented, especially when it comes to group projects. By having a shared end goal in mind, each member of our team strives to consistently stay on task. Our preferred methods of organization include creating a timeline for completing tasks. Having a set schedule to keep our tasks and goals organized will also allow us to remain on top of deadlines and allocate enough time to complete the proposal in a timely manner. We also believe that strong communication is key to success. Regardless of our methods of communication, meeting, emailing, and texting will allow us to share ideas and ask questions with one another in order to make a concise and persuasive proposal. Furthermore, it allows us to give each other constructive criticism and build upon each other’s work. Our similar college experience allows us to have high expectations for the quality of work that we each produce. A mutual understanding of how academic work should be completed also brings a sense of trust among our members, allowing us to appropriately complete the tasks at hand to deliver an effective proposal. 

Despite our shared similarities, we also have individual strengths that allow our team to be well-rounded. We consider our differences to be a key strength within our group. We all come from different backgrounds and majors which gives us diversification within our group. This allows us to all give input that represents different perspectives, which allows us to tackle problems with numerous approaches and ideas. Abbie has taken business and economics courses which allows her to understand the practical management of funds and also causes her to be more realistic of what an acceptable fund proposal would look like. In addition, she has experience reading tax forms, balance sheets, and other financial reports that can be useful when researching funders. Understanding this information is critical to grant-seeking, as it allows our team to understand what types of nonprofits have funders allocated money to in the past and on average how much to each organization. This, in turn, will help us make a more informed decision about if a certain funder is a good fit for our non-profit or not. Montana has a background in legislation and education, specifically regarding marine affairs. This skill set allows her to understand what can and cannot be done within a non-profit organization, especially in one that engages in community outreach. She also checks in with other team members to ensure that everyone is completing their individual tasks. Montana will make sure that each team member is contributing in an equal fashion. Regular check-ins will also help to make sure that nobody feels as though she or her ideas are being disregarded. Both Montana and Alex have a background in science-related fields, allowing them to understand and communicate scientific documents, which is critical for nonprofits that focus on environmental conservation. With a writing minor, Alex is proficient in professional and technical writing. She is able to contribute to the team by editing and formatting documents such as applications, letters, and statements. As a whole, each member of our team is motivated by a strong desire to improve underprivileged communities that directly suffer from climate change.