Sustainability + Environment

Ohio City FarmBob PerkoskiOhio City Farm

The City of Cleveland launched a 10-year initiative in 2009 to transform itself into a "Green City on a Blue Lake." With the goal of making the region attractive to young professionals, this administration seeks at every turn to reduce carbon emissions, expand green spaces, increase bike access, and improve the health and wellbeing of its residents -- all while fostering sustainable economic growth. Sustainability is about more than installing CFLs; it is a way of looking at everything from food and art to architecture and transportation with an eye towards the future. Paying heed now to the triple bottom line ensures that tomorrow's generation will have the opportunity to do the same.

World Rhino Day brings New arrival to Metroparks Zoo
An Eastern black rhino calf was recently born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, just before World Rhino Day. Black rhinos are critically endangered species and the zoo is raising awareness about rhino conservation.
Rid-All Green Partnership celebrates community and sustainability at Fresh Fest
Rid-All Green Partnership's sixth annual Fresh Fest brought Kinsman residents and people from all over Greater Cleveland to the urban farm. The event featured local vendors, activities, and tours of the farm's facilities. Photographer Bob Perkoski captured the events of the day.
Rid-All Farm’s Fresh Fest returns for sixth year with art, food, activities, and music
Rid-All Green Partnership's Fresh Fest Cleveland, now in its sixth year, will transform the Kinsman neighborhood into a vibrant celebration of food, art, wellness, and music this Saturday, Sept. 13. The free festival, headlined by hip-hop legend MC Lyte, will feature more than 80 local vendors, 12 food trucks, and a variety of activities at the revitalized Rid-All Farm and Otter Park.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomes giraffe calf to the herd
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announced the birth of a male giraffe calf, born to 14-year-old mother Tuli on August 15. This birth marks a milestone in the zoo's ongoing efforts to conserve the vulnerable giraffe species. The calf will remain out of public view temporarily to allow for critical bonding time with its mother and gradual acclimation to the rest of the giraffe herd.
Celebrate the Cuyahoga: Canalway’s annual River Rally offers tours, boat rides, family fun
Canalway will host its annual Cuyahoga River Rally on Saturday, August 9, at Hart Crane Memorial Park in The Flats. The free event features a variety of activities to connect people to the Cuyahoga River, including boat tours, kayaking, live music, and educational programs.
Talking trash: Euclid, Collinwood get ready for Big Clean
The eighth annual The Big Clean event in April 26 will pit Euclid against Collinwood in a friendly competition to collect the most bags of trash. About 200 volunteers are expected to participate in the cleanup and an eco-fair to foster community spirit, promote environmental awareness, contribute to cleaner neighborhoods, and a healthier Lake Erie.
Holden Forests & Gardens to celebrate 15,000 trees planted during Arbor Week activities
Holden Forests & Gardens is celebrating the achievement of its five-year goal of planting and caring for 15,000 new trees to increase Cleveland's urban tree canopy with a People for Trees Celebration Week during Arbor Day Week, April 21 to April 26. The week features activities at Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden.
GCRTA drives toward cleaner future with compressed natural gas buses
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is transitioning its diesel bus fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, thanks to a Diesel Emission Reduction grant. The goal is to reduce emissions, lower fuel costs, and improve rider comfort while aligning with Cleveland's climate action goals.
Turn your gourd green: Cuyahoga County offers pumpkin compost program
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District offers an eco-friendly way to dispose of Halloween pumpkins with its Pumpkin Composting program. The program aims to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions by turning pumpkins into compost.
Saving the Forest City: Tree Summit to engage advocates, tree commissions in reforesting solutions
The third annual Cuyahoga Tree Summit, hosted by Dr. Roy Larick and tree experts, will bring together tree advocacy groups, municipal tree commissions, and environmental experts at the Independence Civic Center to address the needs of the county’s declining tree canopy and the critical role of trees in community health and climate resilience.
Harvest Moon: A culinary celebration under the stars
Holden Forests & Gardens will host its only annual fundraiser, Harvest Moon, on Sept. 13 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. The Friday the 13th event will be an evening where mysticism meets philanthropy among Cleveland's top chefs.
Celebrating the Holden Seed Bank: One Year of Growth
Holden Forests & Gardens will celebrate the first anniversary of Holden Seed Bank this Thursday, with cocktails and a panel discussion at Holden Arboretum. The new seed exchange program—much like a Little Free Library, except for seeds—and the upcoming tree seedling program will also be celebrated.
Communities in bloom: Groups tout pollinator gardens with native plants
Advocates of pollinator gardens—plots with native plants that nurture bees, butterflies, and birds to preserve the ecosystem—have groups around the region, like Heights Native Pollinator Pathway and Wild Ones Greater Cleveland, sowing seeds and spreading a message.
Grocery chain looks to fill void in Cleveland Heights’ Cedar-Fairmount
Cleveland Heights residents are finally getting a new grocery store with Grocery Outlet moving into the vacant space in the Cedar-Fairmount business district, ending a two-year stretch without a walkable supermarket in the district. 
Make way! Davis High School students board Flotsam & Jetsam to clean the Cuyahoga
Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students who are interested in maritime careers were on the Cuyahoga River and Inner Harbor last week, helping the Port of Cleveland and Argonaut clean debris out of the Cuyahoga River and the Inner Harbor.
Cleveland Sews to host Sew-A-Thon to reduce single-use plastics, discourage textile waste
Cleveland Sews will host a Sew-A-Thon this weekend at St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center to repurpose 654 pounds of old drapery material into tote bags to combat single-use plastics and promote sustainability.
The Big Clean: Volunteers haul away nearly three tons of trash in neighborhood competition
Now in its seventh year of friendly competition, The Big Clean between volunteers in the City of Euclid and the Collinwood neighborhood spent last Saturday picking up trash and debris in a massive spring cleaning. Read on to find out which community won and how much total trash was collected.
Art for Earth Day: Local artists turning trash into treasure
Local artist and muralist Tessa LeBaron has curated an exhibit, "Art for Earth Day," in which 19 local artists have created works made entirely from trash or upcycled materials. The exhibit opens this Saturday, April 27 at Negative Space Gallery with a free reception, and continues through May 27.
Holden Forests & Gardens receives $1.8 million to expand regional forest landowner support
Holden Forests & Gardens last week announced that it received $1.8 million from the USDA Forest Service to connect forest landowners with emerging climate markets. The grant is the largest climate investment in history.
Gardening withdrawal cure-all: Nature Center offers class to start seeds now for spring planting
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes recognizes that many people’s green thumbs are itching to get outside and dig in the soil during this cold, dreary period of winter. So, it is hosting a Winter Seed Sowing Workshop, using seeds from the Nature Center's Native Seed Library, to get people ready for spring plantings.