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creating hope—one rural county at a time

New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future

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Programs

Sustainable Community Study Groups are offered at City Hall several times a year for groups of 10 -12 interested persons. Groups meet for one hour a week for nine weeks, using a text that features excerpts from top sustainability experts in eight areas. Cost is $25 to cover the cost of the textbook. Call or email if you are interested in being part of this interesting and informative experience.

Study Groups

New Pioneers organized and continues to monitor curbside recycling pickup for the City of Springfield. Through this partnership with the Washington County Recycling Center, every month this city of 3,000 saves two tons of bottles, cans, and jars from the landfill and reduces the need for raw materials and energy. See Recycling for more info.

Springfield Curbside Recycling

A strong goal for us in 2010 is to strengthen our local economy and improve community health by promoting a local food and crafts culture. If you don’t grow your own food, we encourage you to buy locally grown - from our own great producers of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, eggs, vegetables, fruits, berries, honey, and more. See Local Food/Crafts for more info.

Green Pioneer Homes

More than 725 homes in the area are sporting bright green decals on their mailboxes identifying themselves as green homes. We’ve identified 16 practices families can do to help the planet. If you are willing to do eight or more of them, you too can join your neighbors and friends and display a green sticker on your home: Green Pioneer Homes. We’re building visibility everywhere we can and invite you to join us.

We are also actively involved in the Springfield Farmers Market at the Depot, farmland preservation, rain barrel promotion, and community education through our quarterly newsletter and Martha Young’s monthly columns in the Springfield Sun. For more information, click on these topics or see these pages on this website.

Local Food and Crafts