Activities for all ages planned including Earth Day story times, a meatless cooking class, and the Annual Spring Clean-Up

Join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Somerville’s SustainaVille program, and other city and community partners in celebrating the Third Annual SustainaVille Week. From Saturday, April 27, through Saturday, May 4, there will be a variety of activities for all ages celebrating sustainability and climate action. Activities include an Arbor Day and Gardening Fair, a self-guided citywide sustainability tour, and an interactive panel discussion about the changing world of waste and recycling. The full schedule of events is below.

“Climate change and moving toward more sustainable lifestyles are serious issues, but learning about them can still be fun,” said Mayor Curtatone. “My hope is that SustainaVille week will encourage us all to get the facts about our environment and what we can do to make a positive impact on it. It’s going to take effort from all of us to reach our climate change goals of being a carbon neutral city by 2050, and SustainaVille week is a great time to discover what you can do.”

For anyone looking to get involved in Somerville’s environmental efforts, the Office of Sustainability and Environment is accepting applications for Climate Forward Ambassadors. The ambassador program came out of Somerville Climate Forward, the City’s new climate action plan, and will train residents on climate issues so they can share the information with the community. Anyone interested in being a Climate Forward Ambassador can apply at www.somervillema.gov/cfa by Fri., May 10.

Saturday, April 27

• BioBlitz: City Nature Challenge

10 a.m. to noon at Draw Seven Park

Hosted by: Somerville Conservation Commission

Join the Somerville Conservation Commission for a bioblitz at Draw Seven Park as part of the Boston City Nature Challenge (rain date Sunday, April 28). City Nature Challenge is a global effort to document urban biodiversity. Last year we recorded 41 plants and animals in the park, let’s see what we find this year! Bring your smartphone, digital camera, or just your eyes to help us find and document  plants and animals. We will upload all observations to the Boston City Nature Challenge iNaturalist page using the iNaturalist app (download ahead of time if you can). We will be meeting near the picnic area at the end of the parking lot. If you plan on coming or have any questions please e-mail Cristina Kennedy at cnc.somerville@gmail.com.

• Growing in the City: Arbor Day & Gardening Festival

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Somerville Central Library, 79 Highland Ave., and Edward Leathers Community Park

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library & Somerville Urban Forestry Division

Celebrate spring by helping Somerville grow! Learn about gardening in raised beds with Green City Growers, plant trees and learn about urban tree care, and visit with local organizations working on gardening and sustainability in Somerville.

• m. to 1 p.m.: Stop by the Somerville Central Library to talk with local gardening and environmental organizations. There will also be craft activities for children.
• Noon to 1 p.m.: Gardening workshop with Green City Growers at Somerville Central Library’s new raised beds.
• 1 to 2 p.m.: Everyone will be invited to head down the hill to Edward Leathers Community Park to plant new trees in honor of Arbor Day. Learn how to plant a tree and about the basics of urban tree care with the City’s urban forestry planner.

Sunday, April 28

• Somerville Sustainability Tour

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout Somerville

Hosted by: Climate Coalition of Somerville

Curious how you can be a part of Somerville’s sustainable future? Come learn from generous Somerville neighbors who are opening up their homes and sharing the big and small changes they have made to make their lifestyles more sustainable. If they can do it, so can you! Sign up and get more information on the self-guided tour at bit.ly/SustainabilityTour2019.

• Bike Month Kick-Off

1 to 5 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St.

Hosted by: Somerville Bike Committee

Start celebrating Bike Month (May) early by joining fellow bike advocates, bike enthusiasts, and the bike curious for live music, over 25 bike advocacy organizations and businesses, fun games, and a panel discussion focused on car-free lifestyles. You can drop off your bike with a bike valet when you arrive! And you can bring your kids as this is a child-friendly event with activities to keep them busy.

Monday, April 29 – Meatless Monday

• Nibble x SustainaVille Week: Vegetarian Ethiopian Cooking Class

6 to 9 p.m. at Foundation Kitchen, 3 Washington St.

$50 per person, limited to 10 people

Hosted by: Somerville Arts Council’s Nibble Program

Looking to eat less meat and hoping to expand your menu options at home? Chef/owner of Adey foods and Nibble entrepreneur Meqdes Mesfin is excited to teach you how to make yummy Ethiopian meals at home. A vegetarian- and vegan- friendly cuisine, Ethiopian food is not just flavor-packed, it’s also full of protein, fiber, and can be totally gluten-free. Come join us in this hands-on experience in creating delicious Ethiopian dishes while learning how you can do this at home with the help of a slow cooker or an InstantPot. You can buy tickets at bit.ly/EthiopianCooking.

• SPL Supper Club: Meatless Monday Edition

7 p.m. at Remnant Brewing, Bow Market

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library

The SPL Supper Club is a cookbook book club that meets on the last Monday of each month. The group has a potluck dinner party at Remnant Brewery celebrating the cookbook of the month. April’s cookbook of the month will be The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, by Deborah Madison. Pick a dish to make and share. Visit www.somervillepubliclibrary.org for more information and this month’s book choice. Registration is required. Sign up at bit.ly/VegSupperClub.

Tuesday, April 30

• Earth Day Storytime with West Branch Library

11 a.m. at Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave.

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library

• Climate Justice in Somerville: Youth Perspectives

5:30 to 7:30 p.m at the Mystic Activity Center Community Room, 530 Mystic Ave.

Hosted by: The Green Team at Groundwork Somerville

What is climate justice? Why should Somerville residents care about climate change? How will it affect us, from the food we eat to the racial inequities we face? What can we do about it? The Green Team at Groundwork Somerville will host an interactive workshop for the Somerville community to learn about and discuss climate justice in our city and beyond. Event details will be available at www.facebook.com/GroundworkSomerville.

Wednesday, May 1

• Earth Day Storytime at East Branch Library

11 a.m. at East Branch Library, 115 Broadway

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library

• Teen Environmental Board Game Tournament

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Somerville Central Library, 79 Highland Ave.

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library Teen Room

Swing by the library after school for a chance to win prizes and glory in a board game tournament featuring different versions of Monopoly that have an environmental theme: Earthopoly, Oceanopoly, and Forest Animalopoly.

• Greentown Labs Tour

4 to 5:30 p.m. at Greeentown Labs, 444 Somerville Ave.

Hosted by: Greentown Labs

Did you know that the largest clean technology incubator in the U.S. is located in Somerville? To celebrate SustainaVille Week, Greentown Labs is opening its doors to the community. The tour will include an introductory presentation about Greentown Labs and its members, a guided tour through the Global Center for Cleantech Innovation 40,000 sq. ft. lab, and meetings with a few startup companies. The tour is limited to 30 people. Sign up at bit.ly/GreentownTour.

• Bike Talk Social Hour: Bicycling in Somerville: Past, Present, and Future

6 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler St.

Hosted by: Somerville Bike Committee

Ken Carlson and Tom Lamar of the Somerville Bicycle Committee will speak.

Thursday, May 2

• Earth Day Storytime at Central Library

10:30 a.m. at Central Branch Library, 79 Highland Ave.

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library

• How to Read Your Electric Bill and Avoid Scams

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Holland Street Senior Center, 167 Holland St.

Hosted by: Somerville Council on Aging

Staff from the Somerville Office of Sustainability and Environment and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office will share information about how to understand your electric bill and tips on how to avoid predatory competitive electricity suppliers. This event is hosted by the Council on Aging but is open to people of all ages. The event will be followed by lunch and bingo for seniors.

• Waste Myth Busters: Everything You Didn’t Know About Waste and Recycling

6 to 8 p.m. at the Tufts Administration Building second floor atrium, 167 Holland St.

Hosted by: Office of Sustainability and Environment

Where does my recycling go after I put it in the bin? Why can I recycle some plastics but not all? What is happening with China’s recycling policies and why does it matter to Somerville? If you’re curious about the answers to these questions, come to a fun, interactive panel discussion about the global and local recycling market with local experts. There will be lots of time for Q&A and discussion, so bring your tough questions! RSVP at bit.ly/WasteMythBusters.

Friday, May 3rd

• Earth Day Storytime at Central Library

10:30 a.m. at Central Branch Library, 79 Highland Ave.

Hosted by: Somerville Public Library 

Saturday, May 4th

• Annual Spring Clean Up and Breakfast

9 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast at Blessing of the Bay Boathouse

10 a.m. to noon: Clean Up at locations throughout Somerville

Hosted by: City of Somerville & Groundwork Somerville

Join the City of Somerville, Groundwork Somerville, and Comcast Cares for the annual Spring Cleanup, Sat., May 4, from 9 a.m. to noon. All participants are invited to meet at the Blessing of the Bay Boat House on Shore Drive at 9 a.m. for breakfast and coffee before setting out to your Ward clean-up. The breakfast will feature a short speaking program from elected officials, Comcast, and Groundwork staff, as well as tabling and interactive activities from local environmental organizations.

You can register at bit.ly/SomervilleCleanUp2019. Pre-registration is NOT required, however, if you have a group larger than five people coming together it is very helpful to let us know you are coming so we can make sure we have enough supplies for your team.

All week – Take part in the Screen Free Challenge with Shape Up Somerville! Spend the week exploring screen-free fun—it’s good for our health and the environment.

Unless marked otherwise, all events are free and open to the public.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@SomervilleMA.gov.