Oxford Sustainability Newsletter, September 2022
Welcome to Oxford, We are actually working on climate action!
It’s September, and after a two unsettled pandemic years, it feels good to welcome a whole bunch of new people to our town of Oxford, Ohio. Oxford is a small town of just 23,582 people (as of the 2020 census), but we are a town with a lot of concern and care for the future of the planet. We share this concern with Miami University, the ‘big fish’ in our small pond. In 2020-21 both the University and the City adopted strong climate protection commitments. You are living here in an era when we are ramping up efforts to meet those commitments, and we want your help!
This newsletter is an attempt to distill the many MANY local sustainability-related events and actions into a single, monthly newsletter. Whether your passion is biodiversity protection, renewable energy, waste reduction, or regenerative food systems, we hope you will find ways you can get involved here. The newsletter is a project of Oxford Presbyterian Church’s Caring for Creation team, and is written for everyone in our community, regardless of your belief system. It is part of a larger movement by faith-based communities to act meaningfully in response to human-caused ecological crises. Please read and enjoy!
City of Oxford: Help Prioritize Capital Improvements
Each year, cities set a “Capital Improvement Program” or “CIP” budget. These budgets can have a big effect on municipal greenhouse gas reduction efforts. This year, the City of Oxford has created an online “Balancaning Act” budget prioritization tool that members of the public can use to share their priorities for the CIP. Check it out here.
OPC Sustainability-related actions
Oxford Presbyterian Women’s Annual Rummage Sale is one of Oxford’s original circular economy events. Please consider donating and shopping.
Donations: Drop off items at the Seminary Church (104 E Church St.) at Side Door on Poplar Street: Sat. 9/17 10:00 am – 12:00 pm , Sun. 9/18 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Mon. 9/19: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Tues 9/20: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Wed. 9/21: 10:00 am – Noon
Sale Days: Thursday, September 22 ~ 5 – 7 pm, Friday, September 23 ~ 12 – 6 pm, Saturday, September 24 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (bag sale)
Glearning at the Institute for Food: help ensure that none of the harvest is wasted, and provide affordable, fresh food to all in our community. Volunteer gleaning days 9/14 and 9/21. Call OPC church office at 513.523.6364 to register, or click here for more information.
Thread Up Oxford: Volunteers Needed
Message from Executive Director, Shana Rosenberg: Oxford’s textile waste reduction non-profit is continuing to get its retail and warehouse space into shape for a grand opening, (tbd: likely late September). We have open hours now to shop secondhand clothing and textile arts supplies. You can learn what we do to conserve every bit of textile/fabric that comes into the shop. Tuesday-Friday noon to 6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm at 5156 College Corner Pike. Volunteers are welcome for many different jobs, from cleaning to processing clothes to teaching crafts. Email threadupoxford@gmail.com or text/call 513-273-1701 for more information.
9/18: Support the Cincinnati Reuse and Recycling Hub during their Annual Fund Drive
The Cincinnati Recycling and Re-use Hub is an amazing local resource for recycling and repurposing pretty much everything. The rely on fundraising to keep the doors open. Help kick-off this year’s fund drive by attending Hubtoberfest, or simply give online now.
Fall Planting Resources
Fall is a great time to add more native plants to the landscape to support the health of local ecosystems and biodiversity. Here are some resources:
September 11, Seed Collecting Workshop and plant sale at Deeply Rooted Landscapes in Dayton.
September 16-18, Native Plant Sale at Frankenstein Nursery in Harrison
September 10, 24 and October 10, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Bowyer Farm Native Plant Sales open. Register here.
Fabulous free book on natives for residential yards, link here.
National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder (tells you how many species each type of native supports)
Great info on small native tree planting from Homegrown National Park
9/20, Cultivating Place with Jennifer Jewell at Oxford Seniors
Join a host of local sponsors at Oxford Seniors for a conversation with Jennifer Jewell, host of the Cultivating Place podcast, followed by a wine and cheese reception on Tuesday, September 20th, 5-7 pm at Oxford Seniors. RSVP to sjewell@oxfordsenior.org or by calling 513-523-8100.
9/24, Hike-a-Thon Returns to Oxford
After a 3 year hiatus, Oxford Area Trails and Miami University Natural Areas are bringing back Hike-a-Thon to celebrate the outdoors and the exciting progress of Oxford's and Miami's trail systems! This event will take place at the DeWitt Log House Trail Head from 10am-2pm. Several community partners will have activities and/or educational tables set up including with multiple ro routes ranging from 1, 3, and 5 miles in length. This event is part of Green Umbrella's Great Outdoor Weekend which includes many other events in SW Ohio.
What is mine to do? Worldchanging weekend with David LaMotte 9/23-24
Struggling to discern purpose in the midst of the overcommitment and chaos of day-to-day life? Come to one of these events with author and musician David LaMotte, who’ll be visiting Oxford 9/23-25.
9/28: Educator Open House at Miami University Museums
On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 6:30-8:30 pm as Miami University Oxford campus museum resources open their doors for extended hours to Tri-State area preK-12 educators. Miami’s Museums offer rich resources in the areas of natural history, art and material culture that can enhance preK-12 educational curricula. This open house will introduce educators to both on-campus resources, and resources that can be borrowed for in-classroom enrichment. More information here.
9/29: Wonder of Nature Dinner Dialogue Series
According to Rachel Carson we "need to take delight in the mysteries of earth, sea, and sky." Learning about these mysteries will hopefully lead us to protect and preserve them for future generations. Join us for one or all of three dinner and discussion events, (Thursdays 9/29 and 10/13 at the Oxford Seminary Building, 104 E Church St., and 10/27 at the Interfaith Center, 16 S. Campus) featuring local Oxford naturalists speaking about the 'Wonder of Nature.' Meals with a vegetarian option will be provided. Donations collected at this event will support the Jamieson Scholarship, awarded each year to Oxford Presbyterian Church's graduating Seniors. Register here.
Institute for Learning in Retirement- Fall ‘22
Miami University’s Institute For Learning in Retirement is offering many wonderful sustainability-related offerings this season, including two tours of the Rumpke Landfill. Check out the full offerings here.