Sustainable Downingtown

04/07/2025

It's important to identify invasive species which will crowd out native plants that best support our ecosystem.

Although these early drifts of yellow flowers along Struble Trail may look charming, they are anything but. Lesser celandine was imported as an ornamental plant in the 1800’s and has unfortunately spread rapidly from homes to natural areas like our parks and along our trails. Like many invasive plant species, it outcompetes our native plants by blooming and spreading before anything else has a chance to leaf out.

Check out this Penn State Extension article for tips on how to identify and remove this aggressive plant from your yard: https://ow.ly/qaW250VvHvz

04/03/2025

We're so pleased that Kimberton Whole Foods has moved to reusable bags! Thank you for this sustainable alternative to single-use plastic.

We’ve been talking about this for months and it’s finally here! 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 “𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞-𝐚-𝐛𝐚𝐠-𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐚-𝐛𝐚𝐠” 𝐁𝐚𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 $𝟎.𝟏𝟓. We’ve chipped in and are covering half the cost of the reusable bags to make them more affordable. So far, our customers and team members have loved the new bags, they fit a ton of groceries and are really durable!

REDUCE. REUSE. REMEMBER to bring your reusable bags! Here are a few tips to help you remember:

🍎 Start every shopping list with "reusable bags"
🍊 Keep them visible and hang your bags near the front door or where you store your keys
🍋 Return bags to your car once you unload groceries
🍏 Invest in bags that roll up and fit in your jacket pocket or purse
🍇 Borrow a bag from our Bag Tree

03/13/2025

Light pollution disrupts the behavior patterns of many wild animals causing issues with migration, feeding, and reproduction. Mitigating these effects requires changes to lighting, public awareness, and regulatory measures. Learn more about what you can do at this event offered by the Brandywine Conservancy.

A presentation that will be led by Diane Turnshek, a lecturer in the Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University and adjunct faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh.

04/09/2024

You can drop off your solar eclipse glasses at the Downingtown Area Historical Society THIS SUNDAY, between 1 and 4, and they'll make sure they get reused/recycled. Thanks, DAHS!

Drop off your gently used eclipse glasses at the Ashbridge House (next door to Chick-fil-A in Downingtown). We will make sure that they will get used again! THIS SUNDAY 1-4.

03/30/2024

Wild Garlic Mustard is beginning to make an appearance all over our community. It was introduced to North America in the 1800s as a garden herb, but it rapidly escaped yards and spread to natural areas. Unlike some invasive plants that can become naturalized, Garlic Mustard is harmful to almost all other plantlife. It produces toxins that make the soil inhospitable to other species of plants while giving itself an unfair advantage. But you can help with managing this invasive plant. Grab it firmly near the base and pull! It comes out easily. DO NOT PUT IT IN WITH OTHER YARD WASTE. Dispose of by putting in with your household trash.

Image and information credit: National Park Service

03/27/2024

We love our trees! 💚🌳🐦‍⬛

What are you doing Earth Week? Come help us care for the trees around Copeland Run, a gorgeous stream and tributary to the East Branch Brandywine River. We'll be caring for trees planted on earth day a few years ago, removing invasive plants to prep the next section for tree planting, and we'll even have a mini tree pruning class! Bring your smiles, gloves, and see our website for how to RSVP. Thanks to our partners Downingtown Shade Tree Commission East Branch Brewing Company Green Crew, and Beavercreek Elementary PTO and Grace Light Church!

https://restoreourroots.org/event/volunteer-event-tree-tending-invasive-removal-at-copeland-run-beaver-creek-elementary/

03/26/2024

We encourage our community to get involved with East Branch Brewing Co Green Crew and support their efforts in making Downingtown Borough, PA an even better place to live and work. Along with Restore Our Roots - Downingtown, PA and help from individuals like you, this group can be a great source of positive change for our environment. ☀️🌳🙏🏻

We have this amazing group called the East Branch Brewing Co Green Crew. We started out floating down the East branch of the Brandywine, filling canoes and bags with trash. In the colder months, we walked around town collecting trash, removing invasive plants, and planting riparian buffers. Then we took a little break.
The break is over.
We are teaming up with .our.roots.dtown to plant as many of the right plants in as many of the right places as we can. Lucky for us, is going to help by suppling some of their outstanding plant material.
What does this mean? It means we need your help. We need you to spread the word. We need you to show up, ready to work. Digging holes, weeding, showing up for fund raising nights (drinking beer).
There is a page called East Branch Brewing Co Green Crew. Please follow it for updates on events! The first one is a ROR event at Beaver Creek Elementary on April 27th at 10:00.

02/09/2024

Unfortunately, you can't recycle a pizza box that has grease or food residue on it. BUT if the lid is clean, cut it off and recycle it! Every little bit helps. 🍕

11/13/2023

Since the Downingtown Borough is part of the Brandywine Creek Greenway , they're looking for your input to help guide future planning. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey via the link in the post below. Be heard!

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