Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission

09/26/2026

Whether you’re interested in learning something new, meeting local organizations, exploring sustainable products, getting creative, or finding activities for the whole family, the Sylvania Franciscan Sustainability Summit will have something for you!

Explore a wide variety of experiences, including:

🌎 Sustainability vendors and local artists
🔧 A Repair Café
♻️ Specialty recycling
🎤 Speakers and educational sessions
🛠️ Hands-on workshops
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Kids’ Zone
☀️ And much more!

Join the Sylvania Franciscans-Sisters of St. Francis, Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, & Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc. on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Franciscan Center in Sylvania.

Admission is free, so bring your curiosity and discover something that inspires you!

Learn more: https://sistersosf.org/sustainability-summit/

09/19/2026

What does sustainability look like to you?

Maybe it’s learning how to repair something instead of replacing it. Maybe it’s exploring solar energy, discovering new ways to reduce waste, learning more about Lake Erie, or finding a new way to support our community.

At the Sylvania Franciscan Sustainability Summit, you can explore all of that, and more, in one place.

Join the Sylvania Franciscans-Sisters of St. Francis, Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, & Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc. for a day of learning, discovery, and inspiration on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Franciscan Center in Sylvania.

Come curious. Leave inspired. Try something new. 🌎

Learn more about the Summit: https://sistersosf.org/sustainability-summit/

09/17/2026

Save the Date!

The Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission is excited to partner with the Sylvania Franciscans-Sisters of St. Francis and Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc. for the Sylvania Franciscan Sustainability Summit!

Join us for a day of learning, exploring, and connecting around sustainability on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Franciscan Center in Sylvania.

The event will feature sustainable vendors, local artists and creators, speakers, hands-on workshops, a Kids’ Zone, a Repair Café, specialty recycling, and more. Best of all, admission is free!

Come curious. Leave inspired. Try something new.

Visit the official website for more information: https://sistersosf.org/sustainability-summit

08/15/2026

We were proud to be part of the Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership Annual Meeting & 20th Anniversary Commemoration this week at the Glass City Pavilion.

The 20th anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on how far we've come and how a partnership created to address the challenges facing Western Lake Erie has grown into a model for collaboration across the country.

A highlight of the day was a cruise aboard the Sandpiper to see island restoration work happening in the Maumee River.

Twenty years of progress have shown what is possible when researchers, farmers, communities, nonprofits, and local, state, and federal agencies work together. There is still work to do, but by continuing to work together, we can help build a healthier Lake Erie for generations to come.

08/14/2026

Twenty years of collaboration to protect Western Lake Erie is something worth celebrating.

The Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership brings together federal, state, and local partners working to reduce nutrient runoff and harmful algal blooms and improve the health of our watershed. We're proud to share this look back at 20 years of partnership and progress from the U.S. EPA.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership!

Chaired by EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office along with US Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the partnership centers on reducing nutrient runoff and the severity of harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie—a 7-million-acre watershed spanning Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Working closely with many state agencies and local organizations, the partnership has realized some meaningful wins for Lake Erie. Track Lake Erie nutrient data here: https://spgv.io/61858qQT
📸 Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research

08/07/2026

🥒 Is your garden producing more zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, or other fresh vegetables than you can use?

Instead of letting that extra produce go to waste, consider donating it to The Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County "Sneak a Zucchini on OUR Porch" food drive! Inspired by the lighthearted tradition of sharing an abundant zucchini harvest, this annual event helps connect homegrown produce with local food pantries, supporting neighbors facing food insecurity while reducing food waste.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
OSU Extension at Toledo Botanical Garden
5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, OH

Bring your clean, homegrown fruits and vegetables to the designated drop-off area in the first parking lot off Elmer Drive. Every donation will help provide fresh, healthy food to local families through area food pantries.

Know someone with a thriving garden? 🌱 Share this post and help spread the word!

07/28/2026

Yesterday, following the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission meeting, members had the opportunity to tour the University of Toledo Lake Erie Center in Oregon and learn more about the important research and education taking place right here in our region.

One of the tour's highlights was learning about ongoing efforts to study and track grass carp, an invasive fish species that poses a significant threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem. Research like this plays a vital role in protecting the health of Lake Erie and preserving one of our region's most valuable natural resources.

A sincere thank you to the University of Toledo Lake Erie Center and Ohio Sea Grant for hosting our meeting and sharing their expertise. We appreciate the work you do to advance research, educate future environmental leaders, and support the long-term health of Lake Erie.

Together, partnerships between researchers, educators, and community organizations help build a more sustainable future for Northwest Ohio.

07/20/2026

Don't let your opinion go down the drain! Lake Erie West Regional Council is currently collecting input from residents on their experiences with water! The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete, is anonymous, and once completed you can enter for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card. Make your voice heard and take the survey today!

www.lakeeriewest.org/water

07/18/2026

Yesterday, following the Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc. Board meeting, board members had the opportunity to tour the National Museum of the Great Lakes

A highlight of the visit was stepping inside the full-scale pilothouse from the St. Marys Challenger, the world's longest continuously operating vessel.

A sincere thank you to the National Museum of the Great Lakes and Executive Director Kate for the warm hospitality and engaging tour. We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the history and significance of the Great Lakes, which continue to play a vital role in the environmental, economic, and cultural identity of our community.

If you haven't visited the museum yet, we highly encourage you to add it to your list!

06/11/2026

🌳 Looking to add a tree to your yard? 🌳

Tree Toledo will be giving away free tree seedlings this Saturday, June 13, at the Toledo Farmers' Market beginning around 8:30 a.m. while supplies last.

Available species may include:
🌰 Buckeye
🌸 Flowering Dogwood
🫐 Elderberry
🌿 Catalpa
🌲 Norway Spruce
🌲 Bald Cypress
🍃 Swamp White Oak
🌱 Sumac

Seedlings vary in size, and some may be quite small, but younger trees often establish more successfully and can thrive for years to come.

💚 Trees help improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, and make our neighborhoods healthier and more beautiful.

⏰ Quantities are limited, so arrive early for the best selection!