Green Ossining generates Support to Work Toward a Plastic Free Farmer’s Market
One way Green Ossining is moving toward a greener community is by working with the farmer’s market community. Specifically, they aim to go plastic free together.
For clarification, Green Ossining’s Mission Statement reads:
Green Ossining Committee Mission Statement and Our Goals and Objectives To promote environmental sustainability community-wide. They also work to develop practical methods that protect our natural resources.
Goals & Objectives
Create a forum for those in the community that are concerned about the environment.
Explore and prioritize sensible “green” methods and practices.
Identify ways to promote “green” methods and practices.
Green Ossining leader Suzie Ross said that, “the community really came together to get the plastic the heck out of Ossining Farmers Market.” The next is the rest of the Village of Ossining! Yet, their work is an indication of greater things to come. Here is a detailed explanation of how they prepared and worked together in the community to make this program occur.
Preparation before the Green Launch
As Ross explained, they had a 6 weeks timeline leading up to the launch. During this time, they put signs up around the market (as well as associated Facebook and e-newsletters). Then they started to talk up the idea to shoppers at the Ossining Farmer’s market to prepare them.
Then they launched for three weekends re-useable bag give-aways (donated by EcoBag Products, as well as the American Farmland Trust). As a result, shoppers promised to not use another plastic bag at the market in exchange for the re-useable one Green Ossining gave the consumer.
T-Shirts to ReUsable Bags
Lastly, they involved Ossining High School in a creative initiative aimed at promoting sustainability and engaging the community. They had two passionate students run a DIY “T-Shirt-to-Tote” workshop on three separate days at the vibrant local market, where shoppers could participate and transform their old T-shirts into stylish and functional reusable bags. Green Ossining then took the opportunity to widely promote the DIY program, highlighting the importance of repurposing textile waste and encouraging residents to take part in the movement to reduce single-use plastics. This hands-on approach not only educated participants about sustainable practices but also fostered a sense of community spirit and collaboration among attendees.
As Ross explains:
Shoppers got free re-useable bags and we showed them how it easy it was to make re-useable bags from t-shirts.
We knew that working together would provide us with the support needed in terms of the variety of resources/perspectives needed, as well as the shoppers perspective of what each of our organizations represents to our community.
Then each Saturday, we spoke to and listened to the shoppers, and tweaked our plan with better ideas of how to communicate/what to do better the following Saturday.
There were four primary stakeholders in the collaboration, and they came together.
As well, Mayoral Candidate for Ossining and Village Trustee Victoria Gearity said:
This effort is certainly a wonderful example of Ossining community members, local businesses (two B-Corps), and nonprofits coming together to raise awareness and develop new norms. It has also prompted conversations about how municipalities can further this effort.
Not bad work Green Ossining!
Source: Green Ossining
