HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_04_02 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes —April 2, 2024
Meeting notes accepted from March meeting.
Attending: Mark Kramer, Sue Odierna, Hugh Collins, Karen Khor, Mitch Green, Nick Zuba, June Wallach,
Arlene Novich, Mark Manley,Allen Reiter, Kevin Crowe,Andrea Hirsch,Johnny Zak, Denise Dunn, Rhonda
Turso (Horticulturist) and guests Lisa Chase (Victory Gardens), Liz Aitchison (Town Conservation Dept.),
Damon Aitchison (Nursery Manager for over 25 years)
Victory Farms of Larchmont/Mamaroneck: The Power of Suburban Farming(Lisa Chase)
Lisa Chase, Founder/Co-owner former Larchmont restaurant, The Grange, created the local Victory
Gardens initiative. During the pandemic in 2020, Lisa began volunteering at the Larch-Mam'k Hunger Task
Force with her son, stunned by food insecurity in town. Read about families in RI planting victory garden
style gardens in backyards, based on the famous WWII program. Like the program during the war effort,
gardeners were encouraged to grow what they could, keep what they wanted and donate the rest.
About 40 families signed up to help, many were from NYC and had no gardening experience. Food that
was grown in these gardens went to Food Pantries. It doubled to almost 100 families,plus school gardens
were added. HS juniors started helping Lisa with this program. Volunteers helped renovate Sheldrake
Gardens. Third year up to 180 families. In 2023, they added community gardens, St. John's Church in
Larchmont and St. Thomas'Church in Mamaroneck. Now, in their fourth year, there are 250 families. Next
for the Victory Farms program is starting in the Bronx.
Former Nursery Manager Discusses Trees, Locally and Tree List
Damon Aitchison,Nursery Manager at Tony's for over 25 years spoke about the"List of Replacement Trees"
that residents can choose from when planting a tree as there have been concerns from Collab volunteers
about the approved replacement tree list. Damon explained that some non-natives are better to have than
natives in our area. Callery Pear, for example, though not native doesn't seem to overpopulate in his
experience. Damon spoke about the different variables one considers when choosing a tree: depends on
property space, rooting space, what's growing around it, the soil—not all non-natives are bad. Also, many
don't reproduce if there are not many of the same species planted near each other, also some are bred to
be sterile.
For street trees, need to think about sidewalks, tolerance for road salt, height re:wires. Newer varieties
produce much less fruit.
Andrea Hirsch mentioned a NYS DEC list of"underrated trees"she said she would send to Liz.
Arlene Novich pointed out that the Collabs contributed a suggested list of approved trees. John Zox
suggested the list have a few columns including how much space tree needs for root growth, low vs high
trees,flowering trees. Mark suggested we revise the list. Liz was asked if she's seen a big change in people
taking trees down. After storms, she says she gets a lot of permits to take trees down. Also, it was
mentioned that insurance companies will not insure homes if big trees are too close to homes.
LMC Media "Studio on the Avenue" (Sue Odierna) Sue explained that she received an email from LMC
Producer Dena that LMC studio time is available for the Collab to create content to promote our initiatives,
recruit volunteers, talk upcoming events, a Q &A and more. LMC would handle the technical/recording
work and can help with content. June to send Sue some ideas on short videos.
Update--Leaf Blower Law-- Public Hearing(Allen Reiter)
Allen updated us that the next step is a public hearing where residents can come to the Town Board meeting
and speak about this proposed law. Allen mentioned it's disappointing that golf clubs and Town property
will be exempt. Residents are encouraged to come to the meeting and voice their opinions on a total
residential ban of gasoline-powered leaf blowers year-round, effective the first of the year in 2025. View
the proposed law here
Update: The Town held a Public Hearing on April 10th on the revision to the code to ban gas-powered leaf
blowers on residential properties.
Events Coming Up (Mark Kramer)
Mark discussed upcoming events including Compost Giveaway Day on Saturday,April 13th, Doug Tallamy
speaking at Jay Heritage Center on Sunday, April 14th, Larchmont Farmers Market Educational Outreach
on Sat. April 20th, Tree Walk around the Brook on Sunday, April 21st and Earth Day Celebration at
Constitution Park on Saturday,April 27`h. Sue also reminded the group that the Annual Town Spring/Earth
Day Cleanup will be on Saturday, April 20th at the Leatherstocking Trail from 10am — 12pm. Volunteers
welcome and needed for all!
Meeting concluded at 8:00.
Update: The Town Board on April 10th appointed Mitch Green as co-chair of the Collab to join co-chair
Mark Kramer.