Sustainable Woodstock’s youngest volunteer with a ‘Grow Your Own Garden’ kit of seedlings ready to be given to a local family

This year, we are excited to celebrate a momentous milestone—Sustainable Woodstock’s 15th anniversary! As we reflect on these past 15 years, we are filled with deep gratitude for our community of supporters and volunteers. 

This school year, students will have a quiet, clean ride to and from school. This is thanks to three new all-electric school buses, funded by a $1.125 million dollar grant spearheaded by Sustainable Woodstock and Woodstock’s Shared Energy Coordinator. These buses are a low carbon and zero air pollution way to travel, and will save our local students from breathing in asthma-causing diesel fumes.

These electric buses are just one example of how Sustainable Woodstock is at the forefront of community organizing to fight climate change. We are deeply grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and hard work of our dedicated volunteers, and for supporters like you—the lifeblood of Sustainable Woodstock—who make it all possible! 

• Low-Income Weatherization: Worked with partners to offer grants for low-income households to implement energy-savings projects, including weatherization and heat pump installation. Completed our third year of constructing 240+ free Window Dressers inserts for low-income families, in partnership with our host North Chapel. 
• Climate Change Leadership: Worked with Woodstock’s Shared Energy Coordinator to lead a town-wide effort to make energy upgrades to municipal buildings, estimated to reduce town carbon emissions by 12.5%. Received a grant for level three EV chargers in Woodstock. With Woodstock’s Shared Energy Coordinator, secured a $1.125 million dollar grant for three new all-electric school buses, which started transporting students this year.
• Energy & Transportation Action Group: Brought the Upper Valley’s first all-electric lawn care contractor to Woodstock, held events about native pollinators and electric lawn care, and sponsored our third year of free e-bikes trials.
• Education: Held monthly Green Drinks education programs, published weekly Vermont Standard columns, hosted a monthly Climate Change & Sustainability Film Series with Pentangle Arts.
• Flood Response: Advocated for bank erosion work and floodplain restoration at Riverside Mobile Home Park to prepare for future flood events.
• Bridgewater Community Center & Childcare Center: Spearheaded efficiency upgrades, including: adding solar energy, maximizing heat pumps and installing two highly-efficient furnaces and electric water heaters.
• Advocacy: Submitted a Congressionally Directed Spending request for 1 million dollars towards Woodstock’s wastewater treatment plant, which has been voted out of committee.
• Food Security: Ran the 5th year of our Grow Your Own Garden Program; enabling (to date) 900 children & adults to grow their own vegetables. Donated 300 pounds of vegetables grown at our community garden to the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. Built 19 free raised garden beds at Woodstock’s Riverside Mobile Home Park, with the help of residents Josh and Dan Putnam.
• Water Quality: Became the first nonprofit to manage funds from the State Water Infrastructure Sponsorship Program (WISPr). Using this funding, began a buffer restoration project along Barnard Brook. A total of $227,014 is now available to Sustainable Woodstock!