Upcoming & Past Programs

MWCS hosts an ongoing regional speaker series that highlights and showcases significant practices, policies, and ideas that move our society towards a more sustainable, equitable, and low-carbon future.

Below is a listing of upcoming programs as well as an archive of past offerings, some with links to recordings and cited sources.

Jan

Grow Native Plants in Mini-Greenhouses in the SNOW!

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
10:00 AM 6:00 PM
Google Calendar ICS

Four sessions: 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Location: Wayland Town Building (41Cochituate Rd.) in the Large Meeting Room.

Learn a new technique – the winter sow – for growing our local native flowering perennials from seed. Your potted seeds will stay outdoors until spring and then baby native plants will appear!

The seeds selected are “Pollinator Powerhouses.” These plants are powerful tools to help fight pollution, floods, record-breaking heat waves, sea-level rise, and mass extinction of species.

This is an in-person event but, as a courtesy for those unable to attend, a kit of supplies will be available during the day for pickup. When you register, please request supplies if you will not be attending in person.

Local native plant gardeners Shelley Trucksis and Jean Milburn will make a presentation about local native plants and their role in preserving our ecosystem. Sowing native seeds in winter is an economical way for homeowners to add native plants to their own yards so that their gardens work to support pollinators in synergy with surrounding properties.

Provided: New this year – a peat-free potting mix, PittMoss, a sustainable alternative to peat-containing potting mixes. You will receive PittMoss enough for 5 milk jugs and 5 packets of local native perennial seeds.

Bring: 5 one-gallon translucent milk or water jugs, gloves, sturdy scissors, a small hand trowel, and a box to carry your mini-greenhouses home Maximum: 24 hands-on participants at each session.

To Register:
For the 10 a.m. session, email the COA at coa@wayland.ma.us or call 508-358-2990.

For all other sessions, email Shelley at mtrucksis@gmail.com.

Fee: $10.00 per person. Bring with you to drop into the Donation Box. Cash preferred. No credit cards.

Sponsors: 10 a.m. session Wayland Council on Aging, noon session The Wayland Garden Club, 2 p.m. MetroWest Climate Solutions, and 4 p.m. session Energize Wayland.

View Event →

Dec

Electrify Everything in the Home!

Wednesday, December 4, 2024
7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Google Calendar ICS

*where and when it makes sense to do so

Ross Trethewey, P.E., M.Eng.,
Building Engineer for This Old House and Ask This Old House

Ross Trethewey is Principal of TE2 Engineering with extensive experience updating homes to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable environment.
^₍^_more…^₎

Click here to watch a recording of this program.

Upcoming & Past Programs

MWCS hosts an ongoing regional speaker series that highlights and showcases significant practices, policies, and ideas that move our society towards a more sustainable, equitable, and low-carbon future.

Below is a listing of upcoming programs as well as an archive of past offerings, some with links to recordings and cited sources.

*where and when it makes sense to do so

Ross Trethewey, P.E., M.Eng.,Building Engineer for This Old House and Ask This Old House

Ross Trethewey is Principal of TE2 Engineering with extensive experience updating homes to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable environment.(more…)

Massachusetts is unique in being both among the most populated and most forested states. Residents of the Commonwealth look to forests for so much: from wood to water, from walking trails to wildlife. (more…)

Sen. Michael J. Barrett presented an update on the State’s climate policy.(more…)

Massachusetts has a mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. To achieve these goals, the State Legislature must now pass legislation on multiple fronts to make this goal a reality.(more…)

Is Massachusetts Ready for Climate Change? (Part I)

Buildings account for 27% of Massachusetts greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Healy’s plan for the sector: “Electrify everything.”

When the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources rolled out new building codes at the end of 2022, they introduced a new Specialized Code, intended to help meet the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.(more…)

Learn why some cooks are switching from gas to induction cooking.

In recent years, many local towns have created roles for sustainability specialists. These professionals lead and coordinate their town’s sustainability initiatives and help to raise awareness about environmental issues. (more…)

What is the relationship between climate change and social justice?

How can residents of the suburbs most effectively take action to promote greater climate equity?(more…)

The food we eat, where we buy it, and how that food is grown affects our health and that of the planet. Approximately one-third of total human-made greenhouse gas emissions are linked to our food system.(more…)

Listen to a livestream from First Parish in Lincoln, where Bill McKibben reads from his latest book, The Flag, The Cross, and the Station Wagon.(more…)

with Matt Honkonen of East Coast Solar(more…)

with Steve Breit, cofounder of HeatSmart Alliance(more…)

with Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director, Just Zero(more…)

Featuring Larry Chretien, Executive Director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance (more…)

with Claudia Thompson, Founder, Grow Native Massachusetts (more…)

but were afraid to Ask!

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” (more…)

Part 2: The House perspective with Rep. Jeffrey Roy

Join Rep. Jeffrey Roy and Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch for this discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the State House. We anticipate an active Q&A period. (more…)

Part 1: The Senate Perspective with Sen. Michael Barrett

Join State Senator Mike Barrett and Professor Chris Knittel from MIT for an overview and discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the Statehouse. (more…)

Let’s green our gifting, downshift the décor, and compost the cookie crumbs! (more…)

Going beyond installing a programmable thermostat and some insulation in the attic… (more…)

Speakers will include Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist, Silent Spring Institute and Laura Spark, Senior Policy Advocate for Clean Water Action. The program will be moderated by Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts State Director at Clean Water. (more…)

… restoring biodiversity, one yard at a timewith Renowned entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware (more…)

… and Why Massachusetts Residents Should Support Itwith Amber Hewett from the National Wildlife Federation. (more…)

with Kirste Pecci, Director, Zero Waste Project, Conservation Law Foundation (more…)

Ross Trethewey, P.E., M.Eng.,
Building Engineer for This Old House and Ask This Old House

Ross Trethewey is Principal of TE2 Engineering with extensive experience updating homes to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable environment.
^₍^_more…^₎

Massachusetts is unique in being both among the most populated and most forested states. Residents of the Commonwealth look to forests for so much: from wood to water, from walking trails to wildlife.
^₍^_more…^₎

Sen. Michael J. Barrett presented an update on the State’s climate policy.
^₍^_more…)

Massachusetts has a mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. To achieve these goals, the State Legislature must now pass legislation on multiple fronts to make this goal a reality.
^₍^_more…^₎

When the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources rolled out new building codes at the end of 2022, they introduced a new Specialized Code, intended to help meet the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
^₍^_more…^₎

In recent years, many local towns have created roles for sustainability specialists. These professionals lead and coordinate their town’s sustainability initiatives and help to raise awareness about environmental issues.
^₍^_more…^₎

How can residents of the suburbs most effectively take action to promote greater climate equity?
^₍^_more^_…)

The food we eat, where we buy it, and how that food is grown affects our health and that of the planet. Approximately one-third of total human-made greenhouse gas emissions are linked to our food system.
^₍^_more…^₎

Listen to a livestream from First Parish in Lincoln, where Bill McKibben reads from his latest book, The Flag, The Cross, and the Station Wagon.
^₍^_more…^₎

with Matt Honkonen of East Coast Solar
^₍^_more…^₎

with Steve Breit, cofounder of HeatSmart Alliance
^₍^_more…^₎

with Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director, Just Zero
^₍^_more…^₎

Featuring Larry Chretien, Executive Director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance
^₍^_more…^₎

with Claudia Thompson, Founder, Grow Native Massachusetts
^₍^_more…^₎

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” ^₍^_more…^₎

Join Rep. Jeffrey Roy and Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch for this discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the State House. We anticipate an active Q&A period. ^₍^_more…^₎

Join State Senator Mike Barrett and Professor Chris Knittel from MIT for an overview and discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the Statehouse. ^₍^_more…^₎

Let’s green our gifting, downshift the décor, and compost the cookie crumbs! ^₍^_more…^₎

Going beyond installing a programmable thermostat and some insulation in the attic… ^₍^_more…^₎

Speakers will include Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist, Silent Spring Institute and Laura Spark, Senior Policy Advocate for Clean Water Action. The program will be moderated by Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts State Director at Clean Water. ^₍^_more…^₎

… restoring biodiversity, one yard at a time
with Renowned entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware ^₍^_more…^₎

… and Why Massachusetts Residents Should Support It
with Amber Hewett from the National Wildlife Federation. ^₍^_more…^₎

with Kirste Pecci, Director, Zero Waste Project, Conservation Law Foundation ^₍^_more…^₎