We have enjoyed participating at the Westford Farmers’ Market this summer. The organizers call themselves Sustainable Westford, and we sat down with Chelsea Polevy to learn more about what they are doing to benefit the community.
Q: Chelsea, what made you decide to get involved in Sustainable Westford, and why is the organization important to the Westford community?
I first heard about Sustainable Westford through a friend. I had been looking for a way to get involved this summer, and Sustainable Westford seemed like the perfect opportunity—not only is it all about the environment (my passion), but it’s located in the town I grew up in. So, through this organization, I’m able to give back to my community in my favorite way!
Our organization is important to the Westford community in many ways. All six of our programs (the ‘Westford Farmer’s Market’, ‘Upcycle It!’, ‘Healthy Kids Coalition’, the ‘Winter Series’, ‘Westford Academy Mentorship’, and the ‘Solar Challenge’) educate residents on issues of sustainability and teach them how to lead a environmentally-friendly lifestyle. In particular, the ‘Westford Farmer’s Market’ serves as a wonderful venue to meet and greet neighbors and friends in a lively environment, and at the same time it provides access to local and sustainable foods.
Additionally, both ‘Upcycle It!’ and the ‘Healthy Kids Coalition’ teach young Westford students to live a sustainable lifestyle—the former educates children on the importance of recycling, and the latter educates children on how to eat healthy and sustainably.
Q: What would you say are the most important issues of sustainability facing communities in Massachusetts? What are ways families can work together to solve these issues?
The most important issues of sustainability include preservation of natural resources and finding alternate forms of energy. Families can work together to solve these issues in many ways: they can buy local, they can support sustainable agriculture, they can convert to reusable energy, they can get involved politically, and more. Most importantly, though, they mustn’t just talk the talk—they have to walk the walk! Learning about sustainability is wonderful, but taking action is much more effective!
Q: What is the goal of the Westford Farmers’ Market, and how does the market strengthen the mission of Sustainable Westford?
The ‘Westford Farmers Market’ offers a venue to sell and distribute fresh farm products and healthy foods to Westford residents. The Market is a wonderful place to meet and greet neighbors, friends, and family. It strengthens the mission of Sustainable Westford because it fosters connections between farmers and the community, which means it supports local farmers and food producers. Additionally, it strengthens our mission in terms of education and awareness—we have a ‘Market Tent’ where we are available to answer questions on sustainability, and we have a ‘Children’s Program’ with different sustainability projects (such as planting seeds in eggshell cartons).
Q: What are things families can do every day to build a better future for their communities? What programs are offered by Sustainable Westford that they can get involved in?
There are many things families can do every day to build a better future for their communities. They can plant a garden and grow their own food, use less water, and turn off their lights and unplug their electronics when not in use. Most importantly, families should try to purchase less and consume less in general.
All six of Sustainable Westford’s programs are perfect tools to help families get involved and build a better future. One program I haven’t yet touched upon is our ‘Winter Series’. This program organizes educational events that feature leading environmental health experts who discuss issues of sustainability with an audience. Last season, we hosted eleven different events, including an organic lawn care presentation, four film screenings with informative Q&A sessions, and several hands-on cooking workshops (including a cheese making workshop, a dairy-free cooking workshop, and a gluten-free cooking workshop).
Another program that families can get involved in is the ‘Solar Challenge’, which focuses on reducing fossil fuels by promoting renewable solar energy. Sustainable Westford has partnered with Next Step Living, New England’s leading residential energy efficiency company, to visit and assess homes in the greater Westford area that may qualify for solar paneling. We offer great incentives for converting to renewable energy, and almost 6,400 homes have been assessed to date.
A third program offered by Sustainable Westford is ‘Westford Academy Mentorship’. This program is specifically for school-age children—it trains a group of Westford Academy volunteers to become responsible for various aspects of the Farmers Market and other Sustainable Westford events. These student volunteers develop strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Moreover, because they learn to give back to the community at a young age, they will likely remain involved in the community well into their adult lives.
Q: For people outside of Westford, what are the first steps to creating a similar organization in their community?
To create an organization similar to Sustainable Westford, you must first assemble a core group of people who are very passionate about sustainability. These people must be hands-on, they must be good “networkers”, and most importantly, they must be persistent! It’s not easy to create an organization from scratch, so you must be prepared for all of the ups and downs you will likely face. Just remember: don’t give up, because it will all be worth it in the end.
To learn more you can contact Gloria Gilbert at info@sustainablewestford.org or by visiting their website.