Sustainability Matters Inc

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS CULTIVATES COMMUNITY THROUGH CONSERVATION. WE BRING SUSTAINABILITY TO UNEXPECTED PLACES. WHETHER IT'S PLANTING NATIVE WILDFLOWER MEADOWS AT LANDFILLS, TEACHING NOVICE GARDENERS TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD, OR HELPING FARMERS ACCESS FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES, WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE HELPING THEMSELVES.

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: WE BRING CONSERVATION HOME TO VIRGINIA NEIGHBORHOODS AND GLOBAL ONLINE AUDIENCES ALIKE. THROUGH DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, WEBINARS, AND WORKSHOPS, WE TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES AND LANDSCAPES, EMPOWERING EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR THE EARTH. WE FOCUS ON ENGAGING NON-TRADITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIENCES, THOSE IGNORED OR EVEN ANTAGONIZED BY CONVENTIONAL CONSERVATION OUTREACH. MUCH OF OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING IS HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCIES. SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS' FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE, MAKING TRASH BLOOM, PLANTS NATIVE POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY MEADOWS AT LANDFILLS, CONVERTING "DEAD" LAND INTO HABITAT AND USING IT AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. WE ALSO HOST IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION FORUMS FOR LANDOWNERS AND GARDENERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO CONSERVATION ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING. IN 2021, WE HOSTED 32 SUCH PROGRAMS, REACHING AN ESTIMATED AUDIENCE OF 11,000 INDIVIDUALS. WE EDUCATE ALL AGE GROUPS, DELIVERING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO INVOLVE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.

FOOD & FARMING PROGRAMS: NOTHING'S MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN FOOD. FOR MANY, LEARNING TO GROW AND PRESERVE THEIR OWN FOOD IS THE GATEWAY TO A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE, BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. WE TEACH PROGRAMS ON VEGETABLE GROWING, PRESERVING, AND COMPOSTING FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL RESOURCE AND ASPIRATION LEVELS, FROM CONTAINER GARDENERS AND PANDEMIC HOBBYISTS, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON AUDIENCES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS ALSO WORKS DIRECTLY WITH FOOD PRODUCERS, CONDUCTING SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH AMONG THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND HOSTING FORUMS ON TOPICS OF CONCRETE USE TO FARMERS, LIKE ACCESS TO PUBLIC COST-SHARE FUNDS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES. IN 2021, WE HELD 13 IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS ON FOOD AND FARMING, REACHING AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING FARMERS REPRESENTING A TOTAL OF OVER 110,000 ACRES UNDER MANAGEMENT.

GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS: SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS' COMMITMENT TO GALVANIZING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN NON-TRADITIONAL AUDIENCES INCLUDES PROGRAMMING ON A RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS, INCLUDING ZERO-WASTE LIFESTYLES, THE RECYCLING MARKET, AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES. WE HOLD SUCH PROGRAMS IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY, REACHING AN ESTIMATED 3,000 INDIVIDUALS IN 2021.