Conservation

​The purpose of the Conservation Committee is to keep the membership well informed on current conservation issues; to promote respect for natural resources and responsibility for environmental stewardship; to encourage our members to identify and carry out conservation work locally; to provide environmental education programs for the general public; and with the Executive Committee’s approval, to work with other conservation agencies and organizations whose programs complement those of The Garden Club of America. 

The Conservation Committee works in tandem with the National Affairs and Legislation Committee known as NAL. NAL keeps GCA members current on federal legislation initiatives that affect GCA's mission. Nil focuses its effort on the following areas:
​Clear Air; Clean Water; Climate ChangeAction; National Parks; National Public Lands; Native Plants; Oceans; Sustainable Agriculture and Food; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Waste Management.

The NAL Committee also organizes an annual conference in Washington, DC for club delegates. The conference provides two days of educational seminars on current environmental legislation and one day of visits with legislators on Capitol Hill. Upon return home, the delegates can inform the membership of current NAL issues. At the club level, Conservation and NAL Committee members may also address areas of local legislative concern and interest.
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Town of Washington Community Day

Our goal is to improve and protect the quality of our drinking water in order to help our families lead healthier lives. Millbrook Garden Club members spoke to area residents about the harmful effects of using synthetic lawn chemicals to humans, pets and the environment. We asked our neighbors, businesses and schools to take The Pledge: 

I pledge to take care of my yard without synthetic pesticides, weedkillers and fertilizers except on rare occasions to resolve an infestation or to improve habitat for native plants and wildlife. I also pledge not to throw pharmaceuticals or chemicals down my drains or toilets.

Over 3,000 acres of local private and public land; backyards, playing fields, gardens are chemical free. Please join us and take the pledge.
Town of Washington Community Day
Recycling and Composting

Millbrook Garden Club members and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners talked to over 100 residents about recycling, composting and the proper disposal of medicines.

Recycling  Single-stream recycling has many people confused about what’s trash and what’s recyclable. Informational flyers were distributed and display bins helped demonstrate recycling"Do’s and Don’ts."
LEARN MORE about single-stream recycling.

Composting  In addition to explaining the benefits of composting vegetable scraps and garden clippings and leaves, we had a live vermiculture bin containing thousands of worms that were busy converting household food waste into ‘black gold’; high quality organic fertilizer. Worm castings provide trace elements, enzymes and nutrients to soil.

Disposal of Medication  Ziplock baggies were distributed with informational stickers giving details on the proper disposal of unwanted or expired medication and prescription drugs. 

Place your medications in a sealed plastic bag and take off any personal identifying labels. It is not necessary to identify what you are disposing. Take your collection to the secure dropbox located in the foyer of the NY State Troop K headquarters. A State Trooper transports the collected medicines to the incineration plant in Poughkeepsie.
  • Accepted: Expired/unwanted prescription or over the counter medications, controlled and uncontrolled substances, ointments, lotions, liquids, powders, inhalers and pet medications.
  • Not Accepted: Needles, sharps, hazardous materials, and household cleaning products.

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