TEAC-tivities in July and August 

• Assisted the Village in becoming a Climate Smart Community (Bronze Level), and in completing a greenhouse-gas emissions survey for Municipal operations

• Hosted an information table at the TaSH farmers market in July

• The TEAC Vine Squad and volunteers cleared walking trails of overgrowth and invasive plants, and advised the Village of trouble spots needing further treatment

• Landscaping Committee volunteers maintained public pollinator gardens and planters throughout the Village

• October 14th Eco-Fair Planning in progress

• TEAC Waste Warriors helped educate TaSH shoppers about which discarded items may be composted or recycled 

In Praise of Poke
By Mai Mai Margules, TEAC Pollinator Pathways

One of the most beautiful and beneficial native plants in my garden is a plant that I didn’t plant. Statuesque at nearly six feet high with maroon red chandelier-like stems loaded with royal purple berries, Phytolaca americana / American pokeweed is a garden star both aesthetically and for the role it plays in supporting wildlife.

Pokeweed is a natural wildlife feeder .As the berries ripen in late summer they are visited by robins, cardinals and our visiting hummingbird who shelters in the foliage. Squirrels, opossums, racoons and deer will eat poke berries leaving other preferred garden plants alone. Last winter several visiting catbirds took up residence in our yard and dined on the dried pokeberries still hanging from the stems. Poke is toxic to humans so leave the plant for wildlife through the berries make a great dye.

Pokeweed is a major food source for our migrating birds here in the East. Flying at night these birds need to refuel each day with the highly nutritional berries of native plants such as pokeweed, viburnums, dogwoods and Virginia creeper. Their very survival depends on having plentiful native food sources. Before Passenger pigeons were exterminated in the early 1900’s poke was their primary food source and came to be called pigeonberry. (Humane Gardener)

It is a prolific reseeder, but is extremely easy to control by raking or pulling out small seedlings that may pop up in the spring. Hollow stems make pruning easy and you can simply cut off branches that are too long and shape the plant as you like, it’s extremely forgiving. Its vigorous nature can help to combat invasives like porcelain berry, bindweed and others that take up residence in disturbed areas. Older plants develop a deep tap root so make sure the plant is in a desired location .

So with all of its attributes why do so many of us still view poke as a “weed” to be removed? Is it because it's plentiful and free? Is it because it’s "too” successful in our environment and just a bit too wild? Whatever our objections we should consider the outsize benefit to wildlife that this beautiful and beneficial native plant plays. The birds and others will thank you!

Zero Waste Ideas for Back to School Season
By Annie Kravet, TEAC Zero Waste

The back to school season doesn’t have to mean buying lots of new items for the year ahead. Here are 5 ideas to keep in mind this September to reduce waste: 

1. Before buying new school supplies, take stock of what you already have - pens, pencils, erasers, and binders don’t need to be purchased new every year.

2. Buy books used, or borrow them from the library

3. Join the local “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook and see if others are giving away items you are looking for, or put out a post asking! Others may have office/ school supplies sitting around they would be happy to give away.

4. Pack lunches (for school or work) in reusable containers, washable snack bags, beeswrap, or small glass jars, and bring reusable cutlery and a cloth napkin.

Kayak to Nyack With TEAC...
      ... in The Hudson River Valley Ramble!

Come cross the Hudson River in your kayak with us! This crossing will take approximately 1-1/2 hours in each direction and will include a 20-minute break on the Nyack shoreline.



There will be safety boat escorts, but only experienced kayakers with the stamina to paddle 7 miles round-trip at an average rate of 2.5 knots should register. Life jackets must be worn at all times.

Participants must provide their own boat and gear – paddle, whistle, pump, skirt (optional). Must be at least 18 years old to participate or at least 14 accompanied by parent or guardian who will vouch for skill level and stamina. Register HERE, or scan the QR:

About the Ramble

Every September, participation continues to grow. Ramblers come not only from the Hudson Valley region and New York State but from other regions of the country as well to discover the riches our Valley has to offer. Whether you are interested in a challenging hike, bike ride or paddle, an inspiring walk through the grounds and homes of some of the Valleys most notable artists, authors, and Great Americans, a trip back in time to experience the significant role the region played in the Revolutionary War, or a family-fun festival or river exploration event, the Hudson River Valley Ramble truly offers something for everyone!

Tarrytown Completes GHG Survey

By Dean Gallea,TEAC Co-Chair

Over the past eight months, Tarrytown Village staff and TEAC volunteers have been working on gathering data showing the environmental impact of Village operations, specifically the resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. The last time a GHG survey was done for Tarrytown was in 2007, and a lot has changed since then. GHG emissions - measured in terms of equivalent CO2 weight - come from many Village operations, including electricity use in buildings, facilities and streetlights, natural gas for heating, Village vehicle and equipment fuels, and staff commuting.

 This work is part of an effort led by the Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) to encourage Westchester municipalities to create a Climate Action Plan (CAP), aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions going forward. This is in recognition of NY State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which requires NY State to cut these emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and then to 85% below 1990 levels by 2050.

Assessing and cutting Municipal emissions is something that our Village can do independently of other efforts by residents, so is the initial focus of the CAP. Our Village team gathered data from its operations in 2019 (to reflect a “normal” year before COVID shutdown), processed and entered this into calculation tools developed by ICLEI (a global organization promoting government sustainability efforts), and came up with emissions estimates in several sectors. Our GHG Report is still being finalized, and TEAC will present more of that in upcoming newsletters. Meanwhile, here are some sector results in graphical form:

Our next stage is to form a CAP Task Force to plan, using the GHG Survey data, what is the best way forward to cut our GHG emissions. A lot of what looks like progress since the 2007 survey is due to factors like a reduction in the number of trash pickups, improvements in vehicle gas mileage, the “greening” of our electricity supply, and the switch to LED streetlights. But little progress has been made in reducing emissions from heating systems and electrical use in older buildings. There are some clear targets to consider in finding ways to reduce further. If you might be interested in volunteering as a CAP Task Force member, send an email to tarrytownenviro@gmail.com with the subject line “CAP Task Force”.

There will be something for the whole family including kids activities, games, amazing live music, and fresh local food vendors at the TaSH farmers market! More information will be in our September Newsletter.

The Eco Fair brings together community sustainability organizations and local businesses to educate and share ideas to enrich our Villages and enhance the environment. It is an opportunity for community members to increase awareness and engage on environmental issues. The goal is to highlight things that we can all do at home and in our own neighborhoods.

What’s Cooking?
Farm fresh sweet corn with vegan basil butter!
By Rachel Tieger, TEAC Co-Chair

Making herbed vegan butter is so easy and well worth the effort! Although freshly harvested sweet corn needs no adornment (in my humble opinion), this herbed corn takes only moments to prepare and will be the talk of the table.

First, soften with your favorite non-dairy butter substitute. Earth Balance and Myokos have some tasty offerings, but the ShopRite house brand  “non dairy buttery spread” sticks are more affordable than others and softens nicely for this recipe.. 

Prepare the herbs: Blanch and shock the basil (or other garden herbs)  to retain the bright green color and fresh color. Par boil in a couple of inches of water until it is bright green, then immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water using tongs. Remove the herbs from the ice water bath and blot with a tea towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Separate the leaves from the stems and finely chop, then set aside. Note: tarragon would be a great substitute for the basil. 

In a large shallow bowl, cream the “butter” and add generous amounts of fresh basil or other herbs. You can experiment with how herby you want your butter to be by tasting as you go. Finish with a little sea salt or lemon zest to accentuate the herb flavors. Spoon the contents into a small lidded bowl or crock and store in the fridge until ready. Alternatively, you can make an herbed “butter” log for a more decorative presentation, and can store it in the freezer for months. 

Boil the corn for 2-3 minutes (max) being sure to to turn it in the water so all sides are cooked evenly. You will see the color change as you turn the cobs.  It is important not to overcook the corn to retain a nice crunch and all the flavors. Remove from water with tongs or by straining into a colander and set on a serving plate or on individual plates. Immediately spread your herbed butter and you have a masterpiece of flavor!