Participate

There is no single solution to sustainability but if we all work together, doing many different things, we can achieve much. We will then find that our world is becoming a sustainable place for us and for future generations. So we invite you to participate with us as we work to build a sustainable community. We want our children and grandchildren to enjoy this wonderful town as much as we do.

Lunch and Learn

Bring your lunch and learn about sustainability with Sustainable Blacksburg’s Lunch & Learn series! Events are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12-1 PM. 

Sustainability Through the Seasons

Sustainability Through the Seasons is our new year-long approach to highlighting and supporting sustainability initiatives. This allows sustainability partners to engage the campus and community in an ongoing basis with programming tailored for the seasons, such as tree planting during the fall and hosting the City Nature Challenge held in spring.

Sustainability Through the Holidays

As we prepare for a holiday season of gifts, food, and festivity, the planet is preparing for something quite different – an extra 25 million tons of trash between Thanksgiving and New Years, excess energy consumption, and increased emissions. But the holidays don’t have to be that way. Check out our Sustainability Through the Holidays Guide for a few ways to start incorporating sustainability throughout your holidays.

21 Actions for 2021

Every little change we make as individuals adds up to big changes for the world. And these big changes are going to impact how future generations live here. That’s why we have created a list of 21 Actions for 2021. These include steps we can all take in our individual lives as well as throughout our community that put us on a path to sustainable living.

Blog Posts

Week 21 Recap: Reduce the Amount of Waste You Send to the Landfill
The U.S. Environmental Agency estimates that we generate 4.9 pounds of trash …
Week 21: Too Much Waste in our Landfills
A little over a month ago I briefly touched on the amount …
Week 20 Recap: Reduce Your Home Energy Use
Sobering statistics on the contribution of U.S. home energy use to the …
Week 20: Home Energy Use
According the the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average home in …
Week 19 Recap: Utilize Shared Community Resources
A lot of our actions have been related to how we accumulate …
Week 19: Shared Community Resources
These past four months, we have discussed ways in which we can …
Week 18 Recap: Reuse or Repair Something You Already Have Instead of Buying New
We have talked a lot about the need for a circular economy …
Week 18: Reuse or Repair Something You Already Have Instead of Buying New
By now, hopefully it's pretty obvious that a major component of sustainability …
Week 17 Recap: Donate or Give away Something You No Longer Need
To truly break away from the take-make-waste cycle we need to put …
Week 17: Donate or Give Away Something You No Longer Need
Last week we talked about using secondhand sources for items new to …
Week 16 Recap: Use Secondhand Sources for Items New to You
If you attended our June Lunch and Learn program, you heard our …
Week 16: Use Secondhand Sources for Items New to You
Every thing we use and throw away has an impact on the …
Week 15 Recap: Choose Reusables
As we look to implement last week's action to reduce single-use plastic, …
Week 15: Choose Reusables
Last week's discussion about reducing our reliance on single-use plastic was a …
Week 14 Recap: Reducing Single-Use Plastic
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only about 9% of plastics …
Week 14: Reduce Single-Use Plastic
Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced. …
Week 13 Recap: Investing in Sustainability
Many of us who are concerned about the environment do as much …
Week 13: Investing in Sustainability
We are faced with a lot of social and environmental issues out …
Week 12 Recap: Recycling
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials. According …
Week 12: Recycling
According to the National Institutes of Health, 94% of natural resources used …

Volunteer Opportunities

Build community through service!
Build community through service!

Check out current volunteer opportunities!

Blog Posts

Week 4 Recap: Volunteer
This week we highlighted many different ways you can volunteer around Blacksburg – activities that help …
Citizens’ Climate Lobby: New River Valley Chapter
CCL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan grassroots advocacy group seeking bipartisan climate solutions.They are focused on direct, …
Blacksburg Farmers Market
There are regular opportunities to volunteer with Blacksburg Farmers Market, either for regularmarket days (Wednesday and …
Blacksburg Community Gardens
growing food and community Along with providing space for community members to garden, we host gardening …
Steps We Can Take to Lead a Sustainable Life
Sustainable living is important because it ensures future generations a habitable world they can enjoy. But …
Future Economy Collective & Southpaw Cafe
Future Economy Collective is a local non-profit organization offering alternative forms of collaboration; collective growth, education, …
Looking Out for Each Other: New River Valley
Looking Out for Each Other: New River Valley connects community bounty with community need. To offer …
Montgomery County’s 38th Annual Broomin’ and Bloomin’ Litter Cleanup Event
Since 1983, individuals and groups have been invited to take part in this countywide cleaning effort. …
NRV Bike Kitchen
Volunteers repair/tune-up donated bikes to extend transportation options for economically and/or socially challenged individuals. Contact: Beth …
NRV Habitat for Humanity & Habitat ReStore
Help build Habitat homes throughout the NRV! Or help out at the Habitat Restore – where …
NRV TimeBank
Regional neighbor-to-neighbor skill sharing and assistance. Supports social equity and vulnerable populations, in partnership with local …
NRV Repair Café
Twice annual event in the Spring and Fall. Held at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in …
YMCA Thrift Shop
We are in need of volunteers to assist with the work of the YMCA Thrift Shop.  …
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Join Sustainable Blacksburg!

Let’s make things happen – together!

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Add Your Event!

Let us know if you’re putting on an event that fits with our mission to promote sustainability in Blacksburg!

Sustainability Week Archives

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