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2020 Greencastle Sustainability Awards announced
Movers, shakers and caretakers were honored Thursday night as the annual Sustainability Awards were presented to community members just prior to the November meeting of the Greencastle City Council.The Business of the Year award was presented to J.D. Grove and Conspire: Contemporary Craft.
Greencastle Sustainability Commission Chairman John Garner noted that Conspire “connects consumers with makers by bringing the best of modern handmade art and craft to our area and supports 130 local and regional artisans with a venue for networking and for showing their work.”
The new shop, 14 E. Washington St., Greencastle, contains a large community center component, with a crafting area, study section, games, a computer lab and a loose parts area.
Conspire offers study space for virtual learning, hangout space for teens, and a creative outlet for kids.
Conspire also has a community board, supports a safe place and has a free food box, offers classes and serves as a meeting spot where adults can gather, meet and organize.
Embodying the ideals of Sustainability, Joe and Malorie Garbe were named the 2020 Outstanding Citizens of the Year.
The Garbes worked at DePauw in the Sustainability Department where they were involved in the opening/running of the new Ullem Campus Farm and Center for Sustainability.
They have supported and mentored more than 100 unique students during their time here.
Both were active in the community, working with the Community Garden, the Sustainability Commission and DePauw Moveout.
Garner noted that the Garbes “embody the ideals of sustainability -- caring connectedness to people and gentle living on the planet.”
Both Joe and Malorie also worked with The Castle group to bring gardening skills to Putnam County students. Joe worked with The Castle to manage the Tzouanakis gardens and host environmental education workshops for elementary school students.
The Best Practices of the Year Award was presented to DePauw University.
DePauw has installed its first operating renewable energy system in 2020 at the DePauw Indoor Track & Tennis Complex (ITTC). The system is a photovoltaic (solar electric) system that generates direct current (DC) electricity and converts it to alternating current (AC) electricity for use in the ITTC.
This renewable energy system demonstrates DePauw’s commitment to sustainability and carbon emission reduction to its students, Putnam County and to the world, Garner praised.
The system is used to offset electricity purchased from the utility for use at the ITTC. This renewable energy source replaces coal- and gas-fired utility power generation that has historically been used by the ITTC facility.
The roof of DePauw’s Indoor Tennis and Track Center now displays 860 solar panels, the campus’s first renewable energy project and a step toward meeting the university’s goal of becoming a leader in sustainable practices.
The solar initiative celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Center for Sustainability at DePauw.
Meanwhile, DePauw University Bonner Scholar Erin Pasch captured the Young Leader of the Year honor for creating a pollinator garden at Big Walnut Sports Park.
A management assistant at the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department, where she helps lead events in the parks, Pasch has helped with a number of programs with the latest being the pollinator garden.
Pasch wrote two grants proposals for funding of a pollinator habitat and was granted both, leading a year-long project for an 1,800-square-foot pollinator habitat at the Sports Park.
She also serves as an intern with the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District office and puts in more than 10 hours a week of service for the Bonner Scholar Program during the school year and is double major at DePauw.